“No problem.” I take the container from her. “I’ll give them to Jacob.”
“The tiny human, right? Where is he?”
“School. It’s the middle of a weekday,” I say, adding a laugh.
“Right.” She slaps her palm to her forehead. “You must think I’m such a ditz, but the closest thing to a child I’ve ever been around was my hairstylist’s Chihuahua.” She grimaces. “All it did was sit in the corner, glaring at everyone who walked in.”
Her expression slowly falls as she focuses on the driveway, but she seems to be miles away.
“Everything okay?” I can’t help but ask. When she doesn’t answer, I place my hand on her forearm. “Sienna?”
“Yeah?” She jerks her head to me.
“If you want to talk about it—”
“I would love to. None of my friends understand what I’m going through, but someone like you might.”
I nod, scared of what she means by that.
“Just because you’re so… real. I could tell the moment we met. Plus, you’re like a freaking hero raising Jack by yourself—you must be very wise.”
“It’s Jacob.”
“God, I’m so stupid. Of course, Jacob.” She smiles apologetically, then fidgets with her cuticles.
The sadness in her eyes gives me pause. It makes me wonder about her friends and if she has anyone she can call at any time of the day or night—a genuine friend. She doesn’t know anyone around here.
That sounds all too familiar.
I was just like her, in that sense. When we moved to Atlanta, not only was it across the country from my family, but it was different than anything I’d known. Hotter than Colorado. Much busier than Sunnyville. To make matters worse, I didn’t know anyone.
Until I met Melanie at a moms’ group. Even though we’re so different, we became close friends. Perhaps it was because we were different that it worked. It kept things interesting. She also helped me adjust.
Maybe I can do the same for Sienna.
“So, what’s going on?”
“I just got off the phone with my dad. We got into this huge argument about the value of money and morals and blah, blah, blah. He said I have no principles, which is why he’s banished me to this town. I mean, did you know you can’t get ceviche here? Like ever? I know everything closes way before midnight, but I can’t even get ceviche in the middle of the day like I could in LA.”
I cover my laugh with a cough at the way she uses banished. She’s obviously seen way too many dramas.
But truthfully, I can understand her shock. Moving from LA to Sunnyville is a major change. I thought I’d feel the same after living in a big city for so long, but instead, I feel more at peace. I spent most of my life here, though, so I knew what to expect, unlike Sienna.
She blows out a frustrated breath, sinking into her chair. “He’s always on my case lately. Ever since Enzo wrecked my car, it’s been one fucking lecture after another. I mean—hello—it’s not my fault the person in front of us slammed on their brakes for no reason.”
“Wait, who’s Enzo? He was driving your car and wrecked it?”
She sighs, averting her gaze like Jacob does when he doesn’t want to tell me the trouble he got in—the few times he’s ever gotten into trouble, anyway. “I let my friend Enzo drive.”
I stay silent and wait for her to go on.
She sighs again and holds her hands up. “I was drunk, okay? So, I let him drive my car. I was being responsible, if you think about it.”
I shake my head.
“It was my third wreck in less than a year.” She covers her face with both hands, groaning. “I tried to sneak it past Daddy by buying an identical car, but of course, he watches my credit cards and bank accounts like he’s in the IRS.”
I make a noncommittal sound, waiting for her to continue.
“Can you believe him? He’s trying to make me a better person.” She scoffs. “I mean, God, my brother literally strips for a living.”
“I’m sorry?” I blink.
“He’s an actual stripper for Naked Heat. In Vegas. Like, he shakes his barely covered dick in people’s faces.”
“You aren’t serious.” I search her expression for any sign that she’s kidding, my mind racing. When I realize she’s not joking, I burst out with, “Oh my God.”
“That’s what I said!” She throws her hands up. “I told my dad to go ruin Leo’s life instead of mine.”
“Who?”
“Leo. He’s my stepbrother.”
“Right.” I need a flow chart to keep up with the characters in her life.
“My dad has always been scared to say something to him since his real dad passed away years ago. My dad feels like he’s stepping on toes if he speaks up. Leo hates him all the same, and my dad just takes it all out on me and my sister.” She looks at me through squinted eyes. “What do you think?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Has your dad ever shipped you off to Narnia to teach you a lesson?”
“No.” I smile. “I left of my own accord.”
“Where to?”
“I moved away for college. Went to Colorado, then moved to Atlanta with my husband.”
“The one who died?”
Although my heart sinks, I don’t otherwise react, and for a fleeting moment, I feel like it might be getting easier. “Yes.”
“Oh, right. You don’t like to talk about him.”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Oh God, were you having problems before he… you know—”
“Uh, what?” I sputter. When I peer at her, she pales, and her mouth hangs open like she’s watching a horror film. I
