Page 76 of All's Fair in Love & Wrath

Sienna smiles, but I see the sadness etched behind her mask. I’m sure she misses her home, her family, and thememories she made there. That pain in my chest gets more severe, and I have to rub my fist against my chest in an attempt to loosen some of the pressure. It’s the first time I’ve really given thought to the reality that Sienna may actually leave when the dust settles. That she’ll return to Autumn Bay. That emotion comes back strong and fast and nearly makes me stumble on my feet.

Mine.

Mrs. Odette balances a tray in her hand, adding two mugs of steaming coffee drinks and two croissants. She rounds the corner, and Sienna sees it a split second before I do, moving into action. The tray starts to slip, but she’s right there, putting her hands under it and holding it back up, saving Mrs. Odette from dropping it.

“Here, let me help you,” she tells her, taking the tray completely from Mrs. Odette.

“Aren’t you sweet. Thank you! That would have been a miserable cleanup so early in the morning.”

“It’s no problem at all, I’ve been there. Are these heading to the table in the far corner? I’m assuming, only other people here right now.” Sienna smiles.

“They are. Are you sure you’ve got it?”

“Of course. I never thought I’d say it, but I kinda miss waitressing.” Sienna walks off, my eyes never leaving her. She sets the coffees down first, smiling brightly at the couple sitting together at the table, and it’s like night and day. The memory of the first moment I met her flashes, how broken and lost she seemed, how completely terrified. Her eyes were downcast; arms wrapped around herself. But I saw the fire behind her eyes; she just needed a little room to breathe to really grow.

“She’s a sweet thing! I could really use some help around here now that my employee is heading to college for the year. That’s the trouble with hiring teenagers, I suppose. She need ajob?” Mrs. Odette jokes, but I can hear the serious curiosity in her tone and the idea definitely has merit. And it would be another point for Team Amberwood and getting her to stay.

“I’ll talk to her. She’s got a lot going on right now, but I’ll run it by her. Sound good?” I tell Mrs. Odette. She smiles warmly at us, then heads to the back to grab Malice’s boxes of pastries. Sienna returns to my side, setting the tray on top of the glass case. My pinkie finds hers, wrapping around it and nudging her closer.

“Pick anything you want. Or everything. We can try it all,” I whisper, breathing in a hit of her scent. It’s like pure fucking oxytocin. I always thought I needed physical touch to feel good and alive, but Sienna has proven otherwise. There’s so much more that’s just as invigorating as physical touch.

“What are your favorites?”

I point at the buttery, flaky pastry in the glass. “The cronut.”

“Those are the croissant donuts, right?”

“Yeah, filled with this custard cream that melts in your mouth. Want to try one?”

“Sounds good to me. And a cinnamon roll?”

“Of course.”

We order our extras, my phone pinging as Sienna and Malice chat with Mrs. Odette. Stepping off to the side, I pull it out, seeing a text from Otto.

Otto: Got it.

Me: That was fast

Otto: What can I say? I’m better than you

Me: You wish kid

Otto: So we can move in on him?

Me: We aren’t doing anything. I’ll be back soon. Don’t need to fill anyone else in

Otto: Oh so this is like a secret then

Me: Sure

Otto: Cool! I’ll go with you and help then

Me: Not a chance

I pocket my phone, eager as fuck to get back to the clubhouse and talk with Otto. When I look up, Malice’s eyes are on me, narrowed, his head cocked to the side. He walks several paces away from Sienna, leaving her to talk with Mrs. Odette, and I brace myself for whatever shit I’m about to get.

“You’re planning something.”