Page 126 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
“So Winston doesn’t know? You didn’t tell him?”
“No, I never told Cal. He had no way of knowing about my family unless he’s the one who ransacked my room. Whoever did that obviously went through my personal belongings.”
“And that security guy you used? The one who hacked Janelle’s phone? Is he some CIA guy or Secret Service personnel or something? ’Cause how else do you get those kind of records without a warrant? Hell, did he do a background check on me too?”
Wow. He sounds pissed.
He takes Lily from me and holds her to his chest. I don’t know why that hurts my feelings, but it does.
I pause for a second, and it’s a second too long.
“Great.”
“Wait, Ben. I don’t know that he did. I didn’t mention you to him exactly.”
“But it’s possible.”
I consider the question. “I suppose it is. Someone broke into my house, so I called the head of my father’s security team. Because, for all I knew, that person could do it again. Plus, Janelle was missing. I thought he could help us find her.”
“But then you never told me about it. You never said, ‘Hey, by the way, my friend traced Janelle’s phone.’”
Tears sting my eyes, and I get up. As I swing my purse over my shoulder, I try to block out everyone in this room except Ben. “I didn’t tell you because you were stressed out with camp. You told me you were having a hard time dealing with everything—with your new coach and Cal and Janelle ditching you with a toddler you’d just met. Call me crazy, but I didn’t want to add anything to your burden.”
Janelle clicks her nails on the table. “How convenient.”
Something in me snaps, and I turn to her. “You’re a pitiful excuse for a mother. Tell your family whatever you want, but we both know you deserted your kid without a second glance back. She’s been great, by the way. Thanks for asking.”
Janelle starts to curse me out.
I shift my attention to Janelle’s parents. “Your daughter is a serial manipulator. She should get some professional help.”
Lastly, I look at Ben’s aunt and uncle. “I wish I could say it was a pleasure to meet you both, but it wasn’t. You’ve been rude and unwelcoming. Ben’s been working his ass off to stay on top of his classes while taking care of his daughter and playing football. And you tell him he seems distracted? Yeah, he probably is. And if I’m the reason for that, well, then maybe he should move out. You’re welcome to solve his babysitting issues for him. You’re welcome to do his laundry and make his dinner and help him get his daughter ready for bed. Oh, wait. You can’t. You live three hours away and never bother to visit. Gotcha!”
I lean down to kiss Lily, who’s somehow still snoozing in her father’s lap through this fiasco. “Be a good girl.”
I’m halfway to the door when Ben calls my name, but I can’t handle any more accusations tonight.
On my way out, I swipe at the angry tears streaking down my face. I’m dialing an Uber as I jog across the front lawn and head down the street where I can see the street signs.
Fortunately, there’s a driver a minute away.
“Sienna!”
He reaches me just as the Uber driver pulls up. I yank open the door, but Ben shuts it.
“Sunshine, don’t go.”
When he sees the devastation on my face, he tries to pull me into a hug, but I back away. “Don’t. On the drive here, you said that we’re too different. You said I didn’t know you. But maybe you don’t know me because if you did, you’d know who I am in here.” I pound on my chest, which aches from all the things we said to each other. “My last name shouldn’t matter. It shouldn’t! I’m the same person who’s bent over backwards to help you.”
“Sienna,” he says softly. “You’re right. I’m sorry shit got out of control back there. You just caught me off guard.”
He glances behind him, and I use that distraction to open the door, but he blocks me from closing it.
“You help keep me on track. I know that. You’re not a distraction.”
Everything is blurry since the tears won’t stop, and I hate myself for being this upset. “I’ll see you in Charming. Deal with your family. Figure out what you need to figure out.”
Decide whether you want Janelle, a tortured voice in my head says.
