Page 142 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
BEN
“¡Qué guapo!”How handsome. I roll my eyes as my aunt squeezes my face like I’m seven. My aunt and uncle must’ve taken Sienna’s challenge that they do more because they showed up on my doorstep a few days ago with a mountain of food and promises not to cause any more trouble.
“Thanks.” I’m in a crappy mood after another near loss this afternoon. There’s nothing more frustrating than sitting on the sidelines when there’s something you could do if your asshole coach gave you a chance.
And now I have to schmooze boosters at that dumb fundraiser tonight when all I want to do is sleep for the next week.
Good times.
Tía Teresa adjusts my tie and then demands that my uncle take some photos.
“Isn’t he a good-looking boy? Qué lástima Janelle—”
“Tía.” I’m not talking about Janelle tonight. Shit with her just gets worse and worse. My uncle found out that she had run up tens of thousands in credit card debt, which was the reason she gave in to her parents’ demands that she try to get back together with me. Not only did they think I could straighten her out, but they promised to pay off her debt if she did.
I’m pretty sure only a professional can help that woman.
As far as I know, she’s back with Ernest. Good luck with that, man.
“Are y’all gonna be okay with Lily tonight? I’ll have my phone on me, and I’m planning to come right back home after, so—”
“You don’t have a date, do you?” she asks out of nowhere.
A beleaguered sigh leaves me. “No. I don’t.”
“I’m sure there are so many nice girls out there who’d love to go out with you.”
“Tía, I know you mean well, but I don’t want to be with anyone but Sienna. And since she doesn’t want to see me right now, I’m flying solo.”
Her face falls. “We messed everything up for you with her, didn’t we?”
That’s my family. Kind of intense and a little crazy but well-intentioned. We’ve already hashed it out. I don’t want to dredge up any more drama.
“It’ll be okay.” I say the words on autopilot. She’s not usually someone who stirs up shit, but she definitely set the groundwork for that clusterfuck.
I don’t tell her I miss Sienna like I’ve never missed anyone but my parents when they died or my sister when we got separated as children.
Before I leave, I kiss my daughter, who’s sitting in her highchair. “Bye, peanut. Be a good girl. I’ll be home in a little while.”
“Bye, Daddy!” She gives me a messy grin. She has a ring of chili all the way around her mouth.
It seems wrong to have my aunt, uncle, and Lily in Sienna’s house without my girl here.
I feel like I’m missing something elemental. A limb. Part of my soul. Maybe my heart.
As I open the front door, Fowler is standing there about to knock.
He does a double-take when he sees me. “I thought you and Sienna broke up.”
“Nice to see you too.” I close the door behind me and lock it. “She moved out.”
He’s wearing a suit, sans tie, so he must be on the way to the banquet too. He stoops to peer into the front window.
“Dude.” I smack his shoulder. “Why are you peeping in my house? I told you she’s not here. What do you want with her anyway?”
“Oh, um…” He dangles something shiny in his hand. It has a charm of a butterfly or something on the end. “I found a bracelet at the house. In the couch cushions. You know, way in there. Thought it might be hers. Didn’t think she’d want to talk to Cal, so I brought it over.”
I hold out my hand. “I’ll give it to her.”
