Page 38 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
BEN
This was a bad fucking idea.
A quick glance in my rearview mirror has me gripping the steering wheel tighter when my eyes collide with Janelle’s.
I’m gonna kill Johnny.
Because the other day, when we were leaving Sienna’s, I needed to get my phone charger, so Janelle, Lily, and I stopped by my house, and that’s when my roommate opened his big fucking mouth.
Johnny somehow thought it would be a great idea to invite my ex and kid to the lake for the four-day trip that was supposed to be my first chance to relax in months. Sure, he apologized later, but it was too late.
When Janelle looked to me to make sure it was okay with me, what was I supposed to do? Tell her no and look like an asshole? I’d been fully resigned to staying behind and hanging with my daughter so I could get to know her. I thought I’d use the rest of the time to mentally prepare for next week’s training camp. I’d planned to unwind. In other words, sleep, jerk off, and watch a crap-load of Netflix. In that order.
But no. Because Janelle was so excited, she threw herself at me like a flying koala bear, all arms and legs that wrapped around me. Just in time for Sienna to open the front door and see this woman pawing me.
Now that I’ve been “examining my feelings,” as Dr. Patricia likes to say, I realize I had no reason to feel guilty. It’s not like Sienna and I are truly dating, but at the same time, if we were, having Janelle pasted to me would’ve been disrespectful to Sienna. For the briefest moment, it seemed like she was hurt. That it bothered her to see Janelle clinging to me before I’d had a chance to peel her off me.
Sienna waited for Janelle to disengage her stranglehold on my neck before she handed her Lily’s diaper bag, which she’d forgotten. And then she gave me a patient smile and left.
I wanted to run after her. To tell my pretend girlfriend that Janelle’s overtures don’t mean anything to me.
I groan and run my hand through my hair.
This fake dating shit is screwing with my head.
“You’re doing a lot of groaning over there,” Sienna says softly from the passenger seat. “You okay?” Before I can respond, she holds up her iced tea to me. “Want a sip?”
“Yeah, thanks.” I’m not expecting this green tea concoction because we Texans drink mostly black tea with lots of sugar, but it’s surprisingly good.
I hand it back to her and glance in the rear view again. Lily is knocked out in her car seat. Thanks to the additional mirror Sienna arranged back there, I can see the kid while I’m driving. I eventually agreed to do this so I could spend time with my daughter, who hasn’t been jazzed to hang out with me.
Every time I pick her up, she kicks and fusses and cries. Not gonna lie—it’s disheartening. I figured if we did something fun, maybe she’d warm up to me. The only drawback is that Janelle is along for the ride. Again, thank you, Johnny. You’re officially on my shit list.
When Janelle starts digging around in her giant purse, I turn to Sienna. “I’m stressed out,” I whisper.
“I can’t imagine why,” she whispers back with a sympathetic smile.
Goddamn, she’s cute. All sexy in some faded cutoffs, flip-flops, and a white tank top over a bikini. Her hair is in a messy bun. No makeup except what I’m guessing is a little to hide some bruising under her eyes. Plus, she smells delicious. Like vanilla and sugar and sunshine. It makes me want to lick all of that golden skin on display.
I really fucking dig this low-key girl.
“I have to pee,” Janelle whines from the backseat.
Dios ayúdame.
Yes, I find myself praying for help when I’m around this woman. We left not half an hour ago.
I pull into a gas station. She gets out and comes around to my window. I roll it down and frown at her when she leans her arms against my Rover.
“You want anything?” she asks while giving me those big doe eyes I used to love. She’s all made up today, lots of makeup, fake eyelashes that might affect the jet stream, and a string bikini with triangles that barely cover her nipples. If she leans over any farther, they’ll be in my face.
“Nah. Thanks. Hey, beautiful,” I call to Sienna as I turn to her. “You want anything?”
The smile she gives me is epic. Sienna likes the little nicknames I give her.
There’s something else I’d love to give her. I squash that thought almost as quickly as it comes to mind and repeat the mantra I’ve been telling myself all week—I will not perv on Sienna. She’s my friend. Friend.
She shakes her head.
