Page 19 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
SIENNA
My heart jackhammersin my chest as we cross the yard. I’m not looking forward to confronting Destiny. Confrontations aren’t my strong suit.
Because then you get impulsive and do something crazy.
It’s a bright, sunny day. With the exception of the puddles on the road, you’d never know we were pummeled with so much rain last night.
A buzz in my hand has me looking at the screen. Dad. Briefly, I close my eyes. I’m sure he’s pissed I didn’t make it home in time to kiss his ass at that dumb banquet.
I’ll have to call him back because I can only handle one catastrophe at a time.
Hopefully, Destiny stayed with that loser because I’m not sure what I’m going to say to her if she’s home.
Ben’s warm hand wraps around my arm. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“You swayed just now.”
Surprised that he’s paying such close attention to me, I study his big brown eyes, which are crinkled with concern, and my heart warms. I can’t deny how nice it feels to have him on my side.
“I’m good.” My lips tilt up. The movement hurts the stitches in my head, but getting him to smile back is worth it.
Ben’s been amazing. I have no idea how to thank him, but then I remember Olly’s suggestion.
I clear my throat. “Olly’s right. I do need a roommate. In fact, I might even need two. You can move in with me if you want.” Ben’s brows furrow, and I see the question in his eyes. “My father warned me if I didn’t make it home for this weekend, he was cutting my allowance.” Among other things.
Shame burns my face. The idea a soon-to-be senior in college needs an allowance is ridiculous, but I don’t address that.
All my friends back home have yachts and luxury homes and month-long vacations thanks to their trust funds, but when I came here, I vowed to leave that lifestyle behind. I can’t access my trust fund until I’m twenty-five, so that’s not an option anyway. “I’m already used to having a baby around with Poppy, and I can babysit whenever you need.”
He nods slowly, swallowing.
God, I made this poor guy anxious. I rush to get out the words. “That’s a completely platonic suggestion, of course. We both have enough baggage to deal with right now.”
“Thanks, Sienna.” He glances back at the football house before his deep brown eyes connect with mine. “That’s a great offer. I might have to take you up on it. Let me consider the logistics for a bit.”
Logistics. Which probably means how Cal will have him on his shit list for the rest of the season.
Ben tilts his head toward my house. “My boys and I can handle this if you want to wait at our place.”
Everyone says Ben is a little heartless and cold, but he’s only been kind to me. I hope he lets me pay him back somehow. “No, this is my battle to fight.”
Resolved to be tough, I take a deep breath. I finally get the courage to look at the driveway. Destiny’s Lexus is parked behind my old Honda, but that doesn’t mean she’s home.
Fortunately, my house is blissfully empty.
I let out a sigh of relief and usher in the guys. “This way.”
Opening the door to her room, Gabby’s old one in the front of the house, I’m hit with the scent of Destiny’s perfume.
An old memory of Cal has me pausing. He’d been running late to pick me up. Three hours late. And when he arrived, I could’ve sworn he smelled like Destiny. I asked him about it, and he said his roommate’s girlfriend had hugged him.
Lies, lies, and more lies.
It makes me wonder what else I’ve been wrong about.
The thought fortifies my resolve. I’m not a hardass by nature. That’s my dad. I’m all hugs and aligned chakras like my mom, but I need to be tougher.
