Page 35 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
We were both virgins, so I don’t know how truthful that statement is, but it’s obvious she’s pointing out how we fucked first.
This is getting awkward fast. “Let’s set up all this shit so I can take you back to the motel.”
I throw open the door to Destiny’s old room. It’s in the front of the house, which means the street noise will probably wake up the kid. “Fuck, I forgot to buy a sound machine.” Gabby and Rider swear by that thing.
“Why is your stuff in here?” Janelle asks as her eyes dart around the sparsely decorated room. There’s just a queen-sized bed, a side table with a lamp, and two duffle bags with shit I thought I might need on nights I had Lily.
I shrug. “Just because I sleep with Sienna doesn’t mean I have to take over her room too. This way, my crap won’t get in her way.”
I’m grateful I’m wearing jeans because the semi I sport at the thought of sleeping next to my neighbor would be instantly visible in gym shorts.
Sienna, like the sweetheart she is, starts unpacking the Target bags, pausing to compliment a few of the outfits. “This is adorable.” She holds up a light green hoodie combo I picked out that has a football stitched on the front that I snatched from the boy section.
Janelle gave me shit about it, but why the hell can’t a girl wear this? Just because it has a football? It’s not like women don’t appreciate the sport or, hell, can’t play it. I knew a female kicker in high school who put all the boys to shame. I glance at Liliana and wonder if she’ll like the game.
“Did you get a pack ’n’ play?” Sienna asks, glancing at me and then Janelle. “That way you can put the baby down. Your arms are probably getting tired.”
I knew we were forgetting something. “No, we did not get that. Why didn’t we?”
Janelle rolls her eyes. “You got a crib. Isn’t that enough?”
Sienna nibbles on her bottom lip, and for some reason, I know she wants to say more, so I motion to her. “Cruz Control, what are your thoughts?”
Her eyes light up. “Just that you might want to put the baby in a pack ’n’ play if we’re making dinner. It doubles as a play area and portable crib, so it’s easy to move it around the house. If I’m watching her in the studio while I’m doing yoga, I could set her up in there with me.”
I nod. “Makes sense.” Should’ve bought the damn thing. I’ll have to make a new list for shit we forgot.
My ex tilts her head and glares at Sienna. “Why would you be watching mydaughter?”
Here we go.
Wanting to mark a clear line in the sand, I drape my arm over Sienna’s shoulders and draw her to me. Damn, she’s a nice fit. “I didn’t think this needed an explanation, but since Sienna is my girlfriend, and since we live together, I don’t think it’s a stretch for her to babysit. Especially since she watched my roommate’s kid last year. She has lots of experience.”
“Fine. I just don’t wanna find out you’re off doing whatever, and Liliana is being dumped off with her all day.”
I see now why people pray for patience because this woman is testing mine. “So you’re telling me you watch Lily twenty-four seven?”
Her jaw tightens. “I have a babysitter sometimes, but that’s different than a girlfriend.”
“Maybe like the boyfriend you tried to pass off as Lily’s father? Did he ever watch our kid?”
“That’s not fair, Ben.”
“No shit, it’s not fair. Nothing about this is fair.”Until this moment, it didn’t hit me. How much of Liliana’s life I’ve missed. But suddenly, it’s important. Like the most important component of my life that I didn’t even know existed.“I’ve been stripped of her first two years of life and the nine months leading up to her birth. All of those ultrasounds. The first time you heard her heartbeat. Her first words. The first time she crawled. Walked. Everything. So don’t fucking tell me it’s not fair.”
Janelle flinches, and Lily starts to cry.
Fuck. This right here is why I try to stay detached.
“Hey.” Sienna rubs my chest. “Take a deep breath, okay? I get what she’s saying.”
I jerk back. “You do?”
“Yeah, it sucked when my dad brought his girlfriends around after he divorced my mom. I understand why she’s sensitive about it.”
Instantly, all the anger in me deflates. When Sienna puts it like that, I feel like an asshole.
“Thank you,” Janelle mumbles.
Sienna squeezes me with the other arm that’s wrapped around my waist as she talks to my ex. “How about we start over? I was about to order dinner. Why don’t you join us, Janelle? That way you can get to know me a little. I realize it’s hard to trust new people around your child, and I want you to feel comfortable with this situation and know I have your daughter’s best interests at heart.”
“I am hungry. You really don’t mind me staying for dinner?” Janelle asks hesitantly.
I don’t want to spend more time with this woman today. I’m about to suggest I pick up some dinner for her on the way back to the motel when my lovely fake girlfriend responds.
“Not at all,” Sienna says sweetly. “You can tell me all of the goofy things Ben did when he was in high school.”
The two of them waltz off to the kitchen, and I’m left scratching my head.
What the hell just happened here?
