Page 54 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
“Can I ask you a question?” When I nod, she looks around to make sure no one’s listening. We’re talking softly, but still, with Janelle close, on the other side of our tube, I get why she’s being careful. “Are you joking with me right now? For your ex’s sake? Or...”
“Or am I really into you?”
She nods slowly while she nibbles her bottom lip.
I should probably lie and tell her this is just for show, but I don’t like playing games. And there’s an uncertainty in her eyes I don’t like.
“I’m really into you, Sienna.” She smiles, and it’s so brilliant, it hits me square in the chest. It makes me hate what I have to say next. I don’t want to hurt her, but honesty isn’t always the easy path. I keep my voice to a whisper. “Having said that, I can’t... I can’t commit to anything. I have a lot going on right now, and—”
She puts her hand over my mouth. “Please don’t. I totally get that you’re juggling a million responsibilities. I’m not trying to lock you down or anything.”
She laughs, and I feel foolish, but I push through it to say what needs to be said.
“I just don’t wanna jerk you around.”
“Which I totally appreciate. I just need to know how much of what we’ve done today was just for show.”
I mull that over. “I guess ‘the show’ was probably the impetus, you know? Not sure I would’ve ever approached you for... whatever this is, given that you’re my sister’s good friend. But now that we’re here? I’m really enjoying hanging out with you. Being around you.”
“I’m enjoying this too. Whatever it is. For now.”
I nod, relieved that she gets it. “Yeah. Exactly. For now.”
“For this week?” she asks, a naughty smile on her lips as she tightens her legs around my waist.
Fuck yeah. “Definitely for this week.” For every single day I have left before training camp if she’s down for that.
And I’m still planning to help her out with Winston when we get back home, but we might need to pull back on some of the affection so I don’t lead her on.
But that douchebag deserves some payback.
We’re nose to nose when she whispers, “Whatever we do, can we just be sure to talk about it? And maybe promise that we won’t ghost each other or do anything terrible to one another? I really want us to still be friends when this is all said and done.”
I’ve never had a girl who was a best friend before. I thought Janelle was when we were in high school, but now I know none of that was genuine.
In contrast, I never feel like Sienna’s playing me. There’s an honesty and straightforwardness about her that’s refreshing. No matter what happens between us, she’s right. I want us to always be friends.
“Pinky promise.” I hold out my scarred, slightly crooked finger. This is something my younger cousins always make me do.
Sienna leans over and bites it, and I laugh. And then she wraps her pinky around mine. “Pinky promise.” And then she winks. “Now you’re really stuck with me.”
I smile. “I’m gonna hold you to that.”
