Chapter Twenty-Three Sienna
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sienna
I am ready to party, and the black dress that I’m wearing feels like armor, save for the fact that my boobs keep threatening to fall out of it. Not wanting my brother to see me with so much cleavage exposed, I’ve got an oversize denim jacket on, which is coming in handy since the air has turned chilly once the sun went down.
Everleigh and I have been locked away in her room for hours, preparing for this party, and not once, not a single time, did I mention what happened between Gavin and me last night. Haven’t mentioned Ryland to her either. I’m almost afraid to. I know if I tell her I had sex with Gavin, she’d probably lecture me about how he’s using me—after she asks that I give her all the dirty details.
And if I tell her that I also went on a date with Ryland? Oh, forget it. She’ll encourage me to keep seeing him. I can hear her now, telling me to let go of Gavin and move on once and for all. But now that we’ve had sex so many times, it’s going to be near impossible to let Gavin walk out of my life. No way. I’m pretty sure he feels the same way. That man is into me.
He was jealous of Ryland. Jealous. That still blows my mind. He couldn’t bear the thought of me being with Ryland and barged his way into my house—and further into my soul.
Yeah. I’m so gone over Gavin. And while I am in a tight predicament when it comes to Ryland not wanting to give up on me and sending me flowers, I can’t tell Everleigh about that either. I’m so used to doing things on my own without anyone’s input, I know I can handle this little situation I got myself into. I’m positive Ryland will leave me alone. Eventually.
It’s wild how I had zero men showing any interest in me and now I’ve got two wanting their shot. Poor Ryland. If Gavin wasn’t around, I would totally go for him, though I would be doing it just to see what could happen. I didn’t feel much chemistry between us.
But the heart wants what it wants—and so does the body. My heart and body are dead set on Gavin Maddox. Doesn’t matter how foolish that seems or that I could be wasting my time.
I want him. Still. Badly. And I’m pretty sure he wants me.
That’s why my makeup is perfect and my hair looks great, thanks to Ever’s help. The strapless dress is sexy, and I’m sort of ruining it with the denim jacket, but whatever. The moment I take it off in front of Gavin—oh, a girl can dream—I can only imagine his reaction. His eyes will pop out of his head, and he’ll start to sweat before he drops to his knees and proclaims his undying love and devotion to me.
See? I have it all planned out. Oh, and I’m also completely delusional. Undying love and devotion? I’m exaggerating.
The moment we exited Everleigh’s room and ventured out into the living room, we separated and lost each other. There are so many people already here, and the music is loud. Conversations are happening all around me, people shouting and screaming as they try to be heard over the loud bass throbbing, and I push my way through the crowd in an attempt to get to the kitchen. It takes a little longer than it should, but I finally make it, heading straight for the fridge, where I stashed a bunch of seltzer drinks. I pull out a High Noon and crack it open, not bothering to check the flavor because I love all of them.
“Where’s Everleigh?” I turn to find Frank smiling at me, a familiar blonde trailing behind him, her nose wrinkling in disgust when he mentions the name Everleigh.
The blonde’s name is Portia, and she’s Nico’s ex ... I don’t even know how to define what they had. Were they actually boyfriend and girlfriend? Sort of, but not really? They went out for a few months, and she was a nightmare. Clingy toward Nico and mean to all the guys and especially to me. Like I was after her man or whatever.
Dumb.
And now she’s here tonight and hanging out with Dollar? That’s odd.
“I don’t know. I lost her,” I tell him, keeping my tone light. I don’t even bother looking at Portia or acknowledging her, and she does the same to me. She’s so rude. But I’m being rude, too, so whatever.
“I’ll go look for her outside.” Frank turns away from me, and Portia trails after him, both of them headed outside while I watch them go, perplexed by this turn of events.
Chaos always reigns at big parties.
I move about the house and talk to people I know, saying hi to familiar faces. Getting pulled into hugs by various Dolphins team members who all know who I am. I feel like their little mascot, the sister of Coop who’s at every game and party, and while I love talking to them, I’m constantly on the search for someone else.
The only one I really want to see. But he’s nowhere to be found.
I end up outside and search for Everleigh, or Gavin. Preferably Everleigh first, because I need her to talk me down off the anxiety-ridden ledge I suddenly find myself on. Why am I so nervous to stumble across Gavin again?
The memory hits me out of nowhere. We were at a party last year, and I got really drunk. It was at Coop and Nico’s apartment, and I was going to crash out in my brother’s room because my head was spinning so bad, and when I opened his bedroom door, I got the shock of my life.
Gavin and some random woman going at it on Coop’s bed. Just like he went at it with me on my bed. I ducked out of there quick, before either of them could see me, and I darted into the bathroom, where I proceeded to barf in the sink.
Not my best moment. I refuse to get that trashed tonight. I want to get a little drunky but not too drunky ...
I don’t spot Gavin anywhere, and it looks like I can’t find Ever, either, which is bringing down my good time. The crowd around the outdoor firepit is growing, and I check everyone standing there before I decide to give up and head back into the house.
The moment I do, I spot my brother sitting at the kitchen table, where the makeshift bar is set up, Everleigh standing right next to him. They’re in deep conversation, Everleigh sipping from her cup every few seconds, and I make my way over to them and tap Ever on the shoulder.
She whirls around, a big smile on her face. “What’s up, homie?”
I wrap her up in a bone-crushing hug, relieved to find her. “Someone’s feeling herself.”
“At least someone is feeling me, even if it’s only you.” Ever pulls away from me, finishing her drink in one long swallow before she smacks her lips together. “Another round, bartender!” while shoving her cup into Coop’s broad chest.
I share a concerned look with my brother. The girl is drunker than I thought, and the night is still young.
“There you are,” Coop says to me as he takes Ever’s drink and sets it on the table. “I haven’t seen you all night.”
“There’s a reason for that.” I tuck the front of my jacket together, hiding the dress from his judgmental gaze. “Are you corrupting my friend with copious amounts of alcohol?”
“She’s the one who asked for a double.” He prepares another drink for Ever, who is jumping up and down as she waits. “And that’s my roommate you’re referring to.”
“Whatever, she likes me most.” I swing my arm around her shoulders and press my cheek to hers. “Right, snookums?”
“You know it, babycakes.” Ever kisses my cheek, making me laugh, though it dies when I hear a few random dudes start chanting “Kiss her! Kiss her!”
Jeez. A little sign of affection between women and men have to make it sexual.
“Do not kiss her,” Coop says with a grimace as he hands Ever a fresh drink.
“I would never,” Ever says, wincing after she takes a sip. I bet Coop loaded that drink with alcohol. “I’m not here to put on a show for the guys.”
“I want what she’s having,” I tell him, and he immediately starts making me a drink.
“Coming right up.”
“And besides, we would never do that,” I remind Coop, rolling my eyes. “We don’t need to egg them on.”
“Good, because they’re all assholes.” He glares at the group of chanters, silencing them with a firm look. Typical Coop. “There. They’ll leave you alone. Now go about your business.”
He hands me my drink, Ever and I look at each other, and then we’re out of there, ready to check out the crowd. She tells me how she went outside and talked to some random drunk girl who wanted to trade places with her, and then gripes about how Nico is surrounded by women and he won’t even look in her direction.
“Did you happen to see Gavin?” I ask, my voice as innocent as I can make it, but from the look she’s giving me, I know she’s not falling for it.
“No. I didn’t see him, and Sienna?”
“Yes?” I ask, scared to hear what she’s going to say.
“Forget that guy.” She taps her chest with her fingers. “Just like I need to forget my guy.”
Hmm. Love how she referred to Nico as hers. I can tell she’s trying to convince herself. She’s just as gone over him as I am over Gavin. Actually, I’m probably worse since I had sex with him. Multiple times. And I’d like to do it again. Multiple times.
But I go along with Everleigh’s idea. Pretty sure she’s looking for support.
“Deal.” I hook my arm through hers and steer her through the throng of people, stopping to talk to the ones I know, which are quite a few. I introduce Ever to everyone, and she chats them up, the friendliest I’ve ever seen her. I’m sure the alcohol has something to do with that.
The drink Coop made me is mega strong, and it’s going down fast, making me wish I had another. Ever has also finished her drink, meaning she’s really feeling good now, and we’re just about to go out on the front porch and see what’s up when Ever comes to a stop, forcing me to go still as well since our arms are linked. She’s staring at the couple by the front door. Frank and Portia.
Oops. I forgot to mention that Portia came to the party.
“Oh no.” Panic flares in Ever’s gaze as she glances over at me. “I need to warn Nico that she’s here.”
“Seriously? Forget that guy, remember? We made a deal with each other.”
“But Nico hates Portia.” Ever lowers her voice, tilting her head toward me. “I have to tell him.”
And with those final words, Everleigh takes off, abandoning me completely so she can go run to her man and warn him his ex is at the party.
Figures. Though I would do the same for Gavin if the situation was reversed, so who am I to judge?
Taking a deep drink from my cup, I head for the front door, ignoring the guys calling out my name, and I laugh and smile and wave, not about to stop and chat with them. Sometimes they get a little handsy once they’ve had a few drinks, and I’m not in the mood to push them off me. I can only imagine what would happen if Coop caught them doing that, or worse?
Gavin.
Needing some fresh air, I open the door, coming to a stop when I see who’s standing directly in front of me, his expression one of pure shock, and I’m positive my face looks the same.
It’s Ryland.