33. Sienna
Chapter 33
Sienna
Luke pouts in his hospital bed. “I told you I’m fine.”
“And the doctors are going to make sure.” I adjust his pillows for the thousandth time.
He’s lucky he didn’t sustain any worse injuries before the Devils showed up. I’m lucky. I don’t know what I would’ve done if Marcus and Stephen and Kade had hurt him worse.
Deb brushes past a nurse in her rush to Luke’s bedside. She takes one glimpse at the contusion already blooming on his jaw and gasps. “Oh my god! Are you okay? What happened?”
Luke rolls his eyes. “Relax. I’m fine. I wouldn’t even be here if Sienna hadn’t dragged me.”
“Smart girl.” Deb nods at me. “What did the doctors say?”
From the door, another gasp grabs our attention. Mom bustles in with Dad on her heels. She beelines for me, and then for Luke. “What the hell happened?”
Luke groans. “Is this how it’s going to be from now on? Two moms worrying too much?”
Mom and Deb lock eyes before they both nod. “Yep.”
Dad wraps an arm around my shoulders and murmurs, “You okay, kiddo?”
I love that no matter how old I’ve gotten, he still calls me kiddo. I’m so glad I forgave him. Gave him the second chance he wanted so badly. Luke too. My life is better with them both in it.
“That asshole Marcus showed up,” Luke explains. “Sienna got the whole thing on her phone.”
When I hand Deb my phone and she watches the video, her eyes narrow. “I’m going to get that little shit thrown behind bars for the rest of his life.”
“I’m throwing away the key,” Mom adds.
I love that they’ve developed a friendship despite all of the drama that could’ve easily divided them. I love how much my parents care about Luke, even when they haven’t known him that long. They know how important he is to me, how much I love him, and that’s enough for them.
“So have you two worked things out?” Dad asks.
The moms fall silent as they glance between us. Neither of us can fight the smiles that spread across our faces. “Yeah, we have,” I tell them.
Deb bounces and claps. “Oh good!”
Mom hugs me. “I’m glad you’re both okay. Let’s go find these kids some food.”
Once Luke finally manages to convince Deb to let him go and follow my parents out the door, I squeeze his hand. “Maybe I should put on scrubs and make your nurse fantasy come true.”
He smirks. “Don’t tease me.”
“Who says I’m teasing?” I nod at his pocket. “Did the camera break?”
Luckily, disposable cameras are cheap. But I can’t help the twinge of worry. That camera was my gift to him. The gift that was supposed to symbolize my apology, to pay homage to our relationship.
Luke slips his hand into his pocket and pulls the camera out with a smile. “Still like new.”
Relief rushes through me. “Lucky.”
“Yeah, I am.” He squeezes my hand, gray eyes turning serious. “Thank you for forgiving me. And giving me another chance. I promise to work every day to deserve it.”
Despite the little space on the bed, I cuddle up to him. He’s so warm. Hard and soft at the same time. My safe place. My harbor in the storm. He pulls me close, a protective arm around my back. “Thank you for being my rock. Always.”
“ Always .”
Thanks to Deb and the video, we successfully pressed charges against Marcus, Stephen, and Kade for assault. We also finally got Marcus charged with revenge porn, and Deb’s team has been able to get the video virtually wiped from the internet, though I think the invasion of privacy will always haunt me.
All five of the Devils came out of the fight almost completely unscathed. I wish they’d been there the night Marcus and his buddies attacked me in the park, but I’m so fucking grateful they were there last week.
In the reflection of the full-length mirror in our dorm, Juliet chews her lip while staring at me. I freeze, the pink lipstick hovering in front of my mouth. “Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something wrong with my dress?”
Juliet is decked out in her usual all-black, skin-tight attire like she’s headed to a funeral instead of a graduation. She shakes her head, turning away from me. She can’t make eye contact when she’s uncomfortable. “Of course not. Pink is your color. I just...I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I’m genuinely confused.
“For all the shit with Marcus. He could’ve hurt you again.”
I set my lipstick down, and even though my best friend hates hugs, I wrap my arms around her. She groans, wriggling in my hold like a worm, but I don’t let her go. “Stop apologizing. It’s not your fault.”
“It’s my fault for fucking an asshole like Marcus.”
I pull back to face her. “No, he’s the only one to blame for this mess.” The lesson I’ve finally learned nearly a year later. Thanks to Luke. “Besides, it’s not your fault that assholes are your type.”
“ Psychos are my type, not assholes,” she corrects.
I grin. “There’s a difference?”
“Huge. My psycho will secretly have a soft heart, just for me.”
My best friend is absolutely insane. And I love her for it. “I hope you find that someday.”
“You and me both. Too bad Trey Lamont already left campus.”
I snort. “Yeah, to you, he would’ve been a dreamboat.”
Juliet grabs her purse from her bed. “I’m glad you and Valentine worked it out. You deserve someone who makes you happy.” She tosses her purse over her shoulder. “Okay, enough cheesiness now. Let’s go to this fucking graduation.”