9. Sienna
CHAPTER 9
SIENNA
I had no idea what to wear on this date and only changed like five times. In the end, Mom came to my rescue and talked me through a bunch of outfits until we’d put together something that said, “I’m ready for some fun, but I’m not expecting you to spend too much money on me.”
“What if he’s thinking fancy restaurant?” I worry my lip. “And I’m standing here in jeans and a T-shirt.”
“It’s a fitted T-shirt, and you have your leather jacket. You look stunning,” Mom assures me. “And if he was thinking fancy restaurant, he wouldn’t be picking you up at three.”
“She’s right.” Dad walks into the room, munching on an apple. “A three o’clock pickup says fun times and hot dogs. ”
“Really?” I wrinkle my nose. “I hate hot dogs.”
“He’s not going to feed you hot dogs.” Mom snorts.
“Who doesn’t love hot dogs?” Dad stretches his arms wide, his mock incredulity making me giggle. “We did something wrong with her, Bethany.” Mom starts laughing too. “I blame the Thai food.”
“Or the Indian.” She shrugs, getting in on the joke… much to her glee.
“It could have been that goat’s milk you fed her in Sardinia. She lived on that stuff for months.”
“True fact.” Mom turns to wink at me.
Dad’s frown is disappointed. “We raised the American right out of her.”
“Oh, stop it.” I roll my eyes. “I’m so American. I love country music, blue jeans, and pickup trucks.” I grin. “I love pizza and apple pie and… and football.”
“Ha!” Dad laughs. “You only just started liking football, and that has nothing to do with the game and everything to do with the quarterback.”
Mom’s doing a terrible job of fighting her laughter as she grabs my hands. “He is cute, though, Senny.”
“I know, right?” I beam. “So cute.”
Cupping my face, she kisses the tip of my nose and lets out an excited squeal. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Me, too, kid.” Dad wraps his arms around Mom and me, squishing us into a group hug that’s making me giggle… until the doorbell rings.
“Oh shit,” I squeak, lurching out of the hug.
“Stop.” Mom gives me a firm look, but her eyes are beaming as she cups my face again. “You have absolutely nothing to be nervous about. You are a catch, Sienna Beth Erling. Any guy is lucky to go out with you… and don’t you forget it.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I smile back at her, nerves fluttering through me as Dad answers the door with his usual boom.
“Mr. Quarterback!” He stretches his arms wide as if he’s going to hug poor Zander, and I can see the look of panic crossing my date’s face.
“Uh, Dad.” I move toward them, trying for an interception. If I can just get between them…
“Hello, sir.”
“Psssh.” Dad swipes his hand through the air. “Call me Al, remember?”
Mom starts humming the tune for “Call Me Al,” and I can feel the heat creeping into my cheeks. It’s rude to tell your parents to shut up, right?
“Zander.” Mom prances forward like an excited pony. Did she just skip up to Zander Donohue?
He’s going to think we’re the weirdest family ever.
“Hello, Mrs. Erling.”
“Please, call me Bethany… or Beth. I’ll answer to both.” She tucks her hair behind her ear, letting out this girlish giggle like she’s trying to be fourteen again.
“Mom,” I softly plead, grabbing the handbag she’s lending me for the night and checking that my wallet and phone are in there. I know Zander invited me out, but I don’t want to assume he’ll pay for everything. It’s such a long date, I’m gonna have to insist that he at least let me pay for dessert or something.
Not that he eats any sugar, according to Olivia.
Oh crap, is he going to buy dessert for just me and then sit there watching me eat it?
That would be so embarrassing and?—
“Don’t spiral,” Dad whispers in my ear before kissing my cheek and giving me a sideways hug.
Meanwhile, Mom is still flirting up a storm with my date.
I move in beside her, giving him an apologetic wince.
His lips curl into the lopsided grin I love so much, and my insides flutter.
“You look amazing,” he tells me when Mom finally gives him a second to speak.
Holy shit, he actually means that.
I bite my bottom lip, unable to contain my smile.
Mom swoons, then starts kissing my cheek. “She always looks amazing.”
“Mom.” I lightly elbow her in an attempt to get her off me.
She gives me one more loud kiss on the cheek, then giggles again.
Oh my gosh, what is up with her?
I send a silent SOS to my date, and he steps forward, clearing his throat and looking between the world’s most embarrassing human beings. “I won’t keep her out too late.”
“Oh, that’s okay.” Mom brushes her hand through the air. “Sienna can just text us updates if plans change for you guys. Whatever time is fine.”
“YOLO!” Dad raises his hands in the air. “Have the best night, you two!”
“Thank you.” I can’t help a nervous titter as I follow Zander out the door. He rests his hand on my lower back as we walk to the car, and I know my mom’s going to be watching and leaning against Dad with a watery smile, patting her chest and swooning about young love.
Zander opens the door for me, and I slip into the passenger seat, waving to my parents, who are still standing in the doorway, jumping and waving like tweens at a BTS concert.
Honestly.
I clear my throat, hoping Zander won’t look past my shoulder and see them. Thankfully, he’s checking the road before pulling away from my house.
Letting out a soft breath, I relax back into my seat, although I still feel like a ball of nerves.
I’m going on a date with Zander Donohue! Eeeepppp!
Nibbling my lip, I watch him as he flips the blinker and then turns the wheel, heading for I don’t even know where. I don’t actually care. I just want to be with him. We could spend the night just driving around town and I’d be happy.
“So, are you okay?” I check on him when he hasn’t said anything after a whole minute.
“Your parents are like…”
“From another planet?” I snicker, feeling my cheeks heat. “Yeah, I know. They can be a little extra. But I swear, they’re really nice and?—”
“I love them.” He starts to beam. “They’re so awesome. I don’t know any parent on this planet who would shout ‘YOLO’ to their daughter as she left on a date with a guy they don’t even know.” He laughs, shaking his head like he can’t believe it.
I grin. “They do know you. I mean, kind of. They know my version of you… and it’s a pretty awesome version, so…” A sudden shyness steals the rest of my voice, so I look out the window, feeling the heat flush through my cheeks again.
“My version of you is pretty damn awesome as well, so at least we’re even on that score.”
I turn back to face him, and he winks at me, making my heart go all soft and squishy.
With a quiet giggle, I lean toward him. “So, Mr. Quarterback, where are you taking me?”
“Well…” He wiggles his eyebrows. “That all depends on which envelope you choose.”
“What?”
Pulling to the side of the road, he gives me an excited little grin, reaching over my knees to open the glove box. His hand brushes my thigh, and I feel the current work all the way through me. My breath turns light and raspy when I get a whiff of his cologne, and it’s impossible not to close my eyes and inhale that luscious scent.
“Okay, here you go.”
My eyes snap open, and I gaze down at the envelopes in his hand. He’s fanned them out like playing cards.
“Which one’s it going to be first?”
“Oh my gosh, how do I choose?”
“No stress. We’re doing all of them, so the only thing this determines is the order.”
I grin and murmur, “How cute is this?” before pulling an envelope from the middle. I flip it over and announce, “Number three.”
“Excellent choice, milady.” His posh accent makes me laugh. With trembling fingers, I wrestle the envelope open and pull out the card inside.
To win you want to score the least
The fewer hits the better
This game can make you laugh or cry
But there’ll always be a winner
“Sorry about the lame poetry.” He winces. “It’s not really my strong suit.”
I giggle. “Are you kidding? I love this!” My voice pitches with enthusiasm because this is so freaking amazing! He made riddles and envelopes for me!
“Do you know what it is?”
“I’m guessing golf, but…” My nose wrinkles. “I’m not very good at it.”
He starts the engine back up with a grin. “It’s mini golf, and I’m sure you’re gonna be great.”
Brushing my thumb over the poem, I shake my head. “Just promise me you won’t let me win out of pity?”
He glances at me, looking almost surprised that I said that.
“I’m serious.” I raise my eyebrows. “That’s such a lame way to win. I’d be gutted if I knew you were holding back. If I beat you, it has to be legit.”
“You’re on, Erling.” He nods, his lips twitching with a smile.
Oh, how I am falling for this boy!
“Let’s play, Donohue.”