25. Jace
twenty-five
Jace
“The D to P ratio in our group is—” Braxton’s whispering is cut off by a cheerful apology as Cleo comes scrambling up to us, her face apologetic.
“Sorry we’re so late. G couldn’t find her keys and then I couldn’t find mine, and Si Si–” At the mention of Sienna’s nickname, my eyes lock on her immediately. I lick my lips as Sienna struts up to us with Ryan, Denver, and the blonde demon she likes to keep around.
My mouth waters at the sight of Sienna Jones in all her angelic glory. Her pink hair is the first thing that I notice, it's the most unique color of pink I’ve ever seen in a person's hair. Sienna stands bright and shining like the star that she is as Georgia throws a lazy arm around her shoulder.
Clad in an oversized cropped SFU hoodie—that looks a little too familiar—a mini skirt and sneakers, my eyes track her up and down slowly, remaining on her legs for a moment too long.
God, I love her legs.
I drink her in as she smiles, beaming at something Georgia says. The memory of those same lips being pressed against mine last night sends a shudder of pleasure down my spine.
Sienna Jones, what are you doing to me?
My body is pulled to her like a magnet, propelling my soul towards hers. I don’t notice my own movements until she shakes her head subtly, telling me no .
It stings a bit, the rejection, but I understand where she’s coming from. Her friends are here, and she still wants to keep this a secret. But I’d be lying if I said her rejection didn’t fuck me up a little bit.
I want to be able to hold her hand around Fall Fest, show her the cute little stands with the stuffed animals she likes, and be able to take pictures of her while we’re here.
Instead, we have to keep our relationship—if you can call it that—a secret.
It burns something deep in my chest as she slips a mask of happiness and indifference over her face while she talks to Georgia, when all I want to do is march over there, pull her into my arms, and be with her.
Somehow or another, Cleo and Blake slip away from our group—the excuse of working on their project being used as they run off, holding hands into the sunset, leaving the rest of us mortals to our own vices.
It doesn’t slip my silent notice that Cleo’s step-brother, Ryan, does the same with Blake’s adopted cousin, Denver. As soon as Cleo and Blake were gone, the duo slipped away as well, Ryan tugging the girl off to who knows where.
I’m in the back of the group, letting Charlie talk my ear off, but all of my focus is on the small head of pink hair in front of me.
I watch silently as Sienna trails behind the rest of our group, in her own world.
Derek and Delilah had met up with us sometime around us hitting a photo booth stall and Braxton wanting fried Oreos.
Deli takes it upon herself to give Sienna some sort of company when she notices her previous dance teacher.
My brow raises as Delilah reaches out for Sienna to carry her, even though she’s in her father’s arms. I almost lose my shit completely when Derek hands over Delilah with a reluctant smile dusting his features.
Sienna grins at the four-year-old, hoisting her up on her hip.
Never in my life have I ever seen Delilah reach for anyone other than her dad, and never has Derek ever willingly handed his daughter to someone else.
When did those two become friends?
I knew I shouldn’t have told her she could trust him. Now he’s going to steal my girl before I get the chance to fully make her mine.
“You’ve got a cute kid,” Georgia coos as she talks to Derek, her full attention on the toddler in her friend's arms as Derek’s ears redden. He scratches the back of his neck, tugging on the loose curls on his nape as he smiles at her.
My eyes narrow on the action as Charlie pats my chest. Dragging my gaze away from them, I raise a brow at him.
“We’re about to go see what the girls at Gamma Gamma Nu are up to, you coming?” he asks, his usual loud voice making me cringe as I quickly eye Sienna before turning back to him, shaking my head.
Charlie furrows his brows at me, but doesn’t push as he, Brax, and Alec dap me up, leaving the rest of us.
Sienna eyes me warily as Delilah talks her ear off about the new dance she’s learning at school, but I don’t do anything to stop her questioning gaze. Instead, I pull out my phone and open up our text thread, ready to get started on the next item on her list.
Me
At 10, when you see me…
Run
Sienna’s brow raises as she watches me, still giving small chatter to Delilah to keep her satisfied. When her phone vibrates, she purses her lips and raises her brows when she sees the message, a hint of mischief playing on her features.
Angel
Or what?
What’ll happen if you catch me?
My words get lodged in my throat at her suggestive message. I’m going to have a field day with this one.
Me
You’ll find ou t
“Oh! Can we go there, Daddy?” Delilah’s little voice snatches me from my phone as my eyes track to where she’s pointing, widening slightly at the ride that she wants to go on.
Derek gulps at the sight of the ride that his kid wants to get on, and just as he’s about to deny her request, Georgia snatches his hand. His eyes widen as she squeals, “It’s the best freaking thing here!”
My brow raises as I see it, the change. Something in Derek’s gaze snaps as he comes to terms with the ride and all of the girls’ growing excitement. He hates heights, but the daredevil next to him and his daughter love s them.
Sienna’s eyes gleam with excitement as she nods, agreeing with Georgia’s sentiment.
“G’s right! We have to get on that!” she says, turning to me with a smile brighter than Sirius.
Sienna looks up at me expectantly as Delilah jumps from her arms and runs to Georgia’s side, grabbing ahold of her hand.
“You coming?” she asks, and my heart stutters for a beat.
“Sienna, wherever you go, always know that I'll follow,” I say lowly, stepping closer to her as her eyes darken. She takes a step back when our breathing syncs with one another's, and turns on her heels to follow after our friends towards the ride.
I’m not a bitch, but I believe that carnival rides are some of the most dangerous things to ever be invented—Sienna Jones does not agree with this sentiment.
After riding the spinning death thing known as The Scrambler, she drags me to every single high stakes ride known to man.
Georgia and Sienna are like partners in torturous crime as they lead the poor single dad and daughter duo along with myself to every single ride at Fall Fest.
The only reason I’m doing these death traps is because of her.
Sienna, who’d been quiet and reclusive earlier, is like a butterfly springing from her cocoon as she talks animatedly with Georgia and Delilah, the girls all coming to some sort of kahoots with one another.
We begin to slow down a bit after the last ride has been done and soon begin to make our way to the annual lantern lighting at Fall Fest. Small lanterns with the SFU crest emblazoned on them begin to light the sky as I slip away from the group, and movement catches my eye.
Derek slowly makes his way towards Sienna. I watch carefully as I stalk towards the trees next to the fairground, eyeing them as Sienna and him laugh.
Georgia had taken Delilah to the bathroom, leaving the two of them alone together.
I check my watch and clench my jaw at the time.
9:56 p.m.
I still have time to kill before our next part of the list is started. Standing in my hiding place, my eyes lock on the pink haired girl immediately.
I check the watch again and smile.
9:59 p.m.
No better time than the present. Pulling out my phone, Sienna’s name is pinned in the top of my messages. I click on it.
Me
Look up
Let the games begin.
I smile triumphantly behind my mask as Sienna looks up from her phone, her face drained of all color as she looks around the packed lantern festival. Georgia's confused face is the icing on the cake as she mouths something I can’t comprehend, but I don’t need to because soon enough, Sienna sees me.
I’ve never done anything remotely close to what Sienna had on that list of hers, but I did read a few dark romance books similar to our current situation. If Sienna is predictable like the women in her books she’ll take off in…
3…
2…
1…
I almost laugh aloud as she takes off in the opposite direction of me, Delilah pointing after her as I slowly stride towards her, avoiding the massive crowd of people.
Let’s be real, if I chased Sienna with a mask on, someone would call the cops on my ass and then Daddy dearest would have to get involved .
So, instead of wearing my Halloween mask from last year throughout Fall Fest, I stick with a hoodie until we’re alone. My smile is menacing as Sienna runs from me to a crowded part of the park, her footsteps heavy as she looks back at me while running.
Her eyes are a mix of emotions, but the one that prevails? Lust. Her hazel eyes are clouded with it as she bites her bottom lip, a sliver of fear laced beneath them.
The little minx is getting off on this…
My phone buzzes, pausing my following momentarily as I pull it out to make sure it’s no one important.
Charlie
Just saw coach's niece running from something
Want me to make sure she's okay?
Sighing, I massage my temples, wishing Charlie wasn’t as attentive as I type out a response.
Me
She’s safe
I got her
When I look back up to make sure that I do in fact have Sienna, my heart drops when I realize she’s nowhere to be found. I gulp as I come to a standstill in the middle of the grounds where all the funhouses are.
There’s a large building with the words Chili’s Hot Fun! on the roof with an clown as the mascot in the very middle, the mirror maze, I'm guessing. Scrunching my nose, I eye the two other buildings, one being a house of slides.
She isn’t going in there…
When my eyes fall on the third and final building, I smile at the sign, Cupid’s Love Maze.
Fitting .