Forty-Three
One minute, Sienna was on the dance floor, surrounded by a swarm of sugar-high kids, laughing as they clung to her. The next, she was gone.
I scan the room, my eyes dragging over the tables, the dance floor, even the bar because knowing her, she’d sneak off for a drink and pretend she didn’t just get tackled by a bunch of toddlers on a wedding-fueled rampage.
Nothing.
A strange unease settles in my chest.
She was just here.
I weave through the crowd, checking the photo booth, the dessert table—because again, Sienna—and then finally step into the quieter hallway leading to the restrooms.
Still nothing.
What the hell?
I move further down the hall, past a row of closed doors, my gut tightening for reasons I don’t fully understand, and just as I’m about to turn back, a hand shoots out of nowhere and yanks me into a goddamn supply closet.
The door slams shut behind me.
“What the—”
A soft hand slaps over my mouth.
I blink, my eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering in from beneath the door.
Sienna’s pressed against me, her palm firm over my lips, her chest heaving.
“Sienna,”
I say, my voice muffled against her hand.
“Shhh.”
I arch a brow.
She peeks toward the door like she’s expecting someone to bust in before she slowly removes her hand.
I rub my jaw. She’s stronger than she looks. “Mind telling me what the hell we’re doing in here?”
She lets out a deep breath, leaning back against a shelf stacked with folded linens. “I’m hiding.”
“From what?”
“The kids.”
I stare at her.
“The kids?”
“Yes, Nathan, the children.”
She waves toward the door, whispering, “They won’t leave me alone.”
“Are they playing hide and seek?”
“No,”
she hisses. “That would be fun. This is something else. This is a hostage situation.”
I press my lips together, fighting a smirk.
Sienna, terrified of children. This might be the best moment of my entire life.
“I don’t get it. You looked like you were handling it just fine. Do you not like kids?”
Her jaw drops. “I love kids.”
“Could’ve fooled me, considering you just kidnapped me to get away from them.”
She runs a hand through her hair. “I love them, okay? They’re great. So cute. So full of life. So…”
She waves a hand. “Tiny.”
I nod, waiting as she lets out a long-suffering sigh. “But also, I love my personal space. And these kids? No boundaries. None. It’s like they took one look at me and decided, ‘Yes. Her. She’s our new leader. We must cling to her like static.’”
I burst out laughing.
She glares at me.
“I’m serious!”
she whisper-yells. “Nathan, I tried to escape. I made a run for the bar. And you know what happened?”
I shake my head.
“They followed me. All of them. Like a tiny army.”
She looks genuinely distressed. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to feel a dozen tiny hands grabbing your legs at the same time?”
I drag a hand over my mouth, but I can’t stop laughing.
Sienna slaps my arm. “This isn’t funny!”
“Oh, it’s fucking hilarious.”
She tilts her head back against the shelf. “I just needed a minute. One single minute without a sticky handprint on my dress or someone asking if I know all the words to Let It Go.”
“Do you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I do.”
“So what’s the plan, then? Live out the rest of the wedding in this closet? I hear linen storage is a great place to start a new life.”
She presses her palms to her face. “God, I hope they forgot about me.”
I shake my head, moving toward the door.
“Oh no, don’t—”
Too late.
I crack the door open, peeking out into the hall.
Silence.
The coast is clear.
I glance back at her. “Looks like you’re safe.”
She peeks over my shoulder.
After a long beat, she blows out a shaky breath and places a hand over her chest. “Thank God.”
I chuckle, stepping out, holding the door open for her.
“Come on, kid magnet,”
I tease, tilting my head. “I’ll run interference.”
She groans but finally steps out, smoothing down her dress.
I let the door click shut behind us.
“Hiding from children in a supply closet,”
I mutter. “You never cease to amaze me.”
“You don’t understand.”
She scowls. “You weren’t there.”
Throwing an arm around her shoulders, we head back toward the party.
“Stick with me, sweetheart. I’ll be your human shield.”
Sienna sighs, sagging into me.
I tighten my hold on her, leading her back inside.
Because honestly, I don’t mind being her shield at all.