Page 24 of When You Wish Upon a Wideout

“Maybe it’s Dylan.”

Beau couldn’t hold back his laughter. “It’snotDylan.”

“I slept with him,” Sienna announced. “More than once.”

With balled fists, Beau took a deep breath through clenched teeth and tried to ignore the jealousy that ripped through him.She has a kid. There already was someone else. And you were with other women.He groaned inwardly.But for real, Dylan Lockhart?

Sienna tilted her head, and Beau watched her long blonde mane sweep to the side. “Does that bother you?”

“No,” he lied and gritted his teeth. “But don’t push it. Besides. He left. You’re here with me.”

“You came tomywork,” Sienna reminded him, folding her arms across her chest and cocking an eyebrow.

Beau nodded. “Yeah, I did. But not to hear about other guys—”

“Kissing me?” Sienna’s tone changed and eyes narrowed. “Or doing everything else you never got the chance to do?”

“You have a kid, Sienna,” Beau said. “I’m a dude, but I wasn’t expecting you to be the Virgin Mary. That jig is kind of up.”

“Exactly, Beau. I have akid,” Sienna said. “I’m not seventeen anymore with my head in the clouds thinking the boy I loved would come back for me, and we’d ride off into the sunset on a motorcycle and live happily ever after. I’m not living in a fairy tale. I’m living inreality. And let me tell you something. It hasn’t been easy.”

When Sienna paused, Beau had to grip the table beside him to fight the urge to step closer, to hug her.Fuck, I know,he wanted to say, thinking of Grace, wondering how it was fair that the unimaginable was something Sienna had to see and feel.Not easy might be the understatement of the year.

Sienna moved to lift another chair. “But things are turning around. She’s healthy.”

“You don’t know how happy I am to hear that. And you?” Beau asked. “What about you?”Who’s been looking out for you?

“I told you,” Sienna reminded him. “I’m doing alright.”

“You’re doing more than alright,” Beau corrected, an image of Grace popping into his mind. He thought about the light in her eyes, the wonder and borderline mischievous look on her face. But the tone of Grace’s letter had shown him that even though Grace had probably been through hell and back, she had a wonderful heart. And Beau knew that was because of Sienna. “You’re doing a great job.”

Sienna’s eyes dropped to the floor.

Beau checked his watch.11:52.“Do you want to know how I know you’re not seeing anyone? Or at least no one who matters?”Like Dylan Lockhart.

“How?”

Lifting the last chair onto the table, Beau motioned to the register behind the bar. “Are you all done with that? Get your stuff. I’ll meet you out back.”

He walked to the door, unlocked it, and slipped outside into the chilly January air, waiting until he could see the glow of the lights through the shades fade to black. He unlocked his truck and drove around the corner, pulled into the alley behind Maloney’s, and waited with the engine running until Sienna finally appeared at the back door. She turned to lock it, half of her long blonde hair shoved into the top of her coat.

Hopping out of the truck, Beau went to the back, opening the bed. “I know there’s no one who matters. Because if there were, I wouldn’t be the one doing this.” He motioned with his head. “Come on.”

Sienna looked between Beau and his truck but stood in place.

“Suit yourself.”

“What are you doing?”

Hopping into the truck bed, Beau lay down, folding his hands behind his head. “If you won’t make a wish, then I will.”

“Tomorrow isn’t my birthday.”

He could hear Sienna’s boots on the ground as she hesitantly moved toward him.

“I know. Tomorrow is your mom’s birthday.” In between beats of the truck’s engine, he heard Sienna take in a sharp breath. “You think I forgot that you told me you do this before hers too? I didn’t.”

He looked up at the sky, waiting for some wispy clouds to move, and sighed before Sienna bumped into his boot hanging out of the truck bed. Pushing onto his elbows, Beau stared.

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