Page 40 of Insincerely Yours
But the only thing that will do is convince everyone here thatI’mcertifiable.
Derek catches my eye and winks—his go-to signal to ask if I’m okay. I return the gesture, but he doesn’t look particularly convinced. He remembers Sienna all too well, and the fact that she’s in our dining room isn’t sitting well with him either. At least, that’s what I gather from the exchange between him and our dad. They’re both texting on their phones, each stealing glances at the other with every message.
And neither looks happy.
After ten minutes or so, they excuse themselves from the table, and I hear the front door close as I suspect they’ve both stepped outside for a private conversation.
I try to keep my eyes pinned to my plate, twisting and re-twisting my fork in my spaghetti well after the section is wrapped around the prongs. All the while, my knuckles are so white that they’re likely on the verge of tearing through my skin by just how hard my fists are balled. Blythe and Sienna can’t seem to let this thing go with Aria. For the next five minutes, I have to sit in silence as they continue their pitch, wearing the poor girl down until she finally relents, agreeing to at least attend tryouts.
Blinded apparently by stupidity and frustration, my eyes inadvertently drift upward to find Jase…
He’s already looking at me. And the jackass has the nerve to lift a singular eyebrow, as if in silent challenge, as if there’s any chance in hell I could say something.
“I totally forgot to ask you,” Sienna cuts in, turning to Jase. “How’s your mom doing?”
It comes as no surprise that Blythe doesn’t like the change in conversation.
Can’t blame her.
After what went down three years ago, Jase’s mom had outright fled to the other side of the country.
He just gives a noncommittal shrug. “Fine.”
“What does she do now?”
“She works at her fiancé’s studio in L.A.,” he says flatly.
“Really?” Blythe actually perks up at this. “I didn’t hear she got engaged. Does her fiancé produce films?”
“He’s a photographer, actually,” Lauren interjects, listing off credentials that go clear over my head.
Sienna brightens at this, only snuggling up further to Jase. “You don’t say?”
She begins peppering him with seemingly benign questions, but I see it for what it is. I’m not sure if I’m just used to her tactics or if she really isn’t being as subtle as she thinks, but I’m nearly tempted to shout,“Objection! Leading the witness!”Because that’s what she’s doing. She’s asking him everythingbutwhat she wants to know.
By the dozenth question, a muscle finally ticks in Sienna’s jaw as she struggles to keep her smile in place. Despite myself, I find I have to wrestle down a grin, because Jase isn’t playing along. Every answer he gives is vague as hell, reduced to a single sentence or sometimes just a shrug.
“What’s his name?” she’s finally forced to ask.
“Cipriano Silva.”
To my surprise, I recognize the name. He’s the photographer for my favorite romance author’s latest book cover. The image blew up all over social media last month, both in and out of the reading community. The featured models gained a mass of followers, as well as sponsors…
…which explains Sienna’s not-so-subtle probing into the matter. She already knew damn well about Jase’s connection to him.
Sure, her parents’ own connections could get her gigs and so-called “followers,” but she obviously lacked the genuine fan base that would open the door to legitimate opportunities. I may not know anything about the modeling industry, but it seems you can’t earn global admiration just because Mommy and Daddy keep writing checks, no matter how many zeros are on them.
But Jase here has direct access to the very kind of influence she needs, guaranteeing him a welcome return to the Untouchables’ good graces.
I dare to steal a glance around the table, curious to see if anyone else is picking up on this steaming pile of bullshitniceties, but they all either have damn good poker faces or they’re clueless.
“I’ll look up Cipriano when I’m in the area,” Sienna coos. “Maybe I could do a photoshoot for him.” She says this like she’s doinghimthe favor.
Jase doesn’t even spare her a glance, only exchanging looks between me and his plate as he helps himself to another bite. “Doubtful. He’s very particular.” Before the sting of the comment even has a chance to breathe, his head tilts ever so slightly, his eyes perusingmefurther, almost in contemplation. The ghost of a smile pulls at his lips, and Sienna doesn’t miss it. “What about you, Ali?”
“What?”Sienna and I blurt it at the same time, but while she sounds pissed, I’m clearly just confused.
What about me?
