Page 115 of Set the Moment
“Boys, leave your brother alone. He’s sad and doesn’t need to deal with your jokes right now,” she reprimands them in her most motherly tone, and immediately all pets to my hair stops and both of the cowards walk out.
I turn on my side, watching as my mom walks around my room, eyeing the walls littered with paintings and sketches of the same person.
“Was she…Is Sienna the unknown girl—the dancer?”
My breath catches in my throat as I sit up, my shoulders deflating.
“She’s the only girl I’ve ever drawn. Sienna has been my muse from the moment I first saw her, Mom.”
My mom watches me, the crow’s feet in the corner of her eyes softening as she takes a seat by me.
“I should’ve did more. I could’ve told you about her and made sure she was comfortable. Sienna has been freaking out because of her parents and I just made it worse by coming here without telling you she’d be with me. I…I should’ve went after her or at least called out Kacey’s odd behavior last night in front of her. Instead, I did nothing.” I sigh as my mom wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me into her.
A mother’s comfort can heal all wounds, and that thought alone sends me spiraling because when I think back to Sienna, I realize that she’s never had that form of comfort before.
“Tell me everything. How do we get my future daughter-in-law back here with us?”
My eyes search my mother’s for any hint of playfulness, but there isn't any. She’s as serious as can be, and that’s how I find myself spilling my guts to my mom on Thanksgiving.
Her jaw clenches as she looks down at me, her face stone cold and impassive.
“So what the hell are you waiting for? Do you love her?” Mom asks, her tone mimicking the one that she uses in the boardroom, and it’s then that I realize that this isn’t my mother, it's Anna Heart.
“Of course.”
“Then let’s make a plan and I’ll apologize to her myself for inviting Kacey. I just want you two to be happy. Now, get your girl and get the fuck up. You two need each other.”
forty-four
Sienna
Zaydensuckshisteethfor what feels like the thirtieth time today as he looks at me. I roll my eyes at him, looking like someone's nosey ass grandma in the blinds, watching the front lawn like a creep.
“Man, Sienna, you got this boy standing on our lawn looking crazy.” He smacks his teeth while shaking his head, but my stomach drops.
Jace is here?
Looking down at my watch, I note that it’s only noon.
“Want me to get rid of him?” Ryan asks, standing next to Zayden. The two of them looking like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum as they share a plate of sweet potato cake between them.
“No, you asshat…Jace would probably punch you if you tried and I don't want to have to explain to Pop Pop why some kid is beating his grandson's ass on Thanksgiving. I’ll handle this.”
The boys look between one another skeptically before nodding. I can hear Ryan saying, “That motherfucker couldtryto beat my ass,” as I leave and I shake my head, chuckling.
When I get outside, I close the door behind me and sigh. I want nothing more than for this situation to be over with. I’m not mad him, I’m just upset at our current circumstances.
Jace tries speaking, but I don’t let him, instead grabbing a hold of his wrist and leading him to the backyard away from prying eyes.
“Sienna, I need you.”
“Keep talking, I like the sound of that,” I try to joke, but the serious look in his eyes has me curling my lips in.
“Listen, I understand completely where everything went wrong yesterday. You were over stimulated from the jump, and I knew this. I didn’t know that my mom would invite Kacey, and I truly didn’t understand how to react while in there. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you that reassurance then, but you have got to stop running. I will chase you forever, yes. But I’d rather it’d be us running from the problems together than you from me.” He steps forward, his eyes reflecting emeralds as he uncrosses my arms, wrapping them around his neck. I don’t fight him on it, either.
“I’m sorry for not expressing myself as clearly as I could. I just really needed space to breath. Will you tell me about those years apart? I think I’d like to know about them,” I say, chewing my bottom lip as he softens.
Jace’s eyes search mine, his demeanor open to me completely as I gnaw on my bottom lip. The instant my teeth connect with it, he tugs my lip out with his thumb.
