Page 93 of Ashes
While I waited for my computer to power up, I grabbed my phone to text Valentina.
Jamal: Did you drop her off safely?
Valentina: You’re turning soft.
Jamal: Answer the question, Valentina
Valentina: She’s inside, safe and sound.
I opened my conversation thread with Sienna and sent her a message this time.
Jamal: Got there okay?
I only waited a few seconds before she answered.
Sienna: Just walked inside Fiori.
Jamal: Good.
Sienna: Was there anything else you wanted?
Jamal: You.
I groaned, berating myself for that answer.
You. What kind of lame answer is that?
Iwasturning soft.
Sienna: That’s a good answer.
I wanted to keep texting her but didn’t want to keep her from her time with her friend. So I placed my phone back onto my nightstand and forced myself to concentrate on my work.
It only partially worked.
CHAPTER 25
SIENNA
I walkedinto Fiori and shoved my phone into my purse, trying to hide the smile on my face. I never expected my husband to check if I got here, let alone for him to be so… sweet.
And I couldn’t hide the fact that I liked it.
I shot a quick glance over my shoulder to see if Valentina was still here, only to find her already gone.
We’d spent the thirty-minute drive over here in complete silence. Not that I’d expected any small talk from Valentina, but I thought she’d ask about me and Jamal after this morning.
I guessed I should be grateful for the lack of probing from her end. Unlike the interrogation I was about to be subjected to when—not if—Esra found out.
She always seemed to read me like an open book.
Speaking of which.
I spotted Esra sitting at our regular booth, her brows knitted together as she furiously typed on her phone.
“I’m here!” I said, rushing over to her.
She looked up from her phone and her previous serious expression morphed into a gleeful one. “Hey, beautiful,” she greeted me, getting out of her seat to hug me.
