Page 114 of Beauty
I laugh at her question.
Me: Yes. Though if you want to talk about life goals and what you want your future to look like or where you see us in five years, I’m down for that too.
The dots dance on my screen, then stop. They start up again, and when they disappear a second time, my heart sinks. Shit. Maybe I pushed it too far, flirted too overtly.
Just as the thought crosses my mind, a message appears.
Sienna: I’m sketching a dress for Liv.
She may have ignored the flirting, but getting a response at all is a win.
Me: For what?
Sienna: Can I call you? It’s hard to type and draw at the same time. If you’re busy, though, we can talk later.
I hang my head and grin. As if I’d ever be too busy for her.
I settle back on my hotel bed and click the icon to call her.
Sienna picks up right away, but she’s wearing a scowl. She’s still gorgeous. Her dark hair is up in a messy bun on top of her head, with soft wisps framing her makeup-free face. I’m pretty sure there’s a smudge of chocolate on her chin, and her green eyes are vibrant. The icing on the cake of this incredible view is the way her black sweater falls off one shoulder, hinting at the absence of a bra.
“You don’t FaceTime someone without warning,” she admonishes.
“You accepted.”
Her eyes widen. “Still. I could have been naked.”
I cough out a laugh. “Again. You didn’t have to answer. And you won’t hear me complaining.”
“Noah.”There’s that chiding tone again that makes my cock ache.
“Sienna.”
She rolls her eyes and looks away, but there’s no hiding the grin splitting her face.
I can’t look away from her. Not after six long years of wanting. Of dreaming I’d get a simple moment like this with her one day. I won’t take one second for granted.
“You got me to call you,” I tease. “So go on. Tell me what you’re working on.”
She breathes out a surprised laugh. “Gotyou to call me?”
“You asked me to, didn’t you?”
She rolls her eyes again.
Fuck, it’s fun talking to her. Outside the guys, I spend very little time talking to adults. But it’s easy sinking back into this banter with her.
I wish I didn’t have to work so hard to get her here, but I can’t deny I’m enjoying the hell out of the chase.
The screen gets blurry for a moment, and when it clears again, she sits back, her hands free, giving me an even better view. She’s seated on the floor in her living room, leaning against the couch, with the phone propped up on the coffee table. Nearby, there’s a set of colored pencils laid out and a pad of paper.
“So tell me about this dress,” I prod.
She picks up a pencil and leans forward, focusing on her drawing rather than on the screen. “Beckett asked me to design a dress for Liv for this gala my family is throwing. It’s for a little girl, Josie. I think you know her?—”
I nod. “War’s daughter.”
“Yup.” Her lips tip up lightly. “Everyone will be dressed in varying shades of pink, since that’s her favorite color.”
