Page 159 of Heartless

Back at the house,Cam kissed my cheek.“I prepared a charcuterie tray earlier.We can have that while I make lunch.”

“Sounds good, Cam.Thanks.”

She squeezed my arm before striding toward the kitchen, followed by Jo.

Bianc groaned.“Thank God.”She winked at Sienna.“I’ve brought pistachio gelato.”

“I could eat a whole tub, right now,” she whispered with a smile.

While Bianc strutted down the hallway, Sienna toed out of her shoes.“Silas, where did you put my bag?”

He jerked his chin toward the front living room.“In there.”

“Thank you,” she replied before picking up her heels.

I was two steps behind her.I set the urn and the picture frame on the coffee table while she twirled slowly in the living room with her eyes down.

“I must be tired.I can’t see my bag.”

“Have you checked the bedroom?”

“Ah.No.”

She went into the bedroom and came back, rolling her case behind her with her shoes dangling from her fingers.“Which room should I use?”

Nearing her, I tucked her hair behind her ear.“Mine.”

“I’d rather use one of the guest rooms,” she said quietly with her eyes on me.

I deserved that.“You’re angry.”

She shook her head.“It’s kind of a curse but I can’t stay angry for that long.But I didn’t come here to...rekindle whatever I had with you.”

Fucking deserved that too.But she was here now.There would be time to talk.

“Go get something to eat.I’ll put your bag in the guest room.”

****

Sienna

Lunch had been somewhat subdued, both because of the lingering sadness of the memorial, and because we were hungry.When I’d entered the kitchen earlier, Jake had walked past the archway with my suitcase in hand before sitting at the table.No one had said anything, but Camila had winked at me.

The house was quiet.Bianca and I had retreated to our rooms.Camila and Jodie had gone back to Camila’s because Jodie had only taken the morning off and had to go back to work.Jake had gone to run some errands with Silas, who was going to pick Camila up and bring her back here.

Now, sitting on the bed, I yawned, and the thick white comforter was siren-singing my name.The room itself was gorgeous and simply decorated.The clean lines of the light wood furniture made for a perfect canvas to the huge mirror on the wall facing the bed.

As my back melted into the plush comforter, Bianca’s muffled voice rose from behind the door.“Cara, are you asleep?”

Jumping on my feet, I opened the door.She too had gotten changed in one of her super awesome loungewear.This one, a pale blue.

Since this morning, she hadn’t been her usual self, and I’d attributed her somberness to her friend losing his father, but there was something else.So, I pulled her in my arms in a tight hug.When she sniffled, I did what Mom used to do, I led her to the bed where we laid on our sides, and I curled myself around her.Her fingers linked to mine around her waist, and I snuggled closer.

“It’s not just the funeral, is it?”

Her whole body sighed.“I don’t want to marry him.”

Getting over the shock of her unexpected announcement, I kept my voice hushed.“Marry who?”