Page 135 of Next to Everything We Wanted

“Why did you use that picture?” I asked Dad.

“Huh?” He glanced at his phone. “Oh, that’s my favorite picture of you two.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “It’s my favorite, too.”

Dad rubbed my arm. “It’ll be okay, Sea. I’m here for you if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” I gave him a kiss on the forehead.

After I texted myself Mom’s contact information and finished dinner, I went into my room to text her.

Sienna

Hey, this is Sienna, your daughter. Dad gave me your number

Can we call sometime? I want to get to know you more

Thanks

While I doodled in my sketchbook, my phone pinged with a string of texts.

Mom

Hey Sienna! It’s nice to hear from you

Let me know when you’re ready to call

I’m looking forward to hearing your voice again

I swallowed. Should I call her right now? Get everything out of the way?

I almost pressed the call button when I decided against it and turned my phone over. This was going to be my first time talking to my mom in almost eight years. I needed to plan out what I wanted to say.

Especially if I wanted to get the information I needed.

CHAPTER 33

Gavin

Ididn’t see Sienna again until her gig on Monday at What Do You Bean. All my bandmates came this time—including Forrest, who didn’t look completely miserable. It was fun to be in Sienna’s place for once, watching her band perform while we snacked.

After she talked to us at our booth, we went to an empty corner of the café to kiss. In the middle of enjoying her lips on mine, she broke apart from me, her face flushing.

“What is it?” I asked, knowing she had to say something.

“I-I wrote you a song.” She gave me a sheepish smile. “I shared it with some of my friends, but I never proposed it to the band. I want to perform it to you before I do anything with it.”

“Really?” Heat rushed to my own cheeks. “I’d love that. When are you free?”

“I have nothing going on tomorrow. Maybe we can go to the dog park and have a picnic.”

I grinned. “The dog park it is.”

When I arrived at Playful Paws Dog Park, Sienna was already sitting on a checkered picnic blanket. Her beautiful eyes lit up as she saw me, a smile spreading across her face.

“Good afternoon, my lady,” I said, planting a kiss on her lips. “Brought the desserts.” Since he was much better in the kitchen than I was, Ellis had given me homemade ice cream, brownies, and cinnamon rolls for the date.

Sienna returned the kiss before nodding to her picnic basket and pitcher of lemonade. “I made lemonade, fruit salads, and sandwiches. Eli says anything homemade is the way to your heart.”