Page 90 of Next to Everything We Wanted

“Really?” My breath caught as I looked into her shining eyes.

Her red lips lifted in a smile. “Did I do a good job of hiding it?”

“Not at all.” I snorted. “Well, I knew you were nervous around me, but I didn’t think you genuinely would want to get to know me like this.” I traced my hand along her wrist of bracelets, begging my heart to slow down. “To know me as more than the guy who sings your favorite songs.”

“You are my favorite song,” she whispered, her voice a melody to my ears.

I closed the space between us, gently pressing her against the car door. “And you’re mine.”

Her lips met mine halfway. They were just as sweet as before, the vanilla taste from her lipstick a pleasure to my senses. Her arms wrapped around my neck like they usually did, her bracelets meeting my bare skin again.

My hands slipped to the dip of her waist. She was so soft there, so gentle. I hoped the owners of the cars next to us didn’t return and ruin this moment, because I could do this for hours. Her lips were becoming familiar to me, like a song I’d rehearsed over and over again. I wanted my hands to get to know her.

I wanted all the time in the world to be with her.

I slid a hand along her ribcage, brushing the thin fabric of her blouse. I could feel the lacy fabric from underneath her shirt, but I tried to get my mind to focus on other things. Like how shallow her breathing was, how her heartbeat matched mine. How every second of her embrace made me spark to life, like a circuit plugged into a wall.

She let out a soft moan. Heat filled in the pit of my stomach, my thoughts scattering like ants released from a jar. She either really enjoyed kissing or enjoyedme.

No one had permission to make me feel this way, to send my heart on the brink of exploding. Still, Sienna took no time to knock my giant walls down, one by one. My fears presented themselves, begging me to take my next steps wisely. Maybe I should stop kissing her and tell her this wouldn’t work. MaybeI should stay silent and pretend the underlying truth didn’t matter.

Maybe she wouldn’t find out about my past.

Maybe, for all these years, I’d let this fear be bigger than me for no reason.

“I can’t believe this,” Sienna murmured against my lips, running a hand along my collar. “This is like a dream come true.”

I grinned against her mouth. “Because it is.”

After a few more moments, we broke apart to give ourselves space to breathe. The moonlight shined in her eyes as a smile broke out on her lips. I couldn’t break things off after that, after she allowed me to explore the most vulnerable parts of her. Right now, I didn’t care about the potential consequences.

I wanted this girl to be mine.

“Is it okay if you meet my dad?” Sienna asked as I walked her to the door. “He’s been looking forward to seeing you.”

I smiled, though my insides were jittery. Meeting her dad would put us at the official status and, although I was ready, that small corner in my head still whisperedyou aren’t. “That sounds great.”

When she unlocked the door, everyone in the living room turned to face us. Adam and Emma ate popcorn on the floor, while Raina and her twin sister Arielle sat on the couch. A muscular man with dark hair and a beard, who I assumed was her dad, sat in the big chair.

Arielle let out an ear-shattering squeal as she ran toward us. “She’s here with herman!” She tackled Sienna into a tight hug before grinning at me. “How much did you enjoy her?”

“Arielle!” Sienna’s cheeks flushed.

“What?” Arielle’s lips parted. “Oh, that sounds?—”

“This was a trainwreck waiting to happen,” Raina muttered from the couch. “I told you we should’ve left when Gracelynn did.”

Mr. Rowan stood up from his seat and walked over to me. “So, you’re the guy who’s been seeing my daughter.” He shook my hand, his grip strong and firm. “Ryder Rowan. Nice to finally meet you in the flesh, Ivan.”

“It’s G—”Not my name, not my name. “It’s great to meet you, Mr. Rowan.” I’d gotten so used to Sienna calling me by my real name that it made me forget who Ivan was.

Mr. Rowan smiled. Like Sienna, his eyes were also amber, only his had more flecks of brown. “If we haven’t scared you off yet, would you like to chat with us for a few minutes while we finish the movie?”

“Of course.” I sat on the couch next to Sienna, a little squished since there were four of us. I wrapped an arm around Sienna, and she rested her head on my chest.

I introduced myself to her dad and talked about my music for a while,Frozenplaying on the TV screen. Every pair of eyes was on me, and it felt like I was the shy kid who was called on by the teacher. After a few minutes, I was able to ease myself and share a few jokes.

Once the movie finished, I kissed Sienna on the forehead and walked out the door. I couldn’t believe any of this night was real. I had a new girlfriend, a relationship I hadn’t predicted.