Page 21 of Settling the Score

‘Or a walk?’

Her head cocked to the side. Nowthathad appeal. The truth was, what she wanted was fresh air. Between knowing she was in the same room as Aiden, even when he wasn’t anywhere near her, and the girls’ very, very well-intentioned encouragement to make him suffer, and Chuck Daly hovering in the wings waiting to get her a drink or chat to her about whatever he thought made it more likely to get her into bed, Sienna was feeling ever so slightly suffocated.

But would a walk with Aiden fix that?

‘Just down to the beach,’ he suggested. ‘It’s a beautiful night.’

Itwasa beautiful night. Warm and balmy with the slightest hint of a breeze to offer relief, the air was sweet with the smell of honeysuckle and jasmine, and the night was so dark out here that every single star could be seen twinkling up above.

‘Okay,’ she heard herself agree. Because the whole revenge plan was predicated on this, she reminded herself. How could she make him want her again if she kept running away from him? Wouldn’t it be satisfying to make him realise what he’d walked away from – and then tell him he’d lost his chance with her for good?

Teenage Sienna deserved that moment of glory. In fact, now that she thought of it, that had been one of the fantasies that had got her through the darkest nights. The prospect of one day making him regret what he’d done.

She straightened her spine, squared her shoulders and flashed him a bright, uncomplicated smile – a lying smile, if ever there’d been one, because this situation was complicated with a capital C. But it didn’t have to be. It was just a week – and no matter what, at the end of the week, she had her one-way ticket back to Ashbury Falls, and her life there.

‘Sure.’ She shrugged and the spaghetti strap she’d been holding slipped down a little, so his eyes dropped to her shoulder. His hand shifted, as if he was going to reach for it, to lift it back up, but thank heavens for small mercies, he didn’t. ‘Just… give me a minute.’

‘I’ll give you two.’ He grinned, without a care in the world. Easy. Breezy. Rich. Successful. Living his best liar, liar, pants on fire life. She swallowed down the acid that clawed through her.

‘Great.’ She turned to make her way to the ladies’ room. ‘I’ll be right back.’

* * *

Once inside the spacious facilities with the forest green tiles and art deco mirrors, she pulled her phone from her clutch and wrote:

Just Desserts WhatsApp Group. 22.55 EST.

Sienna

We are going for a moonlit walk. This is not a drill, people.

Paige

Squeeeeee! You’ve got him, baby.

Bella

Whoop.

Astrid

Reel that sucker in!

Sienna

It’s just a walk…

Paige

Def not just a walk.

Sienna

Nothing’s going to happen.

Bella

He’s pacing in the foyer.