Page 52 of Unforeseen Love

Passing Sienna's office, I glance through the window. Her head is hunched over the computer, always deep in admin if she's not in the embalming theatre, no doubt.

In the small kitchen, I wash my hands and then take a ready-made pasta from the fridge, along with two cans of coke. I grab a pot noodle from the cupboard, tearing off the foil lid and hold it under the filtered hot tap. Uncle Ewan upgraded the kitchen a few years back, which is definitely a perk.

I grab some forks from the cutlery drawer, stir the noodles, and let it sit for a few minutes before placing everything on a tray and then head back the way I came. Sienna's door is partially open, so I gently toe it the rest of the way as I enter, and her head darts up. Her cheeks heat, and I can't hide my smirk.

"Hungry?" I ask, approaching her desk, and she glances at her watch.

"Actually, I am."

I place the pot noodle on the coaster and sit a can of coke beside it.

"Voila," I say.

Granted, it's not a gourmet meal, but one thing I've noticed is how much she loves a pot noodle. Who am I kidding? There isn't much I don't notice about Sienna. I don't even know if it's something I just do subconsciously with her because I've never paid much attention to my ex's––not that she's my girlfriend, but it's something I would very much like to remedy.

"Thank you. Sweet and sour is my favourite," she says, her lips forming a smile, one I can't help but reciprocate.

"I know," I reply, sitting opposite. "Mind if I join you?"

She glances to the window, and I wonder if she's going to say no, worried about what the other couple of staff members might say.

"I can go," I say, hooking my thumb over my shoulder and rising to my feet.

Sienna shakes her hand and waves for me to sit.

"No, it's good. We're two metres apart," she replies, as if she's justifying the situation.

I can't hide my knowing smirk. "Something we were far from last night and this morning," I say.

She grabs something and throws it at me, but I'm quick to stop it from hitting me in the face—a squidgy stress ball.

I tut. "Now, that wasn't very nice. Maybe later, I'll have to teach you a lesson for that little stunt." Her jaw drops and her eyes go wide, but I don't miss the flash of lust as her pupils dilate, either.

Picking up my fork, I point it in her direction. "Eat."

I expect her to challenge me or tell me to piss off, but instead, she stirs her noodles before bringing a forkful to her mouth, groaning when she pulls the fork away empty.

Shifting in my seat, I open my pasta container. "I can't believe you like those things," I say, digging into my food.

She scoffs at my remark. "Please, they're a perfectly acceptable food source," she retorts.

"If you say so, baby."

As soon as the word spills from my lips, I feel the air grow thick. I don't know why I just called her that. I mean, it's not the first time, but unlike with previous girlfriends, it's natural. My ex used to try and force me to call her darling, and her pet name for me was Hunnybunch. I hated it. But again, the realisation Sienna isn't mine—not officially anyway––hits me, and I don't like it.

"Anyway, about last night," I say.

She sits up straight, her eyes darting everywhere but at me. And I accept that now might not be the best time to go there.

"How about we talk tonight after work?" I ask, attempting a different tactic.

Her shoulders relax, and I let out an inaudible sigh, pleased I managed to pull that back quickly.

"Yeah, okay," she says, popping the tab on her can of coke before bringing it to her lips. She takes a sip promptly, followed by a small hiccup.

I tilt my head. "You okay?"

Her cheeks heat, and other than her smiling, I think it's one of my favourite looks from her. "Yeah, I don't know why, but it always happens when I have my first drop of coke."

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