Page 39 of Is It Casual Now?

The Harley power.

Siena returned the smile and nodded. No, they couldn’t do that.

Parking at the school was much easier this time. She wasn’t late, she was sure of it. She double checked her watch and then the details about what time they needed her to show up.

“Ten minutes early.” She all but fist pumped in the air. The fact she considered it made her chuckle to herself. It wasn’t like she was twenty anymore, but lately she had definitely been feeling a lot more energized for life. All of life, not just her work.

But as she stepped into the buzz of the hall where the school dance would be held, the young energy she had been filled with drained away.

They were all so young, and that was just the teachers and other parents dotted around the hall, working on various tasks.

Someone busied themself with setting up a table of snacks, while several others wove streamers around poles and even more blew up balloons. The buzz of people talking and arms flying as they directed others to finish or begin tasks filled Siena up.

She had always thrived on the busy life of events. It had been one of the things she loved most about the many roles she had as an entertainment manager.

“You made it!”

She heard Tori’s happy squeal before she saw her. Turning around, Siena caught her breath seeing Tori and Jessie approaching her.

“Oh, Ms. K, right?” Siena slid her nice and safe parent smile on her face, only for it to slip the moment she met those eyes.

“Not quite.” Jamie chuckled.

“Ms. K is over there.” Tori pointed, and Siena followed the gaze to see the truth in the matter. “This is Jamie. Who, I believe, you’ve met before.”

“Yes.” Siena turned back and looked at Jamie, barely aware that Tori was still there despite her being the one talking. “What’re you doing here?”

“I’m here to help my sister. Is it going to be a problem?” Jamie was feisty as her fingers curved around her hips. Siena was certain it was supposed to be an attempt to intimidate her, but her body pulsed at the stance.

“Of course not.” Siena smiled, knowing the parent smile was long gone, replaced by the one she hoped let Jamie know just how delicious she looked.

“Alll riiight.” Tori clapped her hands together and grabbed both Jamie and Siena’s attention. “School party.”

Siena’s mouth opened and snapped shut again.

“Our daughter’s school Halloween party.”

“I’m all here.” Siena smiled and gave Tori a firm nod.

“Excellent. Well, the children are going to be heading in soon so let’s get the rest of this place set up.”

“You didn’t tell me your ex-wife was head of the PTA. She’s even more of a task master than you.” Jamie smiled, a dusting of pink on her cheeks shining through her makeup.

“And you don’t want to get on her bad side, trust me.” Siena gave Jamie a conspiratorial smile. It felt good, and that in itself sent a wave of confusion through Siena.

“No,” Tori interrupted, “You don’t. Though I’m not the president of the PTA yet. But chop-chop.”

Siena laughed, and Jamie’s own chuckle threaded harmoniously through the sound.

True to her word, the children showed up shortly after, and the Halloween party was soon in full swing. The music played, and the children played in that carefree way only small children could.

“You would think they’d never seen twins before in their lives.” Tori sidled up to Siena as she leaned against the wall,chaperoning the children on the gym floor from activity to activity.

“I suppose some of them haven’t before now.” It had been easy for Siena to do her allocated task of supervising while also getting to watch Jamie in all her glory as children seemed to swarm around her and Jessie most of the evening. They’d dressed up asThing 1andThing 2for the party, which was perfect for them.

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Mm-hmm.” Siena wasn’t going to dive into what she assumed Tori was hinting at. If Tori wanted to get into anything, she would have to specifically ask the questions.

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