Page 74 of Is It Casual Now?

“To my place.” Siena wasn’t sure when she’d made that decision, but she had. Jamie had already woven herself into her personal life so much that this last step wouldn’t be too far to make. “It’s cold out here, I’m freezing, and this conversation that we need to have is going to take longer than the next twenty minutes.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Jamie shook her head and then looked around as if trying to find some type of exit.

“Then don’t come. It was just an idea. But we do need to talk, and I’d rather do that where I’m comfortable. What about you?”

“You think I’m going to be comfortable at your place?” Jamie looked skeptical.

“Maybe. But it’s at least warmer.”

Silence filtered between them. It was awkward at first, but Siena wasn’t going to push any more. Jamie needed to make this decision on her own, and if she decided they were going to have this conversation right here and now, then that’s what Siena was going to do. But they really did need to just talk.

“Fine.” Jamie pouted, her full lower lip pushing out. “But you’re driving. I don’t have enough gas to get anywhere but home.”

“Fair.” Siena shuffled her feet, trying to remember where she’d even parked. Luckily, they weren’t too far away. Jamie followed her, and Siena hopped behind the driver’s seat. As soon as the engine was running and both of them were buckled in, she breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t actually thought that Jamie was going to come with her.

“So what are we talking about?” Jamie asked.

“The interview.” Siena pulled away from the curb and started driving toward home. “Why didn’t you show up? It took a lot of convincing to get Bunny into that room for you. She’s not very happy with you in general.”

“You actually got them there?” Jamie seemed surprised by that.

Siena frowned and furrowed her brow. “I told you I would.”

The silence was deafening. Siena needed to hear Jamie’s voice, to hear something other than her breathing in and out. She needed to know what had happened between them that this had gotten so bad.

“I don’t know why we’re even talking about this,” Jamie muttered.

“Because you wanted an interview, and I set up the meeting for it. You worked hard to get there, and then you bailed. What happened?”

“You! You happened!” Jamie’s voice burst through the car.

Siena was taken aback, but she didn’t give in just yet. There was still time for them to talk. Siena turned onto the highway and continued to drive. “How did I happen?”

“I don’t even know why we’re talking. We broke up, remember? You told me that we were done. You told me that this was nothing. You’re the one who told me that there was nothing between us.”

Siena didn’t remember that. She didn’t remember saying at least half of those words that Jamie claimed she did. She’d pushed Jamie away, yes. She’d told Jamie that it was the end, essentially, that they needed to keep everything professional. But that had been what she’d meant—professional. And then Jamie had ditched even on that.

“I thought this was a one-night stand, Jamie. Nothing more.”

“Two nights,” Jamie corrected.

“Fine, two nights.” Siena pulled into her driveway. “Answer my question, Jamie.”

Jamie shook her head slowly, her eyes wide as she stared out the front windshield at Siena’s house. “You’re fucking rich.”

“I’m not rich.” Siena laughed lightly. “But I do make decent money, and I invest well. Sometimes it’s nice to work for the stars.”

“And sometimes it’s nice to expose them when they’re asshats.”

Siena laughed louder. “I’ll give you that one.” Then she sighed heavily. “Why didn’t you come? You didn’t even answer my call.”

“I truly believed that you were yanking my chain, Siena. You held off for so long, for months, and I had no promises from you that you’d actually follow through with anything.”

“I always follow through on my word.” Siena looked her over, eyes wide open to how far she had pushed and howmuch damage she had done. “I’m so sorry you didn’t know that.”

“How would I?” Jamie asked. “It was just two nights, wasn’t it?”

No.

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