Page 66 of Is It Casual Now?

“Oh shut up.” But Jamie laughed. It wasn’t like Jamie hadn’t questioned her own sanity on the matter time and time again over the years. “Besides, I didn’t just roll over and say okay. I offered her some suggestions on times that’ll work for me, and thought perhaps it might make it easier for her.”

“Look, I get it.” The smile in Jessie’s voice was something Jamie needed more and more lately. Whenever her life tilted and left her scrambling for her footing, the more she needed the safe harbor of her sister’s calm gentleness.

“But?” Jamie preempted what obviously rested on the tip of her sister’s tongue.

“While I might not know the in-depth details of the industry you’re so fascinated and addicted with, I’ve come to know Siena a little. And I don’t think she’s that vindictive.”

Jamie was about to agree. She’d never seen Siena as the vindictive type. Even when the managers had started hounding her boss. Her phone lit up and she looked at the screen.

A one-line text from Siena.

None of these dates are viable. My clients are very busy.

“No offense, Sis, but I don’t think either of us truly know Siena half as much as we might like to think we do.” Jamie fought to hold back the true venom she wished to unleash. It wasn’t Jessie’s fault.

“Uh-oh. Another message?”

“None of the dates work. Her clients areverybusy. As though I’m nothing but a lazy idiot.”

“Stop reading into what’s not there, JJ.”

“I will,” Jamie said, “once people actually tell the truth and don’t try to hide it between the lines.”

“All right.” Jessie sighed on the other end.

The different way they saw the world was an old argument, thankfully one neither was willing to get into again tonight.

“Thanks for checking in.”

Jessie got the not-at-all-subtle hint, and they said their goodbyes. Jamie picked up her phone, and after a few colleagues had come and gotten their next hit of caffeine, she looked at Jessie’s checklist again and moved on to step number two. If only she could stop herself from messaging Siena with another list of potential interview times, knowing these would be rejected just as readily as the first.

twenty-one

Siena regretted agreeing to one of the times Jamie had sent through on her second list of availabilities. But seeing as it was actually the same time she had already scheduled Bunny and Piper to come to her office for a catch-up, she decided she really did need to stop stringing Jamie along.

She hadn’t wanted to cut their ties. Not really.

She hadn’t wanted to stop them having sex again. But she knew it would never work out. They were on opposite teams with their own chosen career goals, and that wasn’t something as simple as liking crunchy peanut butter or smooth.

Bunny and Piper walked through her door ten minutes early for the interview. Bunny was dressed in loose sweatpants and layered tank tops like she’d just come in from a long run and Piper was all done up and wearing a cute white dress.

“I can’t believe you have actually agreed to this.” Bunny shook her head as she hugged Siena and brushed a kiss on her cheek.

“I’m curious about how it might help things,” Piper said in response as she followed Bunny with her own greeting.

The three sat back in their usual seats at the small meeting area in Siena’s office after getting drinks for everyone.

“I’m hoping it helps steer things back toward your actual music, Piper. But yeah, I can’t say I had it on this year’s bingo card, that’s for sure.” Siena pursed her lips and glanced toward the door to her office, expecting Jamie to walk in any second now.

Bunny smiled and rested her arms on the back of the couch, one arm behind Piper as she spread her legs and took up space like she owned the entire office. Siena wouldn’t ever deny that agreeing to work with Bunny and Piper had catapulted her career into a whole different arena. And now she was considering signing another duo group that she’d caught the attention of. The letter she’d gotten from them had definitely piqued her interest.

“Don’t do that in the interview, yeah?” Siena said, pointing at how Bunny was sitting.

Bunny and Piper looked at each other and then turned their confused expressions back to Siena.

“Do what?” Piper asked.

“Your arm, Bunny.” Siena jerked her chin in Bunny’s direction.

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