Page 91 of Is It Casual Now?

She hadn’t cared, and until she had met Siena, she hadn’t quite realized just how much her passion had died, suffocating beneath the vile side of the industry and refusing to fight back due to her own inferiority complex.

But still, this was going to be hard.

She sat down on the couch, letting her notes and photos flutter to the floor.

It was a risk, a huge risk.

And she had no idea if she had the strength to put herself on that line again. No, further out on the line.

Her palms grew sweaty at the very thought of it. And what if she was wrong? With a sigh, Jamie went to her bedroom and grabbed her laptop. Before she did anything else, she had to do her due diligence with her research.

She powered up her computer, ignoring the papers that still lay on the carpet. With her legs crossed and her computer in her lap, she started down the rabbit hole in search of the truth.

She didn’t realize just how much truth she would end up finding.

twenty-nine

“Hey baby.” Siena smiled as Harley opened Tori and Miranda’s front door and jumped up into Siena’s waiting arms. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“Me too, Mommy,” Harley replied as Siena stepped over the threshold.

After a quick hug, Siena put Harley back on the ground with a smile. Harley raced off down a hallway without a glance back.

“Hey, you’re early.” Tori came out from the kitchen and brushed her lips along Siena’s cheek.

“Hope that’s okay.”

“Of course it is. When has it ever not been okay?”

“Well.” Siena felt her face grow warm as she rubbed the back of her neck and looked around at the place she had never been able to afford the equal of during her and Tori’s marriage. Miranda, in some ways, was doing so much better than Siena. That or they were just at different places when the relationships started.

“Oh for goodness’ sake, Siena.” Tori rolled her eyes, but that smile, always so sweet and understanding, danced on herlips. “You are always welcome here. And I never have an issue with you seeing our daughter more. And I never will.”

“But does Miranda mind?”

“No, why would she?” Tori asked as she led the way back into the kitchen.

It was easily double the size of their old one, but still Tori waved her hand toward the table, and Siena took a seat in the place as she would have back there—back then.

“I’ll put the water on, and you can tell me why you look like you’ve gone ten rounds in the ring with your hands tied behind your back.”

“Oh my God.” Siena laughed and relaxed down into the chair a little more. “That’s one hell of a metaphor.”

“I know, right?” Tori laughed as she puttered around, getting things ready to make them both a cup of tea. “Tierney is dating this gym owner, and everything he says is a boxing metaphor or some other workout thing. He seems nice enough, though, if a little dull.”

“That’s good.” Siena smiled, and she couldn’t deny how much she enjoyed Tori’s stories and knowing how happy her ex-wife was.

“It is,” Tori said as she placed one cup in front of Siena and slid into the adjacent chair with the other cup. “Now will you tell me what the hell’s going on with you?”

“What do you mean?” Siena lifted her cup and sipped, instantly regretting the distraction as the hot liquid scorched the tip of her tongue and her lip. “Shit.”

“I’d be tempted to say instant karma, but I know how you hate that.” Tori smirked and made a show of blowing on her own liquid to cool it before taking a tentative sip. “So I’ll ask again. What’s going on with you?”

“What makes you think anything’s going on?”

“You really want me to do this?”

Siena blew on her drink and took another sip, forcingherself not to wince as the liquid touched the small burn she had already given herself.

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