Page 67 of Dangerous Love

He gave me a mock salute as he jumped to his feet and stepped out of the basketball court. “Let me know if she replies.”

Fingers shaking, I pulled my phone out of my back pocket. I unlocked it, staring at the screensaver flashing on the display. Sienna and me the week before the wedding. In my arms, head against my chest, her eyes smiling at the camera. If only I had known our days were numbered then, I’d have worked harder at fixing all this shit.

My resolve reborn, I scrolled to her name until her profile picture popped up on the screen. I studied the innocence in her face, my blood rushing through my veins like a heroin addict craving his next fix. I missed her beyond words. I missed her smile, her sass, her body underneath mine. She’d carved herself into my soul, marking my spirit with hers. If she didn’t want me, I’d let her find her happiness with someone else. But I’d be damned if I let her believe I didn’t love her more than life itself for one extra day.

My thumb pressed the message icon, and I paused, my heart searching for the perfect words.

Me: Sienna, are you okay?

Me: I just need to know you’re safe.

Me: Please, Si. Call us.

My throat tightened, fear and hopelessness replacing the prior determination. In my despair, I had nothing to lose. I closed my eyes, calling the universe to bring my woman back to me, as my fingers typed the only thing that she deserved to hear.

Without reading the text on the screen, I pressed send. In three words, she’d know all that she needed to know. I just prayed it was enough.

Me: I love you.

CHAPTER33

Sienna

Iglanced at the clock above the cash register, a fake smile plastered on my face as I scanned this woman’s sixth bottle of coke. Between the packets of chips, the three blocks of Cadbury, and the frozen pizzas, she was either having a kick-ass party or the cheat day from hell.

“So, are you studying or is this your…” She scrunched up her nose. “…permanent career?”

I clenched my jaw, my fingers strangling her credit card, as I pictured her frozen pizza lodged in her back.

Death by pizza stabbing.“Any cash out?” I asked, ignoring her question.

“Nah,” she answered, and placed the card back in her purse. She gave me some pitiful glare before she yelled on her way out, “Don’t give up, sweetie. You’ll get there with lots of hard work.”

My eyes grew wide. “And you can just f—”

“Find yourself a wonderful day,” a voice finished from behind me.

I turned around, my eyes narrowed to slits at whoever stopped me from telling this woman to go fuck herself.Who the hell does she think she is?

Michael’s lips had curled all the way to his eyebrows. “Someone’s gonna get herself fired at this rate.” He stepped towards me and stroked my shoulder. “How’s your day going?”

“Peachy,” I deadpanned, as soon as I registered his presence. “You should have let me deal with her.”

He chuckled. “Well, it was tempting, I won’t lie, but I don’t think it would have gone over too well with Sam.”

As much as I was pissed, he was probably right. Especially now that I lived with Michael, having no income would have stretched the friendship. I sighed as I wiped my register. “I guess.”

“Why don’t you go on your break, babe. I’ll get Wendy to replace you.”

“Since when are you in charge of the front?” I asked, my question coming out a little faster than I meant.

“Since Sam thinks I’m awesome and he’s on leave for the day.”

I stepped closer, my palm landing across his chest. “Oh, hot. Mr Boss in action.”

From a distance, he nodded towards the redhead at the self-service checkout. Within a few seconds, she’d taken over for me, and I was on my way to the staff room.

He’s hoping your mood will improve once you’ve drowned in Norco milk.

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