I never had a doubt that my niece was beautiful, but with each click, I realized that these photos were not like the others, but something of a more…special nature.
I immediately stopped snapping and gave her a stern look. “What’s up with these poses?” I asked. “Why are they not as flashy as the others?”
Sienna straightened and crossed her arms over her chest. “Because these aren’t for Instagram; these are for my boyfriend.”
I’m sorry, WHAT?
Boy…boyfriend?
Oh God, Taron was going to skin me alive and wear me as a winter garment if he learnt what I was helping Sienna do.
I swallowed and cleared my throat. “Your…who? What?”
She rolled her eyes again. “Myboyfriend, Uncle Myles. His name’s Jeremiah and we have the same classes. You do realize that I’m almost sixteen, and it’s only natural for me to have a boyfriend, right?”
Natural? I didn’t know about that. But this sure would lead to my brutal execution if I didn’t tell Taron about it,stat.
But wait, what if he knew about it already?
“Are your parents aware of this… Jeremiah person?”
“I mean, they know who he is, but they don’t know we’re dating,” Sienna said.
Queue crying baby sound effect.
I wassodead.
“And you haven’t told them because…?”
Sienna sighed. “You’ve met my parents, Uncle Myles; you know how they are, especially my dad.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Oh yeah, Iknow. Your mom’s manageable, but your dad?” I made an abort gesture.
She laughed. “You won’t tell them, though, right?” she asked, then looked at me with plea in her grey eyes.
“Do you think skinned and bleeding-all-over-the-place will be a good look on me?”
She grimaced. “Ewwwww, why would you say that?”
It wasmyturn to roll my eyes. “Because if Taron finds out that I know about your dating situation and didn’t tell him about it, he’ll turn me into a ready-to-eat chicken.”
“But he won’t know anything if you don’t tell him.”
I shook my head. “He could find out on accident, or from one of your friends, Si.”
Sienna grabbed my hands. “He won’t. My friends know not to say anything, and Jeremiah and I are always careful about things.” She let go of a breath, and in that moment, I realized how her situation was so in sync with mine and Rina’s.
“If anyone can understand what I’m going through, Uncle Myles,” she told me, “it’syou. You know what it’s like having to live under restraint, when all you wanna do is scream your lungs out and tell the world how badly you wanna be with this person. I promise I’ll tell Mom and Dad about Jer and I, but just not now. Can you please not say anything to them for the time being?”
I worked my jaw as I looked at her, and because everything she’d just told me felt so honest, especially with the way her eyes lit up every time she said the guy’s name out loud, I sighed and relented. “Fine, but only because I know exactly how you feel.”
She squealed and began jumping up and down. “Thank you, Uncle Myles!” She hugged me. “Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!”
I laughed and hugged her back. “Alright, alright.” I pulled away and placed my hands on her shoulders. “But be careful, Si. And, if this guy ever breaks your heart or hurts you, you come to me, okay? I’m here for you.”
She nodded, then showed me a selfie she’d taken of the two of them.
I had to admit: they looked adorable together. And, if Sienna really had found happiness with someone she knew well enough, then who was I to get in their way?
