Hands land on my shoulders, and Jax spins me slowly, bending until he can see into my lowered face. “Ah, Sienna. Don’t cry.”
“I’m not,” I insist, my voice thick as I dash my hand over my face. “I just got some onion in there.”
Jax’s hand pats my shoulder as he maneuvers me towards the table. “Onion eye is the worst.”
He sits me down and slides a full plate in front of me. “You didn’t eat anything yesterday,” he murmurs softly. “You need to eat, shortcake.”
Shortcake?
The ache in my stomach intensifies as I stare at the food. I know that I’m hungry, but it’s muted against the pain I can feel radiating through my body.
“Don’t you feel it?” I whisper, looking up at him.
Don’t you feel any of this damned pain?
Immediately, his face shutters and he takes a step away. “Eat.”
Way to go, Sienna.
Biting my lip, I reach my hands out for a slice as the door opens behind me. “Morning!”
Alicia’s shrillness makes my teeth ache, but Jax smiles at her easily enough. “Mornin’, sweetheart.”
And just like that, any appetite I had is swallowed by a spike of pain directly into my stomach. Coughing, I reach out for my coffee.
Alicia slides into a seat next to me. “Oh, is that eggs?”
She tugs the plate from in front of me with a sharp smile. “You don’t mind, Sienna, right? I do hate to see good food go to waste.”
Jax growls just a little, and Alicia’s smile falters as she looks between us.
“Am I interrupting something?” she asks silkily.
Jax’s jaw ticks, but he shakes his head, not saying anything as Alicia picks at the food.
I wrap my hands around the cup, trying to soak up the last of the warmth. Logan clears his throat. “What are your plans today, Sienna?”
I stare at him, a little lost. “My plans?”
I don’t have any plans. I would have plans, lots of lovely fun plans, if this whole situation wasn’t ten shades of fucked up.
God, Jessalyn would lose her shit if she could see this.
I shrug. “I don’t know, to be honest.”
Alicia laughs lightly. “Don’t be silly! The Nesting Trial is a week away. Surely you want to prepare.”
My mouth opens, and then closes again. Prepare for what? More rejection?
I’m not going to pass another Trial. We all know it.
Confused, I look between them all. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t shown Sienna her nesting space?” Alicia trills. “It’s quite the spot, you know.”
Dread grows in my stomach. This isn’t gonna be good.
“I’ll show her.” Logan stands, pushing his chair back. “Come on, Sienna.”
