Chapter 6
Sienna
I whistle for a city cab and when one arrives, I quickly open the door, and hop in the back seat. “Thirty-ninth, between seventh and eighth.”
“Sure thing, miss.” When the cabbie starts the meter, I glance over my shoulder and sure enough, there’s Jack.
He follows in a dark SUV while I make my way downtown, a billion thoughts swirling in my brain. I didn’t like how Andy treated Dahlyla but I have to admit, I didn’t like how she acted either. They’re both being childish and I did good to leave.
I wanted to side with my sexy lawyer but at what cost? I don’t have enough friends to lose. Generally, I don’t connect. I got no one to call in the middle of the night, no one to share secrets with. Most of the time it doesn’t matter but since meeting Andy, I wish I had someone to talk to.
As I sat there in the restaurant, my clothes seemed lame while Dahlyla was dressed to the nines. It’s a no-brainer. A guy like Andy goes for a sexy woman and I need to stop fantasizing.
I let out a long, deep sigh and the driver’s Middle-Eastern eyes catch me in the rearview mirror. “Are you alright, miss?”
“Fine.” I give him a small smile. Apparently, I haven’t reached rock bottom or by now, I’d be spilling my guts.
However, I can always count on Sam. Thinking of him, I pick up my cell phone and call. It really was weird how we met. We got to talking before an audition and found out we had the same birth mother.
Voila. Instant brother.
“Hey Sis.” I smile at his use of the term. He was as thrilled as me to find a sibling in a city of strangers. “Coming to rehearsal?”
The cab stops at a light. To avoid traffic, we’ve gone down the west side but still need to go crosstown. “Be there in about twenty.”
“Good. We only got this place for a couple more hours. See ya in a few. Is your bodyguard with you?”
“Ah, not really. I think the danger has passed.”
I wish.
“Not believing you, Sis.” His connection drops as he hangs up on me.
A few minutes later, I arrive at rehearsal, huffing and puffing from running up three flights of stairs. The guys in the band look up and grin as I plop down on the piano bench.
“I want you to sing this tonight.” Sam throws some sheet music on the stand.
“Why? The lyrics suck.” I glance at the scribbled notes in my handwriting and for the umpteenth time wish that words would come to me as easily as chords.
“Doesn’t matter. Make something up.” Sam taps his bass, setting the tempo. “One, two, three, and…”
A guitar lick starts the tune and I shoot my brother a desperate look. “Can’t we do it as an instrumental?”
“Sing.”
What the hell is up with Sam?
My fingers fly over the keyboard as I recall Andy’s heated look when he helped me into the shower. The former lyrics seem too trite compared to what’s going on inside my head.
Sam nods, my piano player grins, and I sing what’s lodged deep inside my soul.
Don’t try
To chip away at my heart.
Told you it was stone
Right from the start.
