Alex grinned. “Don’t listen to them. It was all planned. We weren’t letting you do this without your full cheer squad.”
Charley’s throat tightened.
She looked from Alex to Ace, then to Bailey and Irish, then down at Sienna, who was still clinging to her like a koala. Charley felt her emotions start to spiral and her eyes get a little teary.
“You guys,” she said softly. “You didn’t have to—”
“We wanted to,” Bailey cut in gently. “There’s a difference.”
Irish nodded. “You think we’re missing this? Not a chance.”
Charley swallowed, blinking fast as she hugged Sienna again. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“The rest of the crew wanted to come too. But they were tied up with some family stuff,” Alex told her.
Charley wiped her eyes before any stray tears fell. Just knowing that the others wanted to be here mattered so much to her.
Sienna leaned back in Charley’s arms and studied her face like she was conducting an inspection. “You look fancy,” she declared.
Charley laughed. “Thank you.”
Then Sienna’s gaze shifted, her eyes landing on Pierce.
He was still standing right beside Charley, one hand resting lightly at the small of her back. He looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh at being assessed by a six-year-old.
Sienna squinted at him and then looked back at Charley.
“Who’s that?” Sienna whispered.
Charley adjusted Sienna on her hip. “Oh. That’s—” She paused, glancing at Pierce.Well, shit. What exactly was he to her? Was he her boyfriend now? He definitely had graduated from “friend” status, especially after that kiss on the beach the other night. But what could she tell the inquisitive little girl staring at her like she was getting impatient? She also didn’t miss how both Alex and Bailey leaned in as if waiting to hear her answer. Then a thought hit her.
“That’s Pierce,” she said. “He’s my special friend.”
Pierce’s lips twitched. And Charley could’ve sworn that she heard a snort of laughter come from Alex. She just chose to ignore it. She would deal with her later.
Sienna looked between them slowly. “Special friend,” she repeated.
“Yep,” Charley said firmly.
Sienna leaned toward Pierce, still in Charley’s arms, and narrowed her eyes. “Are you nice?”
“I try to be,” Pierce replied, smiling and putting his dimple on display.
Sienna studied him as if she were preparing for an interrogation.
“Do you like Legos?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like animals?”
“Yes.”
“Do you eat vegetables?”
“Most of them,” Pierce said, his grin growing with every question she asked him.
She considered him for another second, then looked at Charley.
