“Dance with me, Sianna.” My father stood next to us with his hand out.
She looked up at me. Her anxiety was confusing. My gaze flicked between the two of them before I nodded. “It’s okay.” I released my hold on her, and she accepted his hand. A couple of minutes into the dance, they left Kyra, Tamara, my mother, and I gaping open-mouthed as we watched.
“Wow,” my sister gushed. “They’re so good together.”
I had to agree, but it was the way they were looking at each other that had my earlier misgivings surfacing once more. Almost like star-crossed lovers, I stupidly surmised. Anyone observing could tell they fitted together like two pieces of a puzzle. Given her initial apprehension, her ease with how my father twirled and dipped her was surprising. That took unquestionable confidence between a dancing couple.
“Looks like she trusts dad,” I remarked before I could stop myself.
The eyeball Tamara sent my way left me a lot more baffled. Was my jealousy that obvious?
“He’s her father in law, she has to trust him,” Kyra’s glib remark drew my gaze. “Oh, my God, you guys were awesome.” She slipped between Sianna and him.
He laughed. “Have you taken Salsa classes, Sianna?”
She nodded. The flush to her cheeks was noticeable, more so her smile, and another pang of jealousy squeezed my chest. I walked away, not bothering with the rest of the conversation.
“Hey.” I had no idea how my legs carried me to my bedroom to stare out the window until I turned to find Sianna behind me, her brow creased in a deep frown. “Why did you leave?”
“I...” I broke off, not sure what answer to give, fighting the cloying emotions pressing against my chest. “Sianna—” I began, then clamped up and turned away.
“What’s wrong, Ray.” She stepped closer and rubbed my arm.
“Are you.” Slowly, I rotated. “Are you in love with my father?”
She paled the same time her jaw dropped. “What the—” she stopped speaking and dragged a hand through her hair. “Is this because I danced with him?” There was a strange waver to her voice. Silence swayed between us for what seemed like an eternity until she pulled in a deep breath. “Can I ask you a favor?” I detected underlying tiredness in her words, like someone giving up after a long-winded fight that had no end. I suddenly felt guilty but nodded. “Would you take me home?”
I reared back. Shock hitting me in the face. “What?”
She sighed, her shoulders sagging. “I can’t do this anymore.”
And that there was the hand yanking my chain, pulling me out of my stupidity. “Shit, babe, I’m sorry.” I moved forward to put my arms around her, but she stepped back, shaking her head.
“I can’t.” She sounded so tired, my insides tightened with the need to comfort her.
“I’m sorry, babe. Forget I asked that,” I tried.
“No, you don’t understand,” she cried, tears welling in her eyes, squeezing my heart. “I-I...” the word hovered on her lips. Emotions I couldn’t read blanketed her face. She turned her back on me. “I need to be alone, Ray.” She was gone before I could stop her.
I stared at her back, unsure whether to go after her or give her some space. If I followed, she might push me away. Grinding my teeth, I slipped my hands into my pants pockets and glanced out the window.
I wasn’t sure what had me opening my eyes, but I was lying in bed in the darkened room with Sianna next to me when I did. About to reach for her, I stilled my hand when she tossed the covers aside and sat up. We’d never gone to bed without a goodnight kiss before, and I felt like an ass for my idiocy. When she stood, I didn’t move. She finger-brushed her hair into a ponytail and glanced over her shoulder at me. I closed my eyes. The soft click of the door closing had me opening my eyes. I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling. Why couldn’t I shake the feeling there was more to Sianna’s response. What was she not telling me? Did she want this relationship over? As the questions played rock and roll in my head, a part of me wondered if it was because she wanted to be with my father.
“Fuck.” I sat up and vaulted off the bed. She was mine, and I’d be damned if I let her go. Not bothering with a t-shirt, I yanked open the door and froze when I glanced down the passage in time to see my father’s bedroom door close. I was too stunned to move until rage swirled through my body and spurred my feet. When I reached his door, I stood there with my clenched fist poised to knock, schooling my reaction and the pain racing through my body. I barely managed to keep from pounding, instead knocked twice.
It opened almost immediately. “Rayden?” His brow creased, my father stared at me.
Are you about to fuck my girlfriend?The question resembled a screech in my head. “Do you feel like a drink?” I silently patted my back for my restraint.
“It’s two in the morning.” He laughed then sobered when he noticed my cocked brow. “Let me grab a t-shirt.” He went back inside, leaving the door open. I didn’t follow. I wasn’t sure if I could handle seeing Sianna in his bed. He returned a couple of seconds later, slid on a t-shirt, and closed the door behind him. “Let’s go.”
Downstairs, I had no idea what I planned to say other than ask him straight out, but my temper crumbled like a demolished building when we entered the living room. My father stopped short the same time guilt descended over my taut body wrenching a low moan from my mouth. Sianna lay curled on one of the couches in front of the fire. With a hand tucked under her cheek, her eyes closed and pink lips parted slightly, she looked peaceful.
He glanced at me. “Is that your reason for an early morning drink?” I nodded dumbly. “Did you guys argue?” He studied my face, searching for God knew what. Because right now, I felt like shit. “Do you want to talk about it?” I shifted my gaze from Sianna to him and shook my head. “You still want that drink, or do you want to try talking to her?”
I puffed out a frustrated breath. Who said relationships got easier with age? “You think I should?”
He nodded. “Relationships are like flowers, Rayden. The more you nurture with love and affection, the brighter it blooms. The less you give them, the more likely it is to wilt and eventually die.” His eyes on Sianna, he breathed, his expression wistful. “She’s already blossomed. You just need to keep her glowing, she deserves that.” With a soft pat to my back, he turned and walked out.
