Page 102 of Undone By The Mountain Daddies

Cash shifts his weight in the doorway.

I narrow my eyes, unpacking her words. Worse how? Because it’ll be harder to make amends, to catch up with all her responsibilities? Or because the goodbyes will feel more painful?

“Trust me—those bastards won’t be coming back anytime soon. We made sure of that. It’s assault, what they did—coming up here and invading your personal space.”

I see the wheels spinning in Sienna’s mind as she thinks things through. The whiskey is leaving her system, her eyes returning to normal again. The shade of blue reminds me of the summer sky up here.

It’s a shame she’s not planning to stick around until then. She’d love it up here when everything is in full bloom.

“No.” Sienna shakes her head and escapes before Cash can grab hold of her. “Too much has happened, and I won’t drag Henry and you guys into all of this.”

That’s an excuse if I’ve ever fucking heard one.

I rush out of the room, following her down the hallway. But she’s too quick. I wonder if her being good at running has anything to do with the paparazzi.

“Sienna. Stop running.” I fly through the front door as she rushes out and catch her wrist on the porch before she gets to the stairs.

I flip her around and pin her against the wall. Her eyes are full of hurt, and when I look into them, I start to feel that pain myself.

She’s been carrying it around for years, hiding everything, putting on a brave face for the cameras. She must know she can’t do that forever though. It’s not sustainable.

“You’ve been drinking. You’re not going anywhere.”

The floorboards creak as two more pairs of feet join us. Knox appears behind me, stoic as ever as he assesses Sienna, keeping his thoughts and emotions to himself, as usual.

Cash is watching her too, and I see zero disdain on his face.

Jealousy stabs me in the chest. I think Sienna’s the first woman I’ve ever loved.

But I don’t think I’m alone in my feelings…

I keep Sienna pinned to the wall as another thought washes over me. I’ve been competing with the wrong people.

It was never about Knox and Cash.

My hatred should be with the entertainment industry.

They have Sienna in a chokehold, one so tight she can’t even breathe. She thinks it’s her duty to go back there. Thinks it's what she owes everyone. But if she goes back there, she’ll continue to sacrifice her own happiness for other people’s.

I glance at the two men beside me. This is bigger than jealousy.

I need all the help I can get to stop Sienna from leaving.

We’re stronger when we work together.

I catch Knox’s eye and feel like he’s starting to understand the same thing…

Especially when he starts to remove his shirt.

We come closer to Sienna, closing in on her.

She parts her lips and exhales, and she looks so conflicted.

I take my hands away from the wall now, trusting her not to run.

“Name one thing your career has given you, other than the money.” Cash folds his arms over his chest and waits for Sienna to answer.

But she just stands there, mute. We’re standing inches away from her, shirtless. She’s looking from one naked chest to the next, her mouth starting to gape open.