The Hookup Handbook(53)
“Even if that means giving up escorting?”
“Especially if it means giving up escorting. Honestly, I don’t think I’d be much good at it anymore.”
For the first time since we sat down, she gives me a genuine smile, squeezing my fingers and shaking her head. “Why didn’t you say that earlier?”
“Is that what you were waiting for? For me to admit that you’re the only one I want?”
She laughs, shaking her head as she appraises me. “That would have been helpful information, yes.”
It makes sense, I guess. She couldn’t give me her whole heart until she knew she was the only woman I’d be with.
I lean forward, dipping my chin and bringing my lips to hers. She meets me halfway, our lips coming together for the first time in a while. And honestly, it feels better and more natural than I could have imagined after these weeks apart.
“You’re the only one I want.”
Sienna sighs, settling her chin on her palm. “Now what?”
“Now we go talk to your brother.”
? ? ?
A couple of hours later, Sienna and I pull up in separate cars at her apartment building. She texted Ryder to make sure he’d be home, and we spent the rest of the time in between preparing what we’d say to him and how to deescalate the situation.
I made the point that it might be best if Sienna went in first and let him know what was going on so he didn’t feel ambushed. She agreed, so after kissing me again in front of their door, she walks in and closes it behind her, leaving me alone in the hallway, waiting either for her signal or the sound of Ryder yelling—whichever comes first.
I can hear the muffled sounds of their voices through the door, but I can’t tell what they’re saying or even the tone. My heart races and my fight-or-flight instinct kicks in, preparing for the very real possibility that Ryder might burst through the door and try to hit me again.
But instead, the door swings open, and it’s Sienna standing there, a tight smile on her lips as she nods for me to enter. I walk inside and find Ryder standing behind the counter in their kitchen, his hands gripping the granite like he’s trying not to explode. His nostrils flare when he sees me, but he doesn’t make a move to touch me, which at this point, I’m counting as a serious win.
“Look, man, before we say anything else, I want to apologize,” I say, holding his gaze but not getting any closer. “For everything. For hitting you, for lying to you, and most of all, for not trusting you to be able to handle the truth. That was a shitty thing to do to anyone, but especially to my best friend.”
He nods, clenching his jaw and taking a deep breath through his nose. “Apology accepted. You two are adults. What you do is your business.”
“Thanks, man, I appreciate that. And I want you to know, I would never hurt Sienna.”
She breathes a sigh of relief, then takes my hand and walks the two of us to the counter opposite him. “We’re together now, Ryd, and after everything that’s happened, it’s important to us that we have your blessing.”
Ryder takes another deep breath, then exhales loudly through his mouth. He lowers his head, processing the news, and when he looks up, he walks around the counter toward me. I square up to him, letting go of Sienna’s hand and giving him my full attention, ready for him to chew me out, beat me up, or some crazy combination of the two.
But he doesn’t. He nods, his mouth pulled into a straight line, and extends his hand to me.
“It takes a big man to admit that he’s done something wrong. And I know my sister has a good head on her shoulders, so you must be treating her right if she’s still willing to be with you.”
We smile and shake hands while Sienna lets out the breath she’s been holding all at once.
“Jesus, Ryd, way to really draw out the moment.”
“What, you guys get to sneak around behind my back like a couple of horny teenagers for God knows how long, and I can’t take an extra minute or two to savor the drama of my moment?”
“It was only a few weeks,” Sienna mutters under her breath, rolling her eyes, but I just laugh, clapping my hand on Ryder’s shoulder, relieved that things might get back to how they used to be.
“Thank you, man. It really means a lot to us.”
“Yeah, well. Now you and I really need to have a talk about freeing up my schedule.”
“In that case, we’ll have to find some fresh meat to hire. I’m retiring. Officially, this time.” I place my arm around Sienna’s shoulders and she slips her arm around my waist, smiling up at me.
“No shit,” Ryder says, looking between us. “Damn, Sienna, you little lovebirds must be serious if this workaholic is willing to give up his damn career to be with you.”
“He’s staying on as CEO. He just won’t be an escort anymore,” Sienna replies.
I give her shoulder a squeeze.
It feels good to have everyone back on speaking terms and in a good place again. Just yesterday, I wasn’t sure if these people would ever be in my life again, and I couldn’t be more grateful for how things turned out.
“Oh shit, it’s almost three,” Sienna says, glancing at the clock on the microwave.
“We’d better head out. We don’t want your girls having meltdowns because their teacher didn’t show up on time for their recital.”