Sienna gagged and leaned forward. She coughed, trying to force the shrimp back up. Eyes watering, she struggled to get air past the food. Her vision tunneled as panic set in.
A hand landed on her back with a solid thud. She coughed again, and the shrimp flew back into her mouth. Sienna grabbed her napkin and spit the shrimp into it, gasping.
“Are you okay?” Aaron asked. He handed her a glass of water, eyes dark with concern.
“I’m fine,” she wheezed. Oh gosh. She’d never been so humiliated in her life. She peeked at the family. Carter pointing at her, while his parents shushed him.
“You okay?” the chef asked in broken English.
Sienna nodded.
“Try again?”
“No!” she and Aaron said at the same time.
The chef nodded and pointed at the father of the young family, tossing him a shrimp.
“Are you really all right?” Aaron asked, keeping his voice low.
Sienna put her hands to her cheeks, feeling their heat. “I might die of embarrassment. But I’m fine.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him. “You scared me.”
“Just my lack of shrimp-catching prowess showing through.”
“Trust me, you aren’t the only one. I had it happen to me once, too. My sister had to give me the Heimlich.”
Sienna laughed, her embarrassment slipping away. Aaron made everything so easy. “How old were you?”
“About twelve. My mom was screaming hysterically, and the chef was so nervous he caught his jacket on fire while leaning across the grill to help.”
And somehow, that did make Sienna feel better about the whole thing.
The chef portioned the food onto their plates, then cleaned the grill and left them to eat. Sienna took a tentative bite of her food, and flavor exploded in her mouth. She closed her eyes in pleasure. Still, she was careful to chew thoroughly before swallowing. No way was she allowing any more mishaps on this date.
“How is it?” Aaron asked, motioning to her plate.
“Delicious. I even loved the show, except the part where I almost died—literally from choking and figuratively of embarrassment.”
Aaron chuckled, and the sound sent shivers up her arms. “I’m glad you didn’t die, literally or figuratively. You were a good sport.”
“Thanks for taking me out. It’s been a while since I’ve gone anywhere this fancy.”
“Come on, a pretty girl like you must get asked out all the time.”
“I do get asked out. I just turn them down a lot.”
Aaron raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
She didn’t have to be embarrassed. If Aaron didn’t understand, then he wasn’t the guy for her. “I set some pretty strict dating standards for myself before moving here. Most of the guys don’t measure up.”
“I’m glad I made the cut. I’ve wanted to ask you out since the day we met.”
Sienna’s scalp tingled, and she couldn’t stop from blushing. “Really?”
“Absolutely. You’re beautiful, funny, and intelligent. What’s not to like?”
She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face.
Aaron paid for dinner, and they got back in his car. “Thanks for dinner,” Sienna said. “I really did enjoy it, choking aside. It was a good surprise.”
“Oh, that’s not the surprise.”
“It’s not?”
“Nope.”
“Are you going to tell me what it is?”
Aaron winked. “You’ll see soon enough.”
They talked and laughed as they drove through Philadelphia. Sienna tried to figure out where they were going, but nothing stood out to her. Her nerves had mostly dissipated though. The restaurant had turned out to be a good surprise. Surely this would, too.
Aaron pulled up in front of a building with a low roof and no windows. A giant sign flashed on the front. Club Penn. Dancing. Drinking. Music.
Sienna’s stomach dropped. A cluster of young college students in very little clothing smoked outside the entrance to the night club.
Maybe Aaron wasn’t the good boy she wanted to believe he was.
Sienna closed her eyes, the flashing lights of the sign shining through her eyelids, and prayed she wasn’t wrong again. Dane had seemed like a good guy at first, too. He’d gone to church every week and said all the right things. But then he’d started taking her to questionable parties and hanging out with guys that made her uncomfortable. Before she knew it, she was staring at a positive pregnancy test.
Aaron grabbed her hand. “We’re not here to dance. This is where my roommate works. An awesome band is playing that I think you’re going to love, and he helped me get tickets. The keyboardist is fantastic.”
“A concert?” Sienna asked. That didn’t sound so bad. It sounded great, actually. Aaron seemed to have put a lot of thought into this date.
“I’ve been following their music for about a year. They’re still relatively unknown, but they’ll be big one day.”
“Sounds great.” Sienna breathed in, slow and even. Aaron wasn’t Dane, and he wasn’t bringing her here for anything other than the concert. She had to trust him, at least a little.
Aaron entwined his fingers with hers, scrambling her brain until she couldn’t remember what had worried her.
“Is this okay?” he asked, a half grin on his temptingly full lips.
She nodded shyly. It was more than okay.
Aaron showed their tickets and IDs to the bouncer, and they were let inside the club. Loud music and laughter instantly surrounded them. Sienna blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the dimly lit interior. The air was hazy with smoke, and heavy bass notes pulsed through the floor.
Someone bumped into Sienna, then mumbled a slurred apology. Sienna shrank against Aaron, the atmosphere reminding her all too much of the raucous parties Dane had taken her to. One had even been broken up by the police. She’d fled through an open window, heart pounding as she chased Dane into the shadows.
The dance floor was packed, and the bar surrounded. Aaron stuck to the fringes, navigating the path of least resistance. He showed their tickets to a man who let them into a roped-off area just in front of the stage. It was standing room only, but less crowded than the rest of the club. Aaron led them to a prime spot near the front of the stage. Excitement crowded out her nerves. She couldn’t wait to hear the music.
Aaron leaned close, speaking into her ear. “The band’s only been together for about two years. I can’t believe they haven’t been discovered. They’re unlike any other band.”
She stared up at him, caught by the sudden urge to run her fingers through his hair. “You really love music, don’t you?”
“I do. We have that in common.”
She couldn’t think of anything she really had in common with Jared, aside from a similar set of values. Would that be enough to build a life together?
The lights went up, and the band started playing. Sienna’s jaw dropped. They were definitely a rock band, but she heard the classical music influences in the undertones of their songs. It added a richness and depth to the music that she instantly loved. Aaron had excellent taste in music. Straight-laced Jared would never take her on a date like this.
Aaron wrapped one arm wrapped loosely around her shoulder while keeping his gaze fixed on the band. The stage lights illuminated his profile, making his nose and lips more prominent. What would it be like to kiss him? Her entire body lit on fire just at the thought.
Sienna forgot about the cigarette smoke and drunken laughter of the club as the band played song after song. Her legs ached from standing so long in heels, but she didn’t care. The keyboardist played with an emotion and passion Sienna had worked tirelessly to produce. Megan, one of her piano teachers in Utah, had helped Sienna a lot with blending emotion and technique, but Sienna couldn’t hold a candle to the keyboardist.
Maybe one day. If Juilliard accepted her back, she knew their professors could help.
Nearly two hours after the concert began, the band took their final bows. Sienna clapped along with the rest of the audience.
A soft smile turned up Aaron’s lips as he watched her. He raised an eyebrow as though to say, Well, what did you think?
Sienna smiled and clapped even harder, nodding enthusiastically.
The crowd dispersed, and he tugged her toward the exit. The dance floor had grown wilder during the concert. Sweat and perfume mixed together, almost overpowering the scent of cigarette smoke. Sienna squeezed herself close to Aaron, craving the security he offered.
Raised voices drew her attention. A man’s face was darkened in anger, and he screamed at a shorter man. The shorter man took a step backward, nearly bumping into Sienna.
Aaron’s arm tightened around her shoulder, pulling her backward. The taller man swore, swinging for the shorter man who stumbled. He crashed backward, knocking the wind out of Sienna. She hit the ground hard, her rear end stinging with the impact, and the shorter man sprawled on top of her.
Aaron yanked the man off Sienna before she’d even regained her breath. The taller man loomed over the shorter one, dragging him to his feet. Aaron’s arms were around Sienna in an instant, pulling her up and holding her close.
“Are you okay?” he yelled, hustling her away from the fighting men.
Sienna took two steps for every one of his, struggling to keep up. “I’m fine.”
“He didn’t hurt you?”
“I don’t think so.”
“What a bunch of idiots. I’m so sorry.”
They pushed through the exit, the crowd spilling out around them. Cool September air blasted Sienna in the face, and she sucked it in.
His hands brushed over her neck and shoulders, sending warm shivers through her entire being. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Seriously, I’m fine. Aaron, that band was amazing.”
He grinned, dropping his hands. “I knew you’d love them. I almost didn’t get the tickets when I found out the venue, but I had to introduce you to their music.”
“I’m so glad you did. It’s obvious they’ve studied classical music extensively. There was definitely a little Vivaldi in some of their songs, and I swear I heard a nod to Bach in that last one. They’re incredibly talented, just like you promised.”
They got into the car and pulled out of the crowded parking lot.
“I love their ballads the best,” Aaron said. “It might not be manly of me to admit it, but they’re powerful.”
“It’s not just the music—it’s the lyrics, too. They’ve got the total package. How are they not double platinum by now?”
“I know. Record labels are crazy not to sign them on the spot.”
They continued discussing the concert and were almost home when Sienna’s cell phone beeped, indicating a text message.
“Sorry, I thought I put my phone on silent.” Sienna pushed the button on the side of her phone, making sure the volume went down to vibrate.
“You can get that if you need to,” Aaron said.
“No way. It can wait until the end of our date.”
“Seriously, I won’t be offended.” He gave her a lazy smile. “You’ve been a perfect date all evening.”
Liv could need something. Sienna’s mom might need to talk. Or Kyra could’ve sent a photo of Hunter.
“I’ll just make sure it’s nothing important.”
Sienna swiped across the screen to read the text.
Dane: Have you talked to the Petersons yet?
She put her phone back in her pocket with shaking hands. Why couldn’t he leave her alone?
“Everything okay?” Aaron asked.
“Yeah.” Sienna knew she didn’t need to say anything else, but she wanted to talk to Aaron about it. Even if she wasn’t willing to be one hundred percent truthful. Yet. “You know how I told you I ran into my ex-boyfriend the other day? He keeps bothering me.”
Aaron smiled, but it seemed forced. “Should I be worried?”
“About Dane?” Sienna snorted. “No. That ship sailed a long time ago.”
“Good. I really like you, Sienna.”
Her cheeks flushed, his bold statement making her heart swoop. Why did he have to hate adoption? “I like you too.”
She couldn’t keep putting Dane off. It’d already been almost a week. She needed to tell Kyra, regardless of Nana’s condition.
They held hands as Aaron walked her to the door. She wished she could stretch out the distance and make this date last forever. How could she miss someone so much, when they hadn’t even said goodbye?
“I had a fantastic time,” Aaron said. “I’d love to take you out again sometime.”
Sienna played with her keys, heart dancing in her chest. “I’d like that.”
“There’s an art exhibit on Wednesday. It’s just on campus, but I have to attend for one of my classes. I don’t know if that’s your kind of thing, but I promise to make it fun.”
“I’d love to go.”
Aaron leaned forward, and for a breathless second, Sienna thought he might kiss her. She closed her eyes, lips tingling in anticipation. Should she let him kiss her? Not kissing on first dates was one of her self-imposed rules. Never had she been tempted to break it.
She raised on her tiptoes, imaging how a kiss would feel.
His lips landed on her cheek. Sienna’s eyes flew open, and he was already pulling away.
“Thanks for going with me,” he said. “Can I pick you up for church in the morning at ten-thirty?”
“Sounds great.” Her voice sounded embarrassingly breathy.
His fingers skittered across her cheekbone, so light she wondered if she imagined the touch. “Okay.”
“I had a wonderful time tonight. Thanks again.”
“Me too. Goodnight, Sienna.”
Opening the door was physically painful. She slipped inside the apartment and leaned against the door, her hand cupping the cheek he’d kissed. If she wasn’t careful, she would fall for Aaron. Hard. But maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. She’d probably blown his dislike of adoption out of proportion.
Liv closed her laptop lid and muted the TV, her eyes eager. “Hey. How was the date?”
“Amazing. Liv, I think I’m in trouble.”
Sienna was ready and waiting for Aaron by ten o’clock the next morning. She’d taken extra special care with her hair and makeup, wanting to look perfect.
She’d also made sure her undershirt was carefully tucked into her skirt, so there was no chance of flashing a stretch mark.
Sienna sat at the table with Liv, who was still in her pajamas and was eating a bowl of cold cereal. They’d stayed up for over an hour last night, discussing every detail of the date.
“You are totally falling for Aaron,” Liv said. “You’ve got this moony-eyed look on your face. It’s both nauseating and adorable.”
“What am I going to do?”
“What do you mean? I thought we decided last night that you’re going to date him until it isn’t fun anymore. That’s kind of the definition of dating.”
Sienna sighed. Last night, with the excitement of the date so fresh, it had seemed simple and easy. In the light of day, all her fears had come crashing back. “What am I going to do about Hunter? And Dane? And Jared?”
“Well, Dane can be Kyra’s problem. You need to tell her what’s going on and let her make the decision.”
Sienna knew Liv was right. It had been six days since Dane’s appearance, and Nana’s condition remained stable but unchanged. Sienna couldn’t keep using Nana as an excuse to put off an unpleasant conversation with Kyra.
“And as for Hunter,” Liv continued, “why do you have to tell Aaron or Jared anything? You’re not serious with either of them. Keep dating both until you make a decision, although I know who I’d choose.”
Sienna sighed. Last night, when she’d been with Aaron, the choice seemed so obvious. The fireworks between them were undeniable.
But J
ared was stable. He’d already told her he accepted whatever past she was hiding. He didn’t have his own adoption baggage. Maybe the fireworks could come later.
“I’m going to have to pick one of them eventually,” Sienna said. “And I’ll have to tell him about Hunter. The longer I wait, the more it’ll look like I was trying to hide something.”
“It’s not like a baby is the kind of thing someone shares with casual acquaintances. If things work out, worry about it then.”
Why did life have to be so complicated?
A sharp knock sounded through the apartment, and her palms grew clammy.
“Teeth check.” Sienna smiled wide.
“All clear,” Liv said. “Have fun.”
Aaron looked amazing in a white shirt and dress pants. His dreads were pulled back into a low pony at the nape of his neck, revealing his painter’s pallet tattoo.
“Hey,” she said, shutting the door behind her.
“You look great.” Aaron laced his fingers through hers, the action both exciting and comforting.
At church, Aaron followed Sienna to her favorite pew just as Pastor Tanner started the service.
“Good morning,” Pastor Tanner greeted the congregation.
And that’s when Jared slid into the pew.
Aaron leaned forward. The two men made eye contact and gave each other uneasy nods. Sienna wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. It wasn’t like she’d kept either relationship a secret, but still.
The choir began singing an upbeat hymn. Sienna tried to focus on the lyrics instead of her complicated romantic life.
Just as the choir sat back down, her phone buzzed. Sienna’s cheeks heated, and she grabbed her purse. Even vibrate was loud in here. Her fingers pushed aside receipts and lip gloss before grabbing onto the phone. She fumbled for the button at the side and quickly silenced it.
The screen lit up, bright in her dark purse. An incoming call. From Dane.
The next two hours were the most uncomfortable of Sienna’s life. Dane called two more times. She almost skipped Bible Study but didn’t want to leave Jared and Aaron alone together.
She had to tell Kyra. Today. Dane was more determined than she’d given him credit for.
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