Page 44 of Falling With You

I used the edge of my towel to wipe my tears and just shook my head. “First, the fact that it took you this long to get back here after my scream…we need to talk about that. Second, you’re not going to actually come back if you hear screaming, right? I would call 911, maybe. And a wine bottle and a spatula? Not really the best weapons.”

Harmony just shook her head at me. “It was what we grabbed in the moment. At least we came for you. I mean, we could have run away and just left you and Violet to your own devices so you could be chopped up into little bitty bits and put into a trash bag never to be seen again.”

I gave her a bland look and then looked at Violet. “We need to stop letting her watch so many true crime shows.”

“She has that podcast, as well,” Meadow added. “I actually really like it.”

“Anyway, I’m all nice and clean. I’m going to do my hair and my makeup, and then I’ll be ready to go.”

“I’ll get the wine. Oh, and I made a little tiny charcuterie board,” Harmony said. “I couldn’t help it. You had all the fixings.”

She shrugged and went off to the kitchen, Meadow following her.

I just looked at Violet and wondered what the hell I was doing.

“If you don’t want to go on this date, you can tell him. Aiden’s not that much of an asshole.”

I smiled at her and sat on the toilet seat in my towel, letting my hair drip water down my back and my shoulders. “He’s an asshole, but then so am I, sometimes. But he’s also kind of sweet. And, yeah, I could have said no. I could have found a different way to get Diego into Aiden’s house or found him another home. But I said yes.”

“And this is your first date with him?” Violet asked. I looked up at her, frowning.

“Yes.”

“So, you sleeping with him didn’t count as a date?” she asked, and I started.

“Huh?”

“I know you and Aiden slept together.”

“Did he tell you that?” I asked, standing up.

“No, you did.” She sighed and grabbed my hands. “With your face, Sienna. I can tell when you sleep with a guy. You guys have been acting so differently around each other, and then things got weirder after the attack. I kind of laid off wanting to talk to you about it because I knew we had more important things to worry about. But now, you’re going on this date, and I just want you to be happy, okay? If this isn’t what you want, then that’s fine. You don’t have to do this, pretty. You can walk away, and everything will be fine. And I’m going to tell you something very similar to what you told me when I was going on a date with Cameron.”

I bit my lip, not really wanting to hear.

“You’re allowed to be a part of this group and want something for yourself. You’re allowed to try this date and see if this new connection can work. If it doesn’t? We will figure out what happens after. But you can’t hold yourself back for fear of what could happen, and for fear of what we might think. Because I can see your excitement under all the nerves. So, go out tonight and have fun. And just remember that you are loved. No matter what happens, we’re always going to be here for you. Okay?”

I hadn’t even realized I was crying until she was wiping the tears from my face.

“Now, let’s get you all prettied up. Not that you’re ugly right now,” she added, and I punched.

“Ow.”

“What? I’m just getting ready for dinner and a hockey game. There’s a lot of fighting at those.”

“Only Aiden would take you to a hockey game for your first date.”

“I like sports. It’s a thing.”

“It’s your thing with Aiden. And I love it. Now, I’m thinking jeans with cute rips, a very cute top, and a leather jacket with flats. But the flats that cover more of your feet than just the normal ballet flats because it’s going to be cold in there. I would go boots. If you want. Maybe the ones with the cute buckles. But you have those sparkly flats that are just perfect for dates in case you go for a drink later.”

“Well, why don’t you just set out my clothes for me like you’re Mom.”

“Oh, I could totally do that.”

I laughed, took the glass of wine from Harmony, did a toast with my friends, ate some cheese, and got ready for my date with Aiden Connolly.

Because Violet was right. Even though this was my first date with Aiden, this was really just a date. It was just a meal and a game with a friend.