My Dad's Bestfriend

Sienna

"So, did you have fun last night?" Mom asked, casually flipping through a book as if she weren't prying into my soul.

Dad had already gone to the office by the time I returned home, and surprisingly, neither of them had said a word about me being gone all night. Not even a complaint. Maybe they assumed I'd stayed at Kelly's like I usually did sometimes. "Yeah," I answered, though the bitterness in my voice betrayed me.

Technically, I had fun-if you ignored the first part where I caught my boyfriend cheating on me. After Alex... well, everything after that was a blur of.....dangerous pleasure?

"Where did you stay last night? At Kelly's or Ryatt's?" Mom pressed, her tone light. "Let me guess-at Ryatt's. Since it was your birthday!" She sang the last part, grinning.

If only.

She couldn't have been more wrong. But I didn't blame her. Even I didn't understand my choices anymore. The man I loved had betrayed me with the woman I trusted more than anyone. Years of memories, promises, and love had shattered in seconds. My heart was broken, my trust annihilated-and somehow, in the wreckage, I'd found myself in Alexander Grayson's arms. The last man on earth I should have been with. And somehow...even if it was for a few moments, he brought me peace.

"No, I didn't stay at theirs," I said, my throat dry.

Shock flickered across Mom's face. She lowered the book. "Then where the hell were you all night, Sienna?"

I rubbed my palms together, stalling. I had never hidden anything from her. But this? This felt impossible to confess.

"Sienna?" Her voice sharpened. "What's going on?"

"Well..." I faltered. "Not much. Just..."

"Just what?"

I swallowed hard. "I found out last night that Ryatt's been cheating on me. With Kelly."

Mom's eyes went wide. Her hand flew to her mouth. "What?!"

"Yeah." My laugh was bitter, broken. "I caught them in the bathroom-together. And apparently, it's been going on for longer than I thought. Since my first exhibit in Switzerland. They were together the whole week." Tears burned behind my eyes, but I blinked them away.

"Oh, baby..." Mom slid closer, wrapping me in her arms, her hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this. That bastard. That bitch. I swear, I will kill them both."

"There's no point." My voice cracked, "They've already broke my trust. I don't want to see their faces again. They can rot in hell."

Mom's grip tightened. Her voice softened, "There are good men and bad men in this world, Sienna. You just wasted time on a bad one. But don't you dare let what he did make you question yourself. You are worth more than anything that fool could ever offer. You are beautiful. Talented. Passionate. The best thing Ryatt ever had, and he threw it away. He didn't deserve you."

"Or maybe I wasn't enough..." I whispered.

"Fucking no, Sienna." Mom's voice rose, fierce now. "He's an asshole. A selfish, pathetic douchebag. That doesn't mean you lacked anything. You are everything. You shine in ways those two could never understand. They waste their parents' money, pretend they're somebody, but they're lifeless. And you know I've always said it—even when you were with him."

Yeah. She did. She always did.

about Ryatt and Kelly, but I was

wiped away a tear sliding down my

hers, her grip firm and grounding. "You are our world, okay? Don't ever let anyone shatter it. Protect yourself,

chest. Silence stretched between us for a few

where did you spend last

I hesitated before forcing the

that answer. "Jumping from one asshole to another won't fix anything, Sienna. I know you're hurt, but don't make choices you'll regret. A distraction might numb the pain for a moment, and that's not wrong-but you have to be careful. Don't let another

quickly. "I was drunk. I was hurt. It just... happened. It won't happen again.

studied me for a long moment, her silence louder than any words.

a gentleness that made my throat

But as I turned, her voice

sure you're

forced a small smile, even though it

shower and

***

the shower and

the past

my

conte I

close

s

pinpoint one reason, but it

him.

turned, groaning, huffing, sometimes crying-but

sleep refused me.

God, I hated this.

face into the pillow just as

I saw the name flash on the

Ryatt.

can we

still had the nerve to text

phone across

explain

me one chance and I'll

you. No one

you. Hove

you more than

without me. Please...

it.