Page 94 of When You Wish Upon a Wideout
“And I want a few days down in Malibu. Find something nice on the beach. Right on Pacific Coast Highway. Ocean view.”Another thing come true for Sienna,Beau thought with a smile.Wish list.
* * *
Later that night, after Sienna still hadn’t returned his text or call, Beau showed up at her house, eyeing her car and nervously fiddling with his hat.
Henry appeared and shook his head.
“She’s at work already?” Beau looked down at his watch.
“Frank picked her up. Her car is giving her trouble.” The narrowing of Henry’s eyes and the tilt of his head told Beau all he needed to know.
“It’s a misunderstanding,” Beau defended himself. “I’m trying to—”
“Look, Beau, do me a favor. If you’re planning on stringing Sienna along—”
“I’m not,” Beau said emphatically, taking a step forward. “I told you, it’s a misunderstanding.”
Sighing, Henry rubbed his face. “I’ve done this before with her. Now, she was seventeen back then, of course, everything wasdramatic, but that doesn’t mean you didn’thurther.”
Beau clenched his teeth. “I know I did. But this time it’s—”
“Different?”
“Yes,” Beau professed with absolute certainty.
Henry shook his head, his light brown hair swooping to the side. “Some things don’t feel too different, Beau. Like you two doing whatever it is you’re doing, and then suddenly it’s about football again. And you know something? Back then, it was fine for it to be about football because you were a kid, and look, it got you everything you wanted. But now, shehasa kid. A pretty great one who went through hell and back. We’re all trying to move on, but especially Sienna. What my sister’s gone through... ”
I know.I mean, I don’t know. I can’t imagine. But I’m trying to do my partnow. Behind Henry, Beau caught site of a pair of Grace’s shoes beside the door, some sort of sparkly bag on the stairs.I might have been no good for her then.It was hard for Beau to admit to the flaw, that years ago, at the peak of his NFL career, he probably wouldn’t have been able to be the right kind of support for Sienna as she supported Grace battling cancer.
Pressing his lips together, Beau looked down at the ground. “What you’ve done for your sister and Grace... you’re a good man, Henry. Probably a better one than me. And I swear to you, I’m not here messing around. And I’mnotgoing back to LA.”
“You should be telling her that, not me.”
“I will. But I’m tellingyoubecause I need your help.” Henry raised an eyebrow, and Beau continued. “I want to take Sienna to LA.”
“I thought you—”
“Just for a few days. Not forever. But... there’s sort of some unfinished business I want to wrap up with her.”Seeing the ocean. Sail boats. Sunrises and sunsets. “I was thinking next month. I’d take Grace if she can miss a few days of school—”
“Man, can I give you some advice?” Henry laughed, before adjusting his glasses. “Look, it’s cute you come around for Scrabble night, that you hang out with the family. Because Sienna and Grace are a packaged deal. My sister is the greatest mother there is. She’s selfless to a fault. Do you know what she needs right now?”
“What?”
Henry sighed. “A little time to be selfish. I’ll stay with Grace. She’s missed enough school. She wants to be with her friends. Take Sienna. But that’s not for free. I want something in return.”
Beau raised his eyebrows. “What’s that?”
“Mavericks tickets for their home opener next season,” Henry said, raising his finger for emphasis. “Floorseats.”
“You realize I play football, right?”
“I know. And I never held that against you.”
Beau laughed. “Fair enough. Consider it done.”
“She went to the bar early,” Henry told him. “Something about getting that fridge fixed up.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” Beau made a mental note to buy a new fridge and not take Sienna’s no for an answer. And when he hurried back to his truck, he glanced at her car in the driveway, thinking to buy her a new one too.
