I had often wondered whether she was just inconsiderate to my feelings, didn’t want to spend time with me alone, or if she simply didn’t care.
I cut the engine on the boat as I came to the mooring registered to us at the dockside, tied up the vessel, grabbed the ball cap I always stowed in the small locker onboard and climbed ashore.
Summoning an Uber, I was given an arrival time of four minutes, so I pulled the ball cap low to my sunshades, even though it was nearly dark, and made my way to the roadside above. I was unsure where I was heading, I only knew it wasn’t home.
Taking out my cell phone, I initially thought to call Drew, but he had kids and didn’t get much time with Elle, so I called Andy, our band’s drummer instead.
“Want some company?” I asked. From the background noise coming from his end of the call, I figured he was in a sports bar somewhere in town.
“Did Lily get waylaid?” he asked, leaving my question unanswered.
“Long story… or short dependent upon how I spin it, she’s pissed that we’re taking a break and XrAid is busy,” I responded, not wanting to get into my drama with him. “But not as pissed as I am that she’s not pleased for me.”
“Where are you?”
“Here in Miami. I had to get out before our fight got worse. Why? What’s with the twenty questions?”
“Ah, I’m down in the Keys right now with a buddy from Wyoming who’s down on vacation. Meeting up with the Screaming Shadows guys tomorrow.” My heart sank to my stomach that he wasn’t around.
“Shit, that’s right, I remember you told me that.”
“Call Drew, he’ll be home,” Andy suggested.
“Nah, I’ll head up to Fort Lauderdale. I went to see Gary’s sister, Sienna this morning, and I left before I’d finished dealing with something.” My ride arrived. “Look, I need to go. My Uber is here. I’ll call you later.”
Closing the call out, I climbed into the car and rattled off Sienna’s address.
“Wow, two visits in one day. I thought you’d have been home with Lily by now,” Sienna muttered, pushing her front door wider. Without waiting for me, she turned and headed into the kitchen.
An aroma of freshly baked cake in the air made my stomach grumble and reminded me that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
“She’s… busy tonight,” I lied. “I’m back because you didn’t mention anything about Kara. I had no idea she was back in Miami. I almost died when I ran into Poppy on the way out earlier.”
“Yeah, Florida’s Kara’s home. And since that bonehead she hooked up with finally got what was coming to him, she had no reason to stay away anymore.”
“I’m surprised that she didn’t hit me up, considering all the trouble I went through to protect them,” I muttered. Sienna’s eyes narrowed and I figured my disappointment had been evident in my tone.
“Don’t think I didn’t challenge her on that count,” Sienna mumbled. “But you know Kara, once she has something in her head there’s no budging her,” she replied.
“What’s in her head?” I probed with interest as I slid onto a stool at her kitchen island. Sienna turned her back, bent over and removed a tray of mini muffins from the oven. Turning around, she placed the hot tray on the granite countertop.
“That you’re a world-famous rock star with a beautiful rock star wife. That you won’t have time for us ordinary folks anymore.”
“Bullshit, I don’t think I’ve changed that much. I’m still me.”
“You might like to believe so, but I think you’re a world away from the boy I once knew. You live in that fancy house across the water and party with rock royalty,” Sienna argued.
“I was a broken boy when you knew me,” I countered.
“You even look different,” she offered, lifting an arm and gesturing down my body.
“I’ve aged, as have you,” I said carefully.
“Then age suits you. I used to think you were the most beautiful boy in Florida… but that boy’s a shadow of the man you turned out to be.”
I chuckled. “I doubt that, but thanks.”
Sienna stared into my eyes, hers growing intense until I broke contact and looked over her shoulder. “Yeah, you’re still all that and more now,” she added.
