Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Slow,” I agree, mentally fist bumping the air because she’s actually giving in and giving us a chance. “We can take things as slow as you want.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
SIENNA
“Oh, look at you,” Donna gushes. “You’re even more beautiful than Micah described.” Micah and Lincoln’s mom pulls me into a warm embrace, and I can’t help returning it. Lenora has never been motherly, but when my grandmother was alive, this is how she’d hug me whenever she came to visit.
Donna is a beautiful woman with dark brown eyes and shoulder-length brown hair that has honey-colored highlights mixed in. She’s clearly had some work done like most wealthy women, but it’s tasteful and makes her look a good decade younger than her age.
“And you must be Ellie,” Donna says, pulling back and taking my sister into her arms. “I’ve heard all about you,” she adds with a twinkle in her eye, telling me either Micah or Lincoln has filled her in on my sassy teenage sister.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Ellie says politely. She’s dressed in a floral, knee-length dress that makes her look sweet and innocent—which is exactly the look we were going for—it’s bad enough I’m a stripper at the club their sons own. (And yes, I’m well aware it sounds ridiculous that they would judge me for working at the establishment their children own, but double standards are a thing for a reason.)
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Micah’s dad, Michael, says, leaning over and giving both me and Ellie a chaste kiss to our cheeks. When he smiles gently at me, he reminds me of Micah, especially when a single dimple pops out, identical to his son’s. His face is a bit scruffier with grey hairs speckled throughout, but I have no doubt this is what Micah will look like when he’s older.
“Sorry I’m late,” Lincoln says, strolling in. “The favorite has arrived. We can eat now.”
Donna laughs and gives him a hug, then we all find our seats. Since Micah doesn’t want to risk me going out in public, we’re eating dinner in a private room at The Lounge, one of the restaurants in the hotel.
I sit in between Ellie and Micah, and Donna and Michael sit on the other side with Lincoln sitting across from Ellie. I say a prayer that she doesn’t spend the meal drooling over him, but to be on the safe side, I lean slightly forward to make eye contact with Ellie, who just rolls her eyes, knowing exactly what I’m silently trying to convey without having to say a word.
“So, Sienna,” Donna says, “I heard you’re a dancer.”
I still in my spot. Apparently, we’re going to lay all the cards out on the table now without any sort of small talk.
But before I can open my mouth to confirm what she already knows—that I’m a stripper at Wanderlust—she adds, “I drag my husband to see the ballet everywhere we travel, but I would have to say Milan and London are my favorites.”
“Sienna’s an amazing dancer,” Ellie jumps in. “She was accepted to New York University, Juilliard, Dominican University, all with a full scholarship,” she gushes. “And on top of that, she was invited to join several dance companies, including the American Dance Company.”
“That’s amazing,” Donna says. “My body could never move like that.” Her eyes comically widen and she giggles. “But I love watching the ballet.”
“I’m going to New York University,” Ellie says. “I haven’t gotten in yet, but I will.”
“That’s a great goal,” Donna says with a smile. “And will you dance for a company?”
“No, I don’t want a career as a professional dancer—that was our mom’s dream. When she got pregnant, she lost both her dream and her job. Sienna’s dad was injured...same thing, no job. Our dream is to open our own dance studio one day. Right, Sienna?”
Ellie glances my way and I nod, refusing to let the tears that are burning behind my lids fall. I’m happy that my sister has goals and that she loves me enough to want to open a studio together, but she’s too young to understand that it would take years to get the money needed to open a studio. My goal is to get Ellie to college. And once she’s a little older, she’ll be able to understand how loans and business actually work.
“It’ll happen,” Micah leans over and says, his hand squeezing the top of my pantyhose-covered thigh. I’m wearing a cute lilac, off-the-shoulder mini dress that lands a few inches above my knees when I’m standing, but once I sat down it rode up several inches.
“What?” I murmur, distracted by the way his thumb is now massaging circles into my flesh.
“Opening your own dance studio. One day it’ll happen.”
I swallow thickly, realizing that while I thought I was doing a decent job of hiding my pain, Micah could see right through me. I’m not used to anyone paying such close attention to my words and actions, reading my thoughts and feelings.