Page 54 of Scars of Silk

The phone rings but we stare at one another, the seconds ticking by. Sienna has her lip between her teeth, her gaze guarded as her chest heaves up and down. “That’s my phone.”

The magic of the morning disintegrates with every step she takes towards her bag. She turns to face me as she answers. Her stare on my face, unflinching, like she’s not going to let me hide. I want to hide, I want to slip into the shadows and the darkness where I don’t have to admit anything to anyone, not even myself. I want to take sanctuary in their forgiving depths and for everyone to forget me.

Darkness pulls me down.

I turn, surprised by a movement at the front door. Elliot, one of Aiden’s bastard cronies is smiling; no, not smiling, he’s grinning at Sienna and me. “Lovers tiff, mate?” His eyes settle on Sienna, looking at every inch of her skin-tight jeans and the t-shirt she has knotted over one hip.

“Stay away from her,” I hiss.

I launch forward, my fist raised, but he’s laughing and stepping back down into the street. He nods at her. “Tell her it was good to see her again.”

What?

He’s gone before I can ask what he’s talking about and I turn to Sienna, glimpsing my face in one of the big mirrors on the wall. It's etched into confusion.

She’s staring at me, her expression blank and pale.

“Sienna, when did you talk to Elliot?”

She shakes her head.

“What wrong?” I step up, our argument forgotten.

“It’s my mum.” Her shaking hand almost drops her phone. I grab it and put it on the top of her bag.

“What’s wrong with her?” That awful tight suffocation I used to get when Dad used to go to see his consultant engulfs me.

“She’s in hospital; she’s had a fall.” She looks at me and her face says it all. She didn’t have a fall at all. “Dan. I’ve got to go.”

“I’ll come with you.”

She places her hand on my chest, firm and soft all at once. “Thank you. And I do mean thank you. I’ve had the best time with you. And I’m sorry I was such a bitch just then.” A tear glistens against her lashes and I watch it fall. “I’ll get my car from yours.”

“Sienna. Wait—”

Her head shakes from side to side just slightly, and I know she’s silently begging me not to say anything else.

So I don’t.

I just watch her leave.

Fourteen

Sienna

It’s impossible to ignore the expression on the two nurses faces and I push my way through the door. It’s a private room—but that goes without saying. Only the best for the Richards.

On the drive up from Brighton my heart had wanted to bleed out.

This was me.

All on me.

Stepping closer to the bed, I pull at my jacket and t-shirt, hoping to hide the fact only an hour ago I had my t-shirt scrunched up high revealing my stomach, exposing myself in ways that aren’t deemed good and proper.

I shut off my mind to Dan and that dark tormented look in his eyes when he raised I was leaving. Stupid argument. Stupid time spent thinking my life could be anything other than what it is.

“Mum.” I bend and kiss her cheek. There’s no hiding the bulging bruise across her cheekbone or the split on her lip. “I’m here now.”