Chapter 24

As their performance came to a close, the band took a bow, gratitude evident in their smiles. Riley hastily made her way off the stage, where a staff member rushed to take her guitar and other equipment. A chair and a first aid kit were promptly provided for her wounded finger.

"Thanks!" Riley said, smiling as she pulled the chair over to Sienna.

"Nice performance right there, Riley!" Mia exclaimed, giving Riley a high-five. Riley chuckled and reciprocated the gesture, her joy infectious.

"You should keep performing with the band," Riley's mother encouraged, pride shining in her eyes.

"Only if Nyx pays me big time!" Riley replied, her frown playful.

Sienna smiled at Riley, concern creeping in. "You good?" she asked, gently checking Riley's wound.

"Yeah, just stings a bit," Riley said, chuckling lightly. Sienna hitched her breath, still recovering from the excitement of Riley's performance.

"You've got a proud girlfriend here," Riley's mother chimed in, lightly tapping Sienna's shoulder. Sienna felt her face heat up, a mix of embarrassment and pride washing over her.

"Really, huh?" Riley said, beaming at Sienna.

"You did great! It was amazing," Sienna mumbled, her shyness evident.

Just then, Harriet, Anne, and Nyx joined them, playfully ruffling Riley's hair. "Wow, didn't know you could pull off those moves!" Anne laughed, beaming with pride at her cousin.

Harriet nodded, reaching for Riley's wounded hand. She pulled something from her pocket and sprayed it directly on the cut. Riley hitched her breath, her foot tapping the ground nervously as the sting kicked in.

"Harriet!" she shrieked, bowing down and burying her face in her knee.

"Relax, it's just saline solution," Harriet laughed, checking the wound. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to draw blood.

Harriet opened a single pack of antiseptic and applied it gently. "It's not that deep, but don't overdo it next time," she advised, applying light pressure to the wound before covering it with a band-aid.

After finishing up, she ruffled Riley's hair affectionately. "Good job up there!" she said, reaching for her phone.

Riley's phone chimed three times with notifications, catching her off guard. "Eh?!" She gasped, eyes widening at the screen—three bank transfer notifications. "What the—" She looked up at Harriet, who wore a cheeky smile.

"What? You said we needed to pay you if you performed with us, right?" Harriet replied, slipping her phone back into her pocket. Riley couldn't believe it—Harriet had just transferred nearly a year's worth of her allowance!

Sienna scoffed at Riley's stunned expression. "But..."

"It's fine! You can use it for a date night with your girl," Harriet said, soft laughter escaping her lips.

Riley blinked, processing the generosity. "I... wow, thanks!" she finally managed, her disbelief morphing into a grateful smile.

Sienna smiled warmly at Riley, feeling a swell of pride and affection. "Looks like you're all set for that date night," she teased, nudging her playfully.

"Yeah, I guess I am," Riley replied, her heart fluttering at the thought of spending time with Sienna.

Riley flopped onto the floor and sank into the plush beanie bag, reaching for her mini-fridge to grab a can of sparkling water. She hummed happily as she took a sip, savoring the refreshing fizz. Suddenly, her phone chimed, pulling her attention away.

She fished it out of her pocket and noticed a message from Sienna.

"Stop idling and take your shower, idiot! Get some rest," it read.

Riley chuckled and shrugged, a smile spreading across her face.

"Do you want to come over?" she typed back, humming to herself as she got up and started doing some stretches. Her phone chimed again almost instantly.

"Later, once you're done taking a shower," Sienna replied, punctuating her message with a cheeky wink emoji.

Riley laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Classic Sienna," she murmured, locking her phone before heading to her room with her bag.

"I can't believe I'm really dating her," she said softly, her heart fluttering at the thought as she slipped into her bathrobe.

Entering the bathroom, she couldn't help but smile, cherishing the realization that she was finally in a relationship with Sienna.

Sienna stared at her phone, feeling a pang of disappointment. Did Riley just leave me on read? She squinted at their message exchange, trying to decipher what had gone wrong. With a sigh, she sent another message:

"Coming over."

Rising from her bed, she grabbed both her RFID cards, one for herself and one for Riley. Locking her main door behind her, she walked across the hall and tapped the RFID against Riley's unit.

Peeking inside, she noticed an unsettling quietness, the only sound being the steady hum of the air conditioning. "Weird. Did she go out?" Sienna utters to herself. She slipped off her sandals and continued toward the living area.

"Riley?" she called out, but there was no response. Her gaze landed on Riley's phone resting on the center table. Curiosity piqued, Sienna sat on the couch and picked it up. Perhaps she's in the bath, she thought, a smile creeping onto her face at the thought of Riley's carefree nature.

Sienna double-tapped Riley's phone screen to light it up, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the lock screen wallpaper—a picture of the three of them: Mia, herself, and Riley. A smile spread across her face as she placed the phone back on the center table.

Curious, she locked her own phone and double-tapped it as well. They shared the same wallpaper. How sweet, she thought, feeling warmth in her chest.

Just then, the bedroom door opened, and Riley stepped out, a towel draped over her shoulders. "Oh," she said, her eyes widening as she spotted Sienna on the couch. "I thought you'd come over after I showered."

Sienna's breath caught in her throat as she took in Riley's appearance. She was clad in only a sports bra and loose pajama, and Sienna gulped, instinctively crossing her arms to hide her flustered reaction. "You left me on read. I thought you were mad or something," she replied, forcing herself to divert her gaze. Riley's toned abs and muscular build were undeniably impressive—not the bulky type of muscle, but it was good to look at; it was clear she had a disciplined approach to fitness—something to be expected from the daughter of healthcare professionals.

"Why would I be mad?" Riley asked, plopping down onto the beanie bag as she began to dry her hair. Sienna watched her, resting her chin on the back of her hand, arms draped over her knee.

"Do you know how cool you were during the performance today?" Sienna asked, catching Riley's attention.

"How cool am I then?" Riley replied with a playful smile.

Sienna stood up and walked over to Riley, perching herself on her lap, facing her. She reached for the towel, taking over the task of drying Riley's hair. "You're cool like you owned the stage and everything," she said, swallowing the lump forming in her throat. "Didn't you notice how the audience went wild?"

Riley chuckled, pulling Sienna closer. "My eyes were on you, love," she said, her gaze warm and sincere.

Sienna gulped, her heart racing, and playfully pinched Riley's cheeks. "Stop with the flattery, Ms. Pierce," she replied, feeling her cheeks heat up.

Riley softly laughs, and Sienna finds herself lost in the depths of Riley's hazel eyes. "You know I really love your hazel eyes," she murmured, unable to look away.

"Really?" Riley asked, tucking a loose strand of Sienna's hair behind her ear. "Your green eyes are beautiful," she said, her gaze steady and full of admiration.

"I want to kiss you," Riley murmured under her breath, her eyes locked on Sienna's. She noticed the way Sienna gulped, her smile growing wider as she leaned in closer.

"Kiss me then," Sienna whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

With a gentle touch, Riley cupped Sienna's cheeks, her thumbs brushing softly against her skin before pulling her in for a kiss. Sienna's arms wrapped around Riley's shoulders, pulling her closer as their lips met, deepening the connection between them.

The kiss was intimate and electric, Riley's left hand tracing the curve of Sienna's waist. As her fingers moved slowly, Sienna bent slightly, a shiver coursing down her spine at the gentle caress.

"Damn it. I love you," Riley breathed between kisses, her heart racing as she pulled Sienna even closer, savoring the warmth and softness of their shared moment.