Chapter 58

Riley flinched as Sienna gently dabbed a saline solution on the wound above her brow. Sienna's eyes were filled with concern as she meticulously examined the injury. The air in the private room of the bar was thick with unspoken tension; neither of them felt the need to break the silence, but Sienna's expression clearly conveyed her worry, the urge to cry barely held at bay.

Sienna lifted Riley's chin, studying the injury closely. "Was it deep?" Riley mumbled, swallowing hard at the warmth of Sienna's touch.

"Not too deep, but it keeps bleeding," Sienna replied, switching out the bloodied cotton for a fresh one. She continued to dab gently, trying to apply just enough pressure to stem the flow.

Riley let out a soft laugh as she shut her eyes, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over her. Was it from the liquor she'd consumed, or was it a result of the impact? She couldn't tell.

As she opened her eyes, Riley glanced at Sienna's hand, noticing the ring she had given her when they became official. It was still there, nestled among her fingers, instead of her own wedding ring. "You still wear that ring?" she uttered, surprised.

Sienna paused, looking down at her fingers. "Yeah, seems like you still wear yours too." Her bitter laugh echoed in the silence, revealing the pain beneath her words. Deep down, she longed to break down and plead with Riley to come back, but Riley seemed distant, and Sienna was unsure of her feelings.

Riley nodded slightly, the moment heavy with unresolved emotions. Sienna set the used cotton down and retrieved antiseptic, carefully applying it to the wound before placing a band-aid over it. As she worked, Riley's mind began to race. Could there still be a chance for them to reconcile? The fact that Sienna still wore the ring she had given her—along with her own—filled her with a flicker of hope.

"Aren't you mad at me?" Riley asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Sienna sighed, throwing the used cottons into the trash bin. "Do I still have the right to be mad at you, Riley?" She turned to meet Riley's gaze, stepping closer. "If I ask you question after question, would you be able to give me the answers I want to know?"

Riley's eyes filled with confusion. Why would Sienna want to ask her questions after everything that had happened? She swallowed hard, her throat tight.

"I guess you'll still keep your tight lip with you," Sienna said, frustration creeping into her voice.

"You're married," Riley replied, bitterness lacing her words.

Sienna scoffed, the edge in her tone palpable. "Is this all you wanted me to know? I'm aware; I'm married—"

"Why not me?" Riley interjected, her voice cutting through the air, leaving Sienna momentarily stunned.

"What?" Sienna looked at Riley intently, her heart racing at the unexpected question.

Riley's gaze hardened, a mixture of vulnerability and determination flickering in her eyes. "Why not me?" she repeated, this time more resolute, searching for the truth hidden in Sienna's response.

Sienna and Riley returned to their table after tending to Riley's brow, sitting side by side in silence. The tension between them was palpable, neither saying a word, as the night carried on around them. Riley, without a second thought, waved over the waiter and ordered another bottle of liquor. Their friends remained on the dance floor, immersed in the music and flashing lights, oblivious to the storm brewing at the table.

Why not me? Riley's question echoed in Sienna's mind, a constant loop she couldn't shut off. It made no sense to her—Riley was the one who left. Yet, the more Sienna thought about it, the more she realized the truth buried within her heart. If things had been different, she would have married Riley in a heartbeat. She'd wanted that future, more than she could admit.

With a frustrated sigh, Sienna ran her fingers through her hair, watching as Riley knocked back shot after shot. Each drink felt like a stab to her chest, knowing Riley was trying to numb something deeper. Concerned, she reached out, gently grabbing Riley's wrist as she lifted another glass.

"Are you trying to drown yourself?" Sienna asked, her voice tight with worry, eyes narrowing at Riley's reckless behavior.

Riley exhaled sharply, a humorless chuckle escaping her lips. She leaned in closer, her breath warm against Sienna's face, smelling faintly of mint and alcohol. "Why do you even care?"

Sienna's heart skipped a beat. Her gaze dropped to Riley's lips—pinkish red, slightly parted. She swallowed hard, an involuntary heat creeping up her neck as the thought of kissing her flashed across her mind. It felt so natural, so tempting, to just close the gap between them.

"Riley..." she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper, but her thoughts were racing. She tore her eyes away, clearing her throat to regain her composure, pushing the feelings down as far as they would go.

Riley chuckled softly, grabbing a handful of chips, her eyes never leaving Sienna's. The silence between them felt heavy with unsaid words, but both seemed too scared to be the first to break it.

Riley leaned back in her chair, shutting her eyes to block out the chaos in her head. She couldn't understand why it was so hard to confront Sienna, to ask the questions that haunted her. Every time she got close to speaking, the words stuck in her throat, like a chokehold keeping her silent.

"Fuck," she muttered, rubbing her temples as her wound throbbed along with the pounding in her head. She had definitely pushed herself too far tonight.

Sienna, watching Riley with concern, sighed softly. "Why are you doing this to yourself?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Riley waved her hand dismissively, as if to brush off the question, but her eyes remained closed. "Riley Pierce, you're getting on my nerves right now, I swear," Sienna's voice cut through the haze, laced with irritation.

Riley laughed, straightening up in her seat and locking eyes with Sienna. "Oh, should I be scared then?" she teased, her elbow resting on her knee, her cheek against the back of her hand in a mock challenge.

Sienna groaned, visibly frustrated with Riley's nonchalant attitude. She could feel Riley pulling at her emotions, testing her patience. "If you don't stop," Sienna snapped, her voice low and heated, "I swear, I'll kiss you."

Riley's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Of all the things she expected Sienna to say, that wasn't one of them. But then again, Sienna was unpredictable, even more so now that they had this tense history between them. Riley chuckled, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "Oh? Let's try it then," she replied, throwing the challenge right back at Sienna.

Sienna rolled her eyes but didn't hesitate. In one swift movement, she grabbed Riley by the collar and pulled her in. The world around them seemed to blur as Sienna's lips met Riley's, the music from the bar fading into the background. Riley's heart pounded loudly in her chest, racing with a mix of shock and longing. How long had it been since she last kissed Sienna? The softness of her lips, the warmth, the familiarity—it was overwhelming.

Riley's mind spun, a flood of memories rushing back all at once. She had missed this, missed Sienna in ways she hadn't let herself fully acknowledge. But now, with Sienna so close, her lips pressed against hers, Riley realized just how much she still cared.