Chapter 44: I Will Skip This One
"W-What...?" Sienna stammered, caught completely off guard. "What do you mean?"
Ava chimed in, her tone calm yet teasing. "You’re blushing, Sienna. And your eyes... they’re shining when you look at your wine glass."
Mia nodded eagerly. "Yes! You were staring at your wine glass as if it were a person. A very handsome person."
"And possibly rich," Riley added, with his comical expression.
Sienna gasped slightly. She tried to say something, but no words came out.
She was speechless.
For a moment, she simply stared at them, wondering how they had managed to jump to such an outrageous conclusion.
Then she smiled and leaned back, forcing a casual expression onto her face.
"Tsk, tsk...You guys are really hilarious," she said, lifting her glass slightly. "How could I be in love with my wine glass? Don’t tell me, you guys are already drunk?"
A brief silence followed Sienna’s denial.
It wasn’t the comfortable kind of silence either.
It was the kind filled with doubt, raised eyebrows, and three pairs of eyes that clearly said, "We don’t believe you, but we’ll let you embarrass yourself anyway."
Sienna, however, chose the noble path of pretending nothing had happened.
She casually lifted her glass, took a small sip, then turned her attention to Ava as if she had not just been accused of being in love with a wine glass.
"You said your boyfriend is already waiting?" she asked smoothly.
Ava blinked. Then gasped. Her eyes widened dramatically, and she jumped to her feet so fast it nearly startled the others.
"Oh my God, I forgot!" Ava exclaimed, grabbing her bag in a panic. "He’s going to think I ran away with you guys!"
Riley raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, that sounds like a better life choice."
"Excuse me?" Ava shot back, already digging into her wallet. "You’re just jealous."
"Deeply," Riley replied without hesitation, placing a hand over his chest again.
Mia pressed her lips, trying to hold back her laughter.
"Guys, I’m heading out first," Ava said quickly, pulling out some cash and placing it on the table. "No worries, I’ll take care of the bill tonight."
Before anyone could protest, she gave them a quick wave and hurried out of the VIP room, leaving behind a faint trace of her perfume and a group of friends who stared at the closed door in silence.
"...She ran fast," Mia finally commented.
"Love gives people wings," Riley added wisely.
Sienna shook her head, unable to stop a small smile from forming.
With Ava gone, the atmosphere in the room softened again.
The tension from earlier had completely faded, replaced by the familiar comfort of friendship.
Dessert soon arrived: small plates of pretty-looking cake and sweet treats that none of them really needed, but all happily accepted anyway.
They continued chatting, their conversation drifting toward their usual weekend plans.
"So," Mia began, poking at her dessert with a thoughtful expression, "are we still doing our out-of-town food trip this weekend?"
Riley immediately perked up. "Of course! I already found a place. Best grilled seafood in the region. Five-star reviews."
"That’s what you said last time," Sienna muttered.
"And I was right!" Riley defended.
"You made us wait for forty minutes! Do you know how long that is on an empty stomach?" Mia added.
"Hey, good things take time." Riley’s answer.
"Starvation can take more than time, you know," Sienna said dryly.
Despite the teasing, there was a sense of excitement in the air. This was their routine—escaping the city for a day, exploring new places, eating too much, and complaining about it afterward.
But this time, Sienna didn’t join in.
"I’ll skip this one," she said quietly, placing her spoon down.
Both Mia and Riley turned to look at her.
"Why?" Mia asked, frowning.
Sienna shrugged lightly. "I need to save money. I’ve already spent too much this month."
Riley immediately clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Tsk! Tsk! Again with the money talk? I told you, I’ll cover it."
Sienna shot him a look. "No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
She narrowed her eyes. "Riley."
He leaned back, crossing his arms confidently. "Sienna."
Mia looked between them, clearly entertained. "Should I get popcorn?"
Sienna sighed. "Stop acting like you earn more than we do. Young man, you need to save for your future wife, too."
Riley opened his mouth to argue, then suddenly froze.
"...Wait. Wait—"
Both Sienna and Mia looked at him. Frowned.
Riley’s eyes widened slightly, staring at a stack of cash on the table. "Didn’t I say I would pay the bill tonight?"
Mia burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you only realized now?" she said between laughs. "I guess you were just bluffing earlier!"
Sienna couldn’t hold back her laughter either. "Riley, you’re unbelievable."
Riley groaned, rubbing his forehead. "No, I was serious! I really planned to pay!" he said, eyes fixed on the stack of cash on the table.
"Too late," Mia said cheerfully. "Ava beat you to it."
Riley let out a long sigh before finally giving up. "Fine. I’ll accept defeat this time."
Sienna smiled faintly. "That’s a rare sight."
"Don’t get used to it," he replied.
...
Not long after, the night finally came to an end.
By the time they left the lounge, it was already past nine.
The city lights glittered around them, casting a soft glow over the streets as people continued their busy night lives.
As usual, Riley took on the role of their driver.
Sienna slid into the back seat, still chatting, while Mia sat in the passenger seat, enjoying the quiet hum of the car as it moved through the city.
One by one, the lively noise of the evening faded into calm silence.
The first stop was Sienna’s apartment.
She stepped out of the car and turned back, offering them a small wave.
"Riley... drive safely," she said.
"Always," Riley replied with a grin.
"Text me when you get inside," Mia added.
Sienna nodded before stepping back, watching as the car slowly pulled away.
She kept waving until the car disappeared from her sight.
And just like that, her smile faded.
It wasn’t sudden, but it was noticeable. As if something gently tugged at her heart, pulling her thoughts in a different direction.
’Zach...’
The realization came quietly, but it was enough to stir something restless inside her.