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“Honestly, I’m not sure what I want right now,” I admitted. “My head feels like it’s about to explode and I knew if I went home, or even if I just did something physical like working out, I’d be too keyed up to sleep at all tonight.”
“Well,” Carson said, “maybe you need to share some of what’s in your head. Talk to me.”
I didn’t know if it was me missing spending time with Cory, maybe being a little homesick, or knowing Carson was probably right, but after taking another drink of my beer, I opened my mouth and the story poured out. Everything from Sienna picking me up at the airport to me kissing her and walking away tonight. I told him about Gavin warning me off and how I was starting to think he might be right.
When I finished, I took a gulp of my beer and waited for words of wisdom from my cousin. He had a thoughtful expression on his face as he finished his beer and leaned on the bar.
“Vix didn’t have the best time growing up,” Carson said slowly. “And it sounds like Gavin’s saying that Sienna didn’t either, so I understand why he’s being protective. But maybe, if she’s experienced that much trauma, what she really needs is the freedom to make her own decisions instead of having someone else make them for her—whether it’s Gavin telling you to back off or you choosing to follow Gavin’s orders instead of asking her what she wants. Sometimes we think we’re acting for someone’s own good, but in reality, we’re hurting them more by treating them like they shouldn’t have a say in their own lives.”
I took a sip of my beer as I mulled over Carson’s words. He was right, of course. In trying to protect Sienna, we might be inadvertently taking away her choice. The thought made me uncomfortable, forcing me to confront my own paternalistic instincts.
“You’re right,” I admitted. “I’ve been so caught up in my head, in what I think is best for her, that I never even considered asking what she wants.”
Carson nodded. “It’s an easy trap to fall into, especially when you care about someone. But Fury, if you really like this woman, you need to treat her as an equal. Let her make her own choices, even if those choices might end up hurting her—or you.”
I let out a long breath, feeling some of the tension leave my body. “Thanks, man. I needed to hear that.”
“Anytime,” Carson replied, raising his glass in a mock toast. “Now, how about we order some food? I’m starving.”
Grateful for the change of subject, I flagged down the waitress. We ordered a couple of burgers and another round of drinks. As we waited for our food, I shifted the focus off my love life.
“So, how’s the design business going?” I asked, genuinely interested. Carson had always had a genius flair for fashion, and I was proud of how successful he’d become.
Carson’s eyes lit up. “It’s going great, actually. I just landed a contract to design a line of sustainable, size-inclusive formalwear for a major department store chain.”
“That’s fantastic!” I said. “Congratulations, man. You’ve worked hard for this.”
He nodded, a mix of pride and excitement on his face. “Thanks. It’s been a long time coming, but it feels good to see all that effort paying off. And the best part is, I get to stick to my principles. No compromise on sustainability or inclusivity.”
“That’s always been important to you,” I observed. “I remember when you first started out, how passionate you were about making fashion accessible to everyone.”
Carson chuckled. “Yeah, I was pretty idealistic back then. Still am, I guess. But now I have the clout to actually make it happen on a larger scale.”
Our food arrived, and we dug in, the conversation flowing easily between bites. It felt good to catch up with Carson, to talk about something other than my own problems for a while. As I savored the rich flavors of my burger, I finally relaxed. There was something comforting about being with family. It was a reminder that even in the midst of life's challenges, there were still moments of pure joy and connection. And for that, I was grateful.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sienna
I hadn’t even considered calling off today. I spent yesterday cleaning my apartment and relaxing with junk food and Friends reruns, so I felt together enough to treat Monday normally. The fact that I’d scheduled auditions for a new dancer to replace Venus played a role, too. I didn’t want to let Gavin down, especially after what happened with Dodd.
When I arrived at the club, Gus was already outside, looking grim.
“You okay?” he asked. “I should’ve been there when everything went down.”
“It’s not your fault,” I assured him. “Is Gavin increasing security?”
Gus nodded. “He’s not taking chances. Everyone remotely connected to security is doing extra rotations. Except Dodd. He’s restricted to door duty, never alone.”
I winced. “That must be tough.”
I felt bad for Dodd, and I was glad I’d spoken up to keep him from being fired, but I agreed with Gavin that consequences were necessary. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I’d have felt safe at the club if Dodd had remained in charge of security.
“Well, I’m glad you’re alright,” Gus said, punching in the code and opening the door for me.
I resisted the urge to touch my bruised arm. I usually wore short sleeves with a jacket to adapt to the club’s temperature fluctuations, but tonight I’d chosen lace sleeves - light enough if I got hot, but dense enough to conceal the marks. I’d used makeup to cover them, but knew it could wear off, and I didn’t want anyone seeing the bruises and recalling what happened. Some employees here had dark pasts, and we’d promised them safety. I wanted them to feel secure again.
Entering the club, I plastered on my brightest smile and greeted everyone I passed en route to my office. The time I spent preparing for the auditions had me ready to set a positive example for my co-workers.
