With one last pointed look in her direction, the guy stormed off. Sienna stayed glued in her spot and gave him a head start. With any luck, she wouldn’t see him again. She’d simply avoid the places where custodians usually hung out and hope he didn’t blab about the rude girl to the rest of the staff. She crossed her fingers she wouldn’t find any surprises in her clean sheets tonight.
After waiting in the hall for what she felt was an appropriate amount of time, Sienna joined everyone outside. She ignored the questioning look her mother gave her as she walked over to where Audrey and their middle sister, Harper, were chatting.
Humor danced in Audrey’s deep, brown eyes. “You drank too much coffee, didn’t you?”
Sienna smiled back at her sister. She knew her addictions well. “Obviously.”
“Well, I’m just glad you’re here,” Audrey said with a quick hug. “I know you weren't too happy about the contract.”
“Of course I’m here.” At leastallher comments over the past few weeks hadn't been totally ignored. “I wouldn’t miss your wedding for anything.”
“Mother was about to have a coronary,” Harper added. “I swear she checked the time every minute until you got here. I was afraid she was going to call the police to start a search party for you.”
Sienna snorted. “It’s a wedding. It’s not like it’s a hair appointment. Even I know how important…”
Her words died off as she spotted a familiar face in the crowd. True, there were a lot of familiar faces here. The group consisted of family and close friends, along with the production crew. There were her sisters and Audrey’s best friend, and maid of honor, Reagan. Reagan’s fiancé Harry was talking on his phone off to the side.
But this face was familiar because Sienna had seen it outside the bathroom only moments earlier.
“Audrey, what’s the custodian doing next to Eli?” she asked.
Audrey craned her neck to look around at Eli’s parents. “What are you talking about?”
Sienna let out an impatient huff. “The guy with the dark hair who is literally standing next to Eli. Plaid shirt, blue eyes. Why is he out here?”
“Uh, Sienna.” Audrey furrowed her brow. “The only person I see over there is Fox. He’s Eli’s best friend from college.”
Eli’s best friend? No, that couldn’t be right. Even though Sienna lived in New York, she’d met Eli plenty of times. Plus, she followed him on social media like a good future sister-in-law, and not once had she ever seen this Fox guy. She’d remember someone like that. Those eyes weren’t exactly something you forget.
Her heart quickened beneath her ribs. “Are you sure?” Sienna asked, her eyes still trained on the guy she’d just argued with as he stood next to Eli.
The two men both wore easy smiles as they talked.
“Are you seriously asking me if I know who my husband-to-be’s best man is?”
Best man? Sienna’s stomach plummeted. This was so not good.
“Why are you so concerned about the”—Harper lifted her hands and made air quotes—“custodian anyway?”
Sienna felt her cheeks warm. “He was standing outside the bathroom with toilet paper, and I thought he worked here.” She cleared her throat. “I may have been rude to him.”
Audrey frowned at her. “Oh, Sienna, you didn’t.”
She explained what had happened inside, only realizing how quick she’d been to make judgements and serve out punishments once she said it all out loud. A pang of remorse ran through her. She’d acted like a jerk.
Audrey’s face was stern, but Harper laughed and waggled her brows. “Looks like the producers won’t have to work too hard to get must-see TV from you.”
“Shut up.” Sienna pushed her sister. “I’m sure I can make it through ten days. This is Audrey’s special moment.”
She needed to remain in control of her emotions whenever a camera was in view. This was her chance to get noticed, but given the expectations of reality shows, it had to be for all the right reasons. There’d be chances to sing and dance, and opportunities to show off her emotional range. One hint of drama and she could kiss any chance at a real career goodbye.
And time was running out on a real career. Sienna and her roommate were skating on thin ice—one more late rent payment and goodbye New York. This reality show was the last thing Sienna wanted to do but was her only chance to hold on to her dreams.
She could make it through ten days without any drama, right?
Two
10 Days Until Dream Wedding
