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Bastian turns and begins setting the table, a farmhouse-style piece that we found online for super cheap. The table is long and rectangular with a heavy piece of glass to protect the surface from scratches. Around it, sit six mismatched chairs from the local thrift store.
Sienna and Caleb slip into the kitchen, sitting down just as I bring the food over to dish it out. “I got some bread in the oven,” I tell them.
Sienna’s quiet, eyes downcast.
“Everything okay?” Caleb nudges her.
Sienna glances up at him. “Oh, yeah, it’s fine. Just a long day.”
“It’s only noon,” I point out. “Was your boss a giant buzzkill?”
“Owen wasn’t in today,” she says, folding her hands together.
“Did you turn your work in still?” I ask, putting a few meatballs on her plate.
“Yeah, I went and saw Dr. Thornton.”
My stomach knots up at the mention of his name, the room feeling colder all of a sudden.
“Oh,” I nod, trying to hide my anxiety. On the other side of the table, Caleb turns pale, and Bastian’s hand curls into a fist in his lap as he drinks his water.
“Why didn’t you guys tell me about Emily?”
Ice floods my veins. The room goes silent, and when Caleb accidentally drops his fork, the clattering noise makes us all jump.
“How do you know about her?” I ask, turning to look at Sienna. She still can’t meet my eyes, but her jaw is set, and she holds onto her cup with a death grip.
“It doesn’t matter,” Sienna says, clenching her hands tightly. “Why didn’t you guys tell me about her?”
Bastian’s fist slams down on the table and Sienna’s eyes fly up to stare at him.
“Sienna, don’t,” I warn her. “Please, just drop it.”
She pushes back from the table and stands up. “Dr. Thornton told me about her,” she says, jutting her chin out. “He told me everything, and he feels awful for what happened. I don’t understand why you guys blame him!”
Bastian stands up as well. “How dare you fucking say that!” He advances towards Sienna, hands outstretched. I’m not sure if he’s going to attack her, so I jump up to grab him and hold him back. Hearing her name has me shaken up too, but I don’t want things to escalate beyond our control either.
Taking a deep breath, I try to diffuse things. “It’s more complicated than you think,” I tell her. “I don’t know what he said, but there are some things you just can’t forgive.”
Sienna’s hands fly up to her mouth, her eyes widening. “You guys are willing to throw away your relationship with him over what happened? It was a mistake, one that he tried to tell you about to protect you but because she took her life, you can’t forgive him?”
“Are you kidding me with this shit? Get out!” Bastian roars, breaking free. “Get the fuck out! Leave! Get out before I throw you out!”
Sienna’s eyes fill with tears and she lurches forward, grabbing her purse from the hook. “Fine! I’m leaving!” she says, and with one last look, she slams the back door and races out onto the gravel driveway.
Her car is parked next to the Firebird, at the edge, near a tall oak tree. Skirting the tree, she climbs into her car and revs the engine, taking off under a rapidly darkening sky, the distant sound of thunder rumbling in the background.
As we watch her depart, leaving behind a series of unanswered questions, my heart clenches in my chest. I turn my attention back to my brother, rounding on him.
“Fuck!” I yell, grabbing for him again. “Fucking hell, what the fuck man! You can’t do this to her. She’s got nowhere to go!”
“She can go anywhere as long as it isn’t here,” Bastian says, features contorted with barely controlled rage.
The muscles in Bastian's jaw clench and unclench, his hands balling into fists at his sides. I can see the storm brewing behind his eyes, a tempest of emotions that threaten to consume him whole.
“Bastian, calm down,” I urge, voice laced with concern.
He ignores me, fury radiating off him in waves. His chest heaves with each breath, his body practically vibrating with pent-up aggression.
