↳ 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑 ー 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘

𝐗𝐗𝐈𝐕 ー 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞

◉

Whilst exiting the store, Sierra sends the polite woman on the door a kind smile. It widens when Kaden habitually takes the bag from her hand and intertwines his fingers with hers.

"You know I still feel guilty when you buy me stuff." She wraps her other arm around his. "Even after all these years."

"I'd spend my entire bank account on you."

"I know you would, but you're not going to."

"You can't stop me."

"That's what you think." She flashes a grin as a shoulder bumps into hers. Kaden's eyes shoot up as she turns to face the man ending his phone call. "Oh my god, Derek?"

"Sierra?" His brows raise in surprise. "Wow. Look at you oh my gosh!" She blinks and briefly embraces him, oblivious to Kaden frowning at the pair of themー and the daggers shooting from his eyes that he makes no effort to hide.

"What are you doing here?"

"Work. Stopping here for a couple days for a few conferences then I'm off again."

"So you travel a lot? You always wanted to travel the world."

"Sounds a little cheesy but yeah." He rubs the back of his neck. "I spend most of my time travelling and exploring these days." He glimpses the man beginning to scowl.

She steps back to wrap her arm around Kaden's. "Derek, this is Kaden. Kaden this is Derek. We went to high school together."

"Nice to meet you." Derek offers a friendly smile. He would've shaken his hand but the look in his eye persuades him not to. "Listen, I'm running late for a meeting. I'd love for us to catch up or something while I'm in the area if you're up to it?" He passes over one of his business cards. "I'll see you around, maybe." He chuckles, passing by. 

"Gosh, you forget people when life hurls things at you. Like surprise attacks and murderers."

"I'm glad I don't remember anyone I went to school with."

"Don't be so sour." She chuckles gently.

"I hated everyone."

"Well, you and Grayson weren't exactly sociable people. You didn't even boast about your straight As. When I got a decent grade I shoved it in everyone's faces."

"We were starting to kill people during high school."

"Good point." She safely places the small card into her bag. "You know I used to skip lessons with him? He used to give me a leg up over the fence and we'd run to the nearest corner shop. Spent the hour getting high off sugar."

"Such a rebel." He sighs and begins to walk with an arm around her shoulders. She laces their fingers together, running a hand over his back. "Gray and I used to skip lessons to torture people but that works too."

"Okay tough guy." He smiles at her soft laugh. "Let's just pray that Hope doesn't follow in our footsteps. Then again she has you as her father, I don't think she'll be breaking any rules any time soon."