Sierra Jensen Collection, Vol 2 Page 3

  “Hi,” Sierra said. “How was your day?”

  “Terrible.” Tawni kicked off her shoes and wiggled out of her panty hose. “The results from this last month came in today, and guess who scored the absolute lowest in sales?”

  “You?” Sierra ventured. “But I thought when you did that Valentine special, they said you were the top promoter or something.” Sierra didn’t know much about the ins and outs of Tawni’s job at the fragrance counter at Nordstrom’s, and she had never tried that hard to understand what Tawni meant when she rattled off news of her day.

  “That was back in February,” Tawni stated with an edge to her voice. One false move, and Sierra knew the edge of that verbal blade could slice right through her. Fortunately, a letter waiting for Tawni on her bed caught her eye, and she shut Sierra out.

  Sierra pretended to refocus on her journal, but she was really watching her depressed sister as she slit the envelope with her long thumbnail and began to read the letter. Sierra had noticed the letter earlier but hadn’t checked to see whom it was from. Jeremy probably—although he usually called instead of sending letters.

  Over the top of her journal, Sierra could see Tawni’s sullen expression lifting. She flipped to the second page of the letter, and a definite smile began to tug the corners of her lips, which now moved silently as she scanned the lines.

  Sierra noticed how thin her sister’s lips were. Tawni was beautiful, no question there. People would often turn and stare at her. Sierra had grown accustomed to that occurrence as they grew up, realizing all along that she would forever be the tomboy, destined to go unnoticed in the shadow of Tawni’s beauty.

  However, Sierra knew one thing: She had perfect lips. And now she realized for the first time that Tawni did not. Sierra had her mother’s lips. Perfectly proportioned on top and bottom. And when she drew them back in a smile, her teeth fit in a neat row, and a dimple appeared. It comforted Sierra to discover that she had better lips than Tawni.

  “I can’t believe this!” Tawni half shouted, shaking the letter in the air and looking wildly at Sierra. “This is perfect.” She jumped from her bed and burst through the doorway into the hall. “Mom? Dad?” she called out, running barefooted down the stairs.

  “What?” Sierra said to the empty air surrounding Tawni’s bed. A slight scent of gardenias had followed Tawni out of the room. Now Sierra had a decision to make. Should she go galloping downstairs to find out what her sister was so excited about? Or should she wait until Tawni returned?

  An old conflict surfaced for Sierra. She and Tawni were sisters, and Sierra considered them to be friends as well. But they weren’t super close, which was why Tawni ran to talk to Mom and Dad about her good news rather than stay in their room and let Sierra be the first to know.

  Tawni had once blamed their lack of sisterly bonding on her being adopted and therefore not as intricately connected to Sierra as she would have been if they were blood relatives. Sierra claimed it was their personality differences.

  She chewed thoughtfully on the end of her pen and kicked at a pile of clean socks at the foot of her bed. Glancing at her journal, she reread her last line: “Is it that I’m too impulsive?”

  “Okay,” she muttered, “then I won’t be impulsive and run downstairs. I’ll wait here, and when she comes back, I’ll be sweet and interested and let her tell me her big news.”

  Snapping shut her journal, Sierra decided to put away her clothes. She matched up her socks and put them in the dresser drawer; then she hung up a mound of clean clothes draped over the chair. She even sorted out the papers in her backpack. Still Tawni didn’t make an appearance. It was after ten, and Sierra was too tired to wait any longer. She got ready for bed and tried to select the best of all the options she had been contemplating about the letter’s contents while cleaning her side of the room. Her conclusion was the letter was from Jeremy, and he was coming to visit after all. Tawni had run downstairs to tell Mom and Dad, and then, of course, she had immediately called Jeremy. That’s where she was now, making plans with him on the phone.

  As Sierra turned off the light and pulled the covers up to her chin, she began to sift through the possible things she could say when she saw Paul again. Because if Jeremy was coming, she would certainly see Paul.

  SIERRA OVERSLEPT the next morning and had to scramble to get ready. Tawni was still asleep when Sierra galloped down the stairs and bounded into the kitchen.

  “What was up with Tawni and that letter last night?” she asked her mom, who was unloading the dishwasher.

  Mom checked the clock and, handing Sierra a box of cranberry juice and a granola bar, said, “You’d better eat breakfast on the run. We’ll talk about the letter when you come home.”

  These kinds of mysteries drove Sierra crazy. Charging out the front door with her backpack slung over one arm and the granola bar already stuffed into her mouth, she tried to punch the straw into her box drink.

  Okay, let’s see. Jeremy is coming, but they didn’t want to give me the details this morning because…

  No conclusion came to her mind except there simply wasn’t enough time for a conversation. Slipping her free hand into her backpack, Sierra fumbled for her keys and started up the old VW Rabbit she shared with her mom.

  During the eighteen-minute drive to school, Sierra went over all the assignments she needed to get cranking on. It was going to be a full week. She slipped into the first open parking spot she came to and hurried to her locker. Randy was waiting there for her.

  “How you doing? You want to go to Lotsa Tacos for lunch?” he asked.

  “Sure. Did you talk to Tre yet?”

  Randy looked at her as if he didn’t understand the question.

  “About the service project at the Highland House.”

  Randy nodded and said, “No, but I called there last night and set everything up. We’re going to have to go two times to finish our four hours.”

  “That’s okay,” Sierra said.

  “Yes, that’s what I thought. I’ll tell Tre today.”

  “Guess what? I drove by there last night and—”

  Before she could finish her sentence, the bell clanged loudly over their heads. Sierra winced at the sound and gave Randy a nod. “I’ll tell you the rest at lunch.”

  He appeared at her locker right on time for lunch. The guy had an unmistakable charm about him. As he stood there with his crooked grin, he looked at Sierra as if she were the only girl in the world.

  “What?” she said, brushing past him and spinning the combination on her locker.

  “You ready?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she answered with an affirming slam of the locker door.

  “By the way,” he said, “do you mind driving?

  “Oh, so that’s it,” Sierra said. “You asked me to lunch because you wanted a chauffeur.”

  “That wasn’t the only reason.”

  “I suppose you want me to buy lunch for you as well.”

  “No,” Randy said, taking her by the elbow and directing her out the front doors. “I got paid yesterday, so I have money for once.”

  “Good,” Sierra said.

  They crossed the parking lot to Sierra’s car, and she climbed into the driver’s seat. Reaching over to unlock the passenger door for Randy, she said, “I was only teasing you. The pay-your-own-way system seems to work best for us.”

  “That’s ’cause we’re a team!” Randy said, thumping the dashboard with fists. “Unstoppable.”

  Sierra smiled at his antics. “I’m happy to tell you that I put my whole paycheck in the bank last week. I’m saving every penny.”

  “What are you saving for?”

  “You know, that’s a good question.” Sierra pulled out of the parking lot and headed for Lotsa Tacos, which was less than three blocks from the school. “I don’t need anything. I think I’m doing this savings thing on instinct. We were always taught to save our money when we were little, but I don’t know what I’m saving for.”

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nbsp; Sierra pulled into the drive-through at Lotsa Tacos. The Rabbit hit the curb hard, and Randy said, “I know what you can spend all that money on. New shocks.”

  “I’d rather buy a new car,” Sierra said. “Did you know Tawni bought her own car? I might need to do the same if this one decides to go belly up.”

  Four cars were in line ahead of them, and all of them were loaded with students from their school.

  “So, what do you think they’re going to have us do? At the Highland House, I mean,” Sierra asked.

  “I don’t know. Paint, maybe. Isn’t it an old building?”

  Sierra pulled the car up to the speaker. “It doesn’t look too bad from the outside. Do you know what you want?”

  Randy leaned over and shouted out his order. Sierra added a soft taco and a milk and began to drive forward.

  “A milk?” Randy questioned. “Nobody orders milk with a taco.”

  “I do,” Sierra said, sorting through the change in the glove compartment. “Oops! I don’t have enough money. Do you have an extra quarter?”

  “Oh, so you’re one of those, are you?” Randy teased. “You have all your money tied up in stocks and bonds and rely heavily on your innocent friends to bail you out when you need cash.”

  Sierra pulled up to the window. “It’s only a quarter, Randy. You make it seem like a crime.”

  “The only crime here is that you’re drinking milk with your taco.”

  “I happen to like milk.”

  “I do, too. With cereal, or cookies, or even a turkey sandwich. But not with tacos—never with tacos.”

  “Just a second,” Sierra said to the cashier. Then turning to Randy, she asked, “Are you going to give me a quarter or not?”

  “Put your money away. I have this covered.”

  “You don’t have to pay for the whole thing, Randy. Just loan me a quarter.”

  “Excuse me,” the cashier said. “Would you two lovebirds mind paying first and then move forward to continue your spat?”

  “Lovebirds!?” Sierra and Randy said in unison. They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Sierra snatched the money from Randy’s fist and paid the whole bill with it.

  “Keep the change,” she said and drove forward.

  “Keep the change!?” Randy spouted. “You just gave him a dollar tip.”

  Before Sierra could explain her impulsive action, Randy hopped out of the car and dashed back to the payment window. She watched in her rearview mirror as Randy nodded his apologies to the woman in the car now in front of the window. He then pointed over his shoulder toward Sierra and spoke with the cashier, using lots of hand motions.

  As the bag of tacos was handed to Sierra through her open window, Randy jumped back into the passenger’s seat. He waved the dollar bill in his hand and said, “Got it! Ha!” He was smiling and didn’t appear at all bothered by her rash actions.

  Sierra handed him the bag of food and pulled into the street, heading back to school. “You know what, Randy? I think I’m dangerous.”

  “I could have told you that,” Randy said.

  She shook her head. “I don’t know what my mind is doing lately. I’m being reckless and impulsive. That wasn’t fair to give him your money. I’m sorry.” She drove into the school parking lot and found a spot for the car.

  “Whatever,” Randy said. “That’s you, Sierra. You’re a free spirit, and free-spirited people do crazy things sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with that. Why are you being so hard on yourself? It didn’t bother me.”

  “But it did bother you. Why else would you have gone back for the money?”

  “Because I’m a tightwad.” Randy opened the bag, pulling out her taco. He presented her with the carton of milk on his open palm as if he were serving it on a silver tray. “Your taco and milk, Miss Jensen.”

  “I feel as if I’m changing, Randy,” Sierra said.

  “People do,” he said.

  Sierra unwrapped her taco and asked, “Do you ever feel as if you’re not sure who you are?”

  “Sure. Everybody does sometimes.”

  “I never have before.”

  “Ever?” Randy said after he had swallowed his first bite of burrito.

  “I don’t think so.”

  Randy shook his head and stuffed another bite in his mouth. “Don’t take yourself so seriously. You can act as impulsively around me as you want. I’ll still be your friend. I might be out a couple of bucks now and then, but I’ll still be your friend.”

  Sierra smiled and took a sip of milk.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the game Friday night?” Randy said, changing the subject and wolfing down his last bite.

  “Not particularly. Are you going?”

  “I thought about it. It would be a lot more fun if you came with me—I mean, with us. A bunch of people are going. Come on, Sierra. I’ll even pay if you don’t want to deplete your Swiss account.”

  “You’re too nice,” she said, enjoying having a guy be so understanding of her mixed-up feelings and so eager to spend time with her. Basketball didn’t particularly thrill her, especially because the tickets were so expensive. But it would be fun to go with Randy and see how things turned out between Amy and Drake.

  “Well?” he prompted.

  “Okay, I’ll go. I have the money, so I’ll even buy my own ticket.”

  “Cool.”

  Smiling, Sierra motioned to Randy that he had a shred of cheese caught at the corner of his mouth. Randy had to be the only guy at school who still said “Cool.” “Cool” and “Whatever” were his favorite words. And he was so easy to be around. It occurred to Sierra that what Amy was mistaking for a crush was simply a great friendship between the two of them. Not every girl had a buddy who was so understanding. Amy certainly didn’t. No wonder she couldn’t see this as merely a friendship.

  ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, Sierra sat on the edge of her bed watching her sister wedge another pair of shoes into her suitcase and scurry to the dresser to pack her jewelry.

  “I still can’t believe you’re going to Southern California,” Sierra said.

  Tawni had been floating ever since the mysterious letter arrived on Tuesday. In a few short days, it seemed as if Tawni’s life had changed completely. Tomorrow morning, she and Mom and Dad were flying to Los Angeles for the weekend. Tawni’s best friend from high school, Jennifer, had moved there with her parents. The letter was Jennifer’s invitation for Tawni to come live with them.

  “You didn’t borrow my pearl earrings, did you?” Tawni asked, going through the neatly organized jewelry in her top drawer.

  “Like I would,” Sierra said, rolling onto her stomach. “What if Mom and Dad don’t agree to let you move down there? What if you can’t transfer to a Nordstrom’s store in that area?”

  “That’s why we are going this weekend. To find out,” Tawni said impatiently. “Now, where’s my gold bracelet?”

  “Didn’t you already pack your jewelry last night?” Sierra asked.

  Like a skittish rabbit, Tawni hurried back to the suitcase on her bed and checked the pouch in the back. “You’re right. I must be losing my mind!”

  “You are losing your mind,” Sierra chimed in, “to suddenly decide to move to Los Angeles like this.”

  “It’s not Los Angeles. Jennifer lives in Carlsbad. It’s only half an hour north of San Diego. I already told you this. The airfare was cheaper into LAX, and Dad thought the drive down the coast would be fun.”

  “When will Mom and Dad meet Jeremy?” Sierra asked.

  “Tomorrow night. We’re having dinner with his parents. Did I tell you I called the agent this morning?”

  “What agent?”

  “The modeling agent your friend’s aunt referred me to.”

  Sierra nearly tumbled off her bed. “Modeling agent! I thought you said you didn’t want to model?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it. If I actually do have a chance, I should at least try it, don’t you think?” Tawni definit
ely had stars in her eyes now. “The money would be a whole lot better than what I’m making, and besides, it might be kind of fun.”

  “Fun? Haven’t you read those interviews with models who starve themselves and work fourteen-hour days and say they feel as if people treat them like objects rather than human beings? How can you think that would be fun?”

  “I’m not going to Paris, or even New York. It’s a small agency, and I’d agree to model only clothing, not swimsuits. Mom and Dad and I have already talked about it. They think I should follow my dream and see what happens.”

  Sierra repositioned herself cross-legged on her bed and folded her arms across her stomach. “Since when did this become your dream, Tawni? It’s as if you’ve turned into a different person ever since Jennifer’s letter.”

  Tawni stopped her frenzied sorting and packing for a moment and looked softly at Sierra. “Maybe I have. Maybe this is what I’ve been waiting for, a chance to be on my own, trying something new, enjoying the most fantastic relationship I’ve ever had with a guy. Living so far away from Jeremy has been torture. Would you expect me to turn this all down? For what? So I can stay here, where I have no friends, no future, no life?”

  Sierra had known Tawni would leave home someday, just as their two older brothers had. She just hadn’t expected it to be like this.

  Neither of them spoke for a full five minutes. Tawni carefully folded and refolded a black blazer and then leaned on the top of her suitcase to close it. She stepped back, an expression of satisfaction crossing her beautiful face.

  “Tawni?” Sierra said, getting up and shuffling the ten or so feet to where her sister stood. “I love you, and I’m going to miss you. I hope everything works out.” Sierra offered a big hug, which Tawni received with surprise.

  “Honestly, Sierra, we’re only going for the weekend to check things out. I’m not moving yet.”