Chapter 38 - Deep, deep in the Woods

Chapter 38 - Deep, deep in the Woods
Sienna

And then the cottage was silent.

No teasing. No screeching. No overwhelming emotions crashing into me from every direction. Just… quiet.

I stood there for a moment, breathing slowly, letting the silence settle over my mangled brain like a cooling blanket.

After the embarrassment. After Nathan’s relentless teasing. After blurting out things no sane person should ever say aloud.

And this heat—God, this blasted heat tgat seemed to stem from vehind my navel and spread out to every part of me...

It still burned through me like a fever, deep beneath my skin, making every nerve feel too awake. I was never sick. Hardly ever even caught a cold, so I didn’t understand what this was.
It felt like my blood itself had turned to fire.

I pressed my fingers briefly to my flushed cheeks. Concentrate, Sienna. Tasks. Order. Routine.
That was how I functioned. That was what I needed. I started unpacking the platters and glasses, lining everything up neatly before carrying the iced cocktails and salads outside one by one.

And slowly—My mind began to settle. Even if my body was still behaving very strangely.

Roman came back first. He moved toward the grill, tending the fire before laying down the first steaks. Smoke curled into the air, rich with spice and charcoal, the scent making my stomach rumble softly.

It smelled… comforting. Warm. Safe.

We worked beside each other in an easy silence that somehow didn’t feel awkward at all. Every now and then, though, I’d catch him looking at me. A quick glance. A small smirk playing at his mouth.

And immediately my cheeks would heat all over again. I ducked my head, pretending to focus on the trays while trying—and failing—not to smile back.

And then the heat inside me flared. I fanned myself with a napkin. Roman went suddenly still. I saw him inhale. Then, almost immediately, he moved away under the excuse of fetching another platter.

That made me pause. Weird. But before I could think too hard about it, voices sounded from outside.

Nathan and Mei returned. Both looked… disheveled. Sweaty. Good...maybe it wasn't just me...maybe this humidity was affecting us all.

Mei stepped closer..."It smells great in here...I could go for some meat..."

Roman groaned and Nathan’s grin was almost blinding in its intensity. "Insatiable girl..."

Roman sniffed the air again and narrowed his eyes slightly at Nathan. “Good walk, cuz?” he asked, voice oddly tight.

Nathan grinned wider. “The best,” he said cheerfully. “Longest route possible. Went deep into the woods. Way way deep”

He glanced sideways at Mei. She winked. “Very deep,” she agreed innocently.

Roman snorted. I frowned slightly. Had he been worried? Had they wandered too far?

I looked at Nathan curiously. “I love the woods. Maybe you can take me deep into them sometime?”

Silence. Two horrified male faces swung toward me instantly. “No!” they shouted together.

I blinked. My face fell immediately. “Oh.” My voice went small...I wanted to cry..."Sorry...I asked..." I trailed off. I hated this. Mei bristled instantly when she heard me, looking daggers at the two guys. I was useless in social settings...I had no filter. What had I said now?

Roman was beside me almost instantly, expression softening. “That’s not what we meant,” he said quickly. “Of course we’ll take you.”

Nathan nodded vigorously. “Yeah. Just… during daylight.”

“You could get hurt after dusk,” Roman added smoothly.

I looked between them. Still unconvinced. Still confused. There was definitely something I wasn’t understanding. Again.

Before I could ask, Mei clapped her hands together brightly. “It’s not a party without music!” she announced. “Nathan—vibes. Now.”

And just like that, the strange moment dissolved. Music filled the air soon after, blending with laughter, sizzling meat, clinking glasses, and Mei’s nonstop chatter.
And for the first time all day—I stopped overthinking. Stopped spiraling.

I felt the late afternoon sun on my back...took a breath and just enjoyed it. The warmth of the fire. The smell of grilled food. Roman’s quiet smiles. Nathan and Mei bickering constantly.

It felt strangely normal despite how utterly abnormal my day had been.

Too soon, though, the sky began to darken. And at six, the driver arrived for Mei.
My chest tightened unexpectedly. I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed her presence until she was leaving.

She hugged me tightly at the car. “You better meet me for lunch or coffee once your internship starts next week,” she warned dramatically.

“I will,” I promised softly.

Then she leaned closer, grinning wickedly and whispered to me. “Oh—and don’t forget to give that hunk a kiss from me when you see him tomorrow.”

It took me a second and then it made sense. Tomorrow. Nikolai. Lunch at his dad's place upstate.

Heat crawled up my face again. Behind me, I thought I heard a low growl and a muttered “fuck that,” but the car engine started at the same time, and I couldn’t tell which one of the men it came from. Probably both.

I waved as the car pulled away, sadness tugging at me unexpectedly as Mei disappeared down the drive. It had been chaotic. Embarrassing. Confusing. Overwhelming. But somehow…Wonderful too.

And as the evening settled around us, I already found myself missing my noisy roommate and wondering what tomorrow would be like.