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Sierra

Have you ever had a moment in your life when you thought, “Damn, I did it.”?

No? Me neither.

But sitting here, surrounded by my entire family at one of New York’s most exclusive five-star restaurants, I feel truly blessed and happy.

It’s the first time in the last couple of months that the five of us have been able to align our schedules.

My two brothers, Liam and Zayn, and I are running the family business. My father decided to retire five years ago to spend more quality time with my mother.

They are the epitome of love at first sight—the kind that actually lasts forever. If you saw them now, at sixty years old, you’d think they are newlyweds. They met in high school and, since then, have been inseparable.

And that’s why I believe true love exists—I’ve seen it. And maybe that’s why I crave it so badly.

“Ser, what are you thinking about? We lost you there for five minutes,” my brother, Liam, asks, using the nickname they’ve given me since we were kids.

“Hmm, I was thinking about the new club’s marketing campaign.” A lie. A smooth one.

I can’t tell them I’m daydreaming about my nonexistent love life. My brothers are older than me and—yes, you guessed it—they’re extremely protective. Even though I’m not a teenage girl anymore, they still treat me like one. So talking to them about anything remotely personal is… complicated.

“Baby, you’re always working so hard,” my mom says softly. “You spend what, ten or twelve hours every day in your office or in meetings with clients? I’d love for you to take a break and go on a vacation.” Her voice is gentle, but I can hear the concern behind it. It’s always there.

That’s my mom. Every chance she gets, she tries to convince me to “take it slow and enjoy life.”

Before I even get a chance to answer, Liam nods, smirking at me, amusement evident on his face. “Yes, Mom’s right. You work too much, and we can’t see you unless we make plans one week in advance.”

“Oh, please. You’re the first person in the office six days a week,” I shoot back, raising an eyebrow. “And you—“ I point at Zayn, “—you’re the second most obsessed with work.” I roll my eyes at both of them. “Mom, I’m good. I love what I do, and it’s not like I have a husband or kids waiting for me at home.”

“That’s exactly why you don’t have any of those,” Mom answers, her tone sweet but her message clear. She rests her head on Dad’s shoulder with a soft sigh.

The weight of her words settles somewhere in my chest. Not heavy. But not light either.

From across the table, Zayn grimaces and shudders dramatically. “Mom, please don’t talk about Ser and husbands or kids in the same sentence. She’s not allowed to have any. No, thank you.”

There it is. Exhibit A.

See? Exactly what I was talking about. This is how every conversation about my private life ends.

“Don’t be silly, baby. She’s allowed to have sex, just like you two are,” Mom says with a laugh, making my father cough into his glass of whiskey.

“Dear, I don’t think we need to talk about this at all,” he says, clearly mortified.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m a grown woman and I can make my own decisions.” I straighten in my chair. “Mom, I don’t feel the need to have a boyfriend right now, much less a husband. I’m happy. I’m complete. And I’m very much in love with my job.”

“Thank God.” Liam visibly relaxes and turns to his food, but…

“But I can assure you my sex life is not lacking, even if I work too much. Thank you for your concern.”

I smirk, taking immense pleasure in the horrified expressions on the faces of the three men in my family.

Worth it. Every second.

“Sierra…” Liam starts, exasperated.

“What? What are you trying to say?” Zayn cuts in, practically shouting. “Ser, please, tell me you’re joking and your sex life is nonexistent. As it should be.”