“I ordered out. Had it delivered. Got Rosie’s.”
I laughed. “I haven’t had that food in a long time.”
“Well, then I’m making my mark while I’m here,” he said. He walked to me and handed me one of the glasses of whiskey. Then he nodded to the table. “That’s a lot of flowers.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I have a lot of people to thank. And I really don’t want to. I don’t want to do any of this.”
“Right now you don’t have to,” he said in a soft voice.
His right hand touched my hip and he motioned for the couch.
Chills moved through my body for a few seconds.
We sat next to each other.
“Let’s hear about the day,” he said. “If you want to talk about it.”
I looked at him.
I had zero desire to talk about my day.
But two seconds of looking into Sebastian’s eyes, I told him everything. From beginning to end. Almost every minute that passed from the time I left the apartment until I showed back up.
When I finished, I took a deep breath.
Sebastian put his fingers under my glass and lifted it.
He smiled.
“You just want me to get drunk,” I said. “Why? So you could kiss me again?”
“Oh, that’s a low blow, babe,” he said. “Not cool at all.”
“What? We can’t joke about it?”
He leaned toward me. “Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it.”
“Eh, it was okay,” I said. “I mean, you’re a rock star. So I kind of was hoping for a little more.”
“Damn,” Sebastian said. “That’s evil stuff, Bree.”
I sipped the whiskey.
I looked at my bag on the floor.
“What’s wrong?” Sebastian asked.
“I had to pick something up from the lawyer,” I said. “Like I told you. I didn’t look at it yet. It looks like a letter from my mother. She had everything figured out. Kind of weird… to be so prepared and then…”
“I get it,” Sebastian said.
I looked at him. “You know, the last few times we talked we really didn’t get along.”
“You and your mother?”
I nodded. “I didn’t tell anyone this. Not even Mia. But we ended up arguing a few times. She seemed off. She seemed worried or guilty or something. I don’t know. I thought she was just having a bad day. But…”
“What do you think it was?” Sebastian asked.
“Who knows. Stress. Life. Age. I’m making something out of nothing. Last time we talked, she was on my case about quarterly taxes. Of all things. Mia and I run the business for Mia’s mother. And there’s an accountant who handles all that stuff. I guess she saw some crime show about an accountant who never paid the taxes for a few businesses and blah blah blah…”
“So she was worried about you then,” Sebastian said.
“Right. That’s your take.”
“It’s the truth,” he said. He sipped his drink. “So you’re not doing any kind of viewing or funeral?”
I shook my head. “She didn’t want that.”
“What can I do, Bree?”
I looked at him again. “You’re here. I appreciate it. But I know you don’t belong here, Sebastian. I know you have things happening in Los Angeles. So… you know… I kind of need to kick you out.”
Sebastian laughed. “Kick me out?”
“That’s right.”
“You’re going to kick the drummer of Filthy Line out of your apartment?”
“Correct.”
“And we didn’t even have sex?”
Heat flooded my cheeks. I smiled. “Correct.”
“Damn,” Sebastian said. He stood up. “Well, it was good seeing you.”
I hurried and grabbed his hand. “Wait. I didn’t mean right now.”
Sebastian looked down at me with dangerous, smoldering eyes. “I know, babe. I was just fucking around.”
“Oh. Right.”
I smiled again.
But I didn’t let his hand go.
7
SAB
I fucking hate Ricky.
He’s just some punk jock that danced his fingers in and out of girls’ panties like he’s getting paid to do so.
I get it… I’m not much better.
But he’s got his eyes on Bree.
He’s been flirting with her all night.
I’m standing near a tree, drinking some cheap, warm beer, watching the glow of the fire hitting her face as Ricky works his smooth charm on her.
When he touches her face, I want to scream.
I’m not jealous.
I’m protective.
I know what his intention is.
I don’t know if she knows what it is.
Last thing I need is Bree to fall for this guy and then get hurt.
Of course I’ll be there for her. No matter what she does.
But Ricky? Tonight?
I shake my head.
I drop the beer bottle to the ground and walk toward the fire.
Danielle pops up out of nowhere and throws her arms around my neck. She rubs her body against mine and I smell