of here.”
“Let’s go, babe. Dance for me.”
I reached for her shirt and she swung her foot and kicked me in the arm.
I grabbed her leg and she turned…
Putting me right between her legs.
Her messy hair sprawled out all over the messy sheets.
She wasn’t wearing a bra, which was damn obvious.
And it also didn’t hurt that her nipples were suddenly erect, showing themselves, pressing against the inside of her shirt.
“No stripping?” I asked.
“Not before coffee,” Bree said.
She kicked me with her other foot.
I playfully fell back, then went out of the bedroom.
When I saw the flowers on the table, the reality hit me again.
What Bree was up against.
And it made me think of Mitchy.
I really had to get back to LA and be with the band to finish that up.
I made some coffee and waited for Bree to appear.
When she did, her hair was pulled back and she was wearing a bra.
Just another subtle reminder of our friendship.
Nothing more than that, Sab.
Maybe I was just a cocky rock star, thinking every woman wanted a ride on my dick. Which was generally a true statement.
Not with Bree though.
Which was for the better.
I poured her some coffee and watched her staring at the flowers.
I sent Toby a text and he replied that the plane would be waiting for me in three hours. I just had to drive the rental car back to the airport and that was it.
“Are you okay today, Bree?” I asked.
She looked back at me. “No. But I’m better than I was before you came. Thank you, Sebastian. Honestly.”
“I can stay…”
“You can’t. You have to get back. I know it. You already sent your text.”
I nodded. “I’m sorry, babe.”
“Don’t be. You showing up was amazing.”
“Is Mia around today?”
“Yeah,” Bree said. “I have to go pick up the ashes at some point. Then the funeral home is setting up a memorial. I probably need to talk to the lawyer again. He’s pissed at me for rushing everything. I just want it to be done. That sounds greedy.”
“No, it doesn’t. You’re grieving. And you respected your mother’s wishes.”
“Hey, Sebastian?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” she said.
“Neither do I,” I said.
The next few hours flew right by.
Both of us casually looking at our phones, knowing it was getting close to saying goodbye.
When I grabbed my bag and guitar then walked it outside, Bree came with me.
I stood at the car and touched her face.
“We can’t let time go by like that again,” I said. “I mean it. You should come to LA. Soon. Really soon. Take a break from all of this here.”
“And do what?” Bree asked. “Be a pain in your ass? Tell everyone stories about Sebastian?”
“If that’s what you want to do, that’s fine by me.”
“You never know,” she said. “I might call you and tell you to send that private jet my way.”
“I can’t wait,” I said.
I hugged Bree.
I took a deep breath just to smell her.
I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and got into the car.
Driving away with her standing there felt like someone stabbing me in the heart.
I had no idea what the hell that meant.
But I was looking forward to getting back to LA, to try and clear my head a little.
8
BREE
I went back into the apartment.
Alone.
I felt empty.
Tired.
Sad.
I missed Sebastian like crazy, but not like that. I missed his company. I missed that he knew everything about me. He knew what I was feeling, when I was feeling it, and he always knew what to say or do.
It also helped that he lost someone too.
As bad as that sounded.
Whatever.
It was about connection. He and I connected.
Not to mention we had known each other for so long and he was always the one to protect me.
It just felt good.
He wasn’t the same Sebastian as all those years ago. I wasn’t the same Bree. But Sebastian was rich and famous. He was powerful. He was intense. Sexy? Sure. I’d give him that. But then he always was. And it wasn’t about that.
I wandered through the apartment, telling myself I could be on my own.
I could make it all work.
I looked at the letter from my mother on the table and shook my head.
Instead of reading it, I got another cup of coffee and went back into my bedroom.
When I sat down on the bed, I looked at the spot where Sebastian had slept.
Again… comfort.
That’s what it always was for us. Just comfort…
I want him to put his arm around me. I want him