Touch And Go - Aiden Bates Page 0,78

brothers trailed close behind. Richie tried to catch up with his long legs, but I grabbed his shirt and yanked him back before he could get to Seb’s side to try to counsel him. The guy clearly wanted to be left alone.

But of course, they all filed into my apartment behind us, and each of them shot me a look when Seb didn’t speak but went straight toward the bedrooms. It was easy for them to shoot me their imploring or angry or determined looks. They weren’t losing the only man who’d meant something real to them. Their souls weren’t dying.

I put on my no-nonsense, older brother tone. “Thanks for finding Ben and bringing him out. And for being here for Seb.”

Richie raised his eyebrows. “Yeah. Whatever. You better get in there and talk some sense into him before we turn our brotherhood on your ass.”

“Good threat.” Sean nodded and Matt grunted in agreement.

I balked and flailed my arms at the sassy scowl Braxton was giving me. “I can’t—”

“Won’t.” Richie held up a finger and corrected me, while Owen sniffed arrogantly and crossed his arms. Hunter’s mouth was downturned in disappointment, and Eli widened his eyes and tried to shoo me after Seb. But I couldn’t ask Seb to stay. He didn’t want to be there, and I couldn’t stand any more rejection.

My voice was shaky, but I was determined. “He won’t—”

“Won’t what?” Seb stood at the edge of the hallway with his backpack over a shoulder, and his eyes still vacant and withdrawn. I opened my mouth, but the moment he met my gaze, I lost all hope. His mind was made up. And the promise of a picture-perfect future for us was just words unless it was what he wanted, and right now, he didn’t.

He shrugged and patted the backpack. “I think I’ve got everything. Um, can someone give me a lift to my apartment?”

I wanted to offer to drive him, but my mouth was dry, and I couldn’t find the words. I didn’t want him to leave. It was too soon. Matt cleared his throat, but Sean shot him a look, and the rest of the brothers were silent. Seb nodded in acceptance, and I braced for him to leave. My breath snagged when he walked over to me, pressed his hand against my chest, his palm flat over my heart…

He still seemed to be withdrawn, but his voice sounded sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I ’ll never be able to repay you for saving me the way you did. In the ER, and out of it.” He pulled me down for a sweet, lingering kiss way too much like goodbye for me to enjoy. “This was always going to happen. It’s always been touch and go with us. And now it’s go.” His smirk was all sadness.

Richie inhaled sharply, and Eli audibly swallowed. When I glanced up, all eyes were on me. They were waiting for me to stop him, to say something to make him stay. But my throat was pinned closed, and my jaw was set.

Matt finally broke the silence. “I’ll take you home, Seb.”

“Thanks.” But Seb’s gaze was still on mine. He wet his lips like he wanted to say something, then bit gently at the split I’d patched. I took a breath to say something, anything. One more minute. But I was too slow. He shouldered his bag, put his head down, and followed Matt out of the apartment.

And still the words wouldn’t come. Seb made it clear he wasn’t going to stay, and I wasn’t going to force him to do something he didn’t want to do. He’d told me again and again that he wasn’t a kid; he was an independent adult, he did what he wanted, and he wanted to leave. Of course, he did. The only ones who ever stayed were my brothers.

I stalked to my bedroom, slammed the door and stood there. Alone.

24

Sebastian

First came the slapping sound…and then the wet ear…and then the stink of dog breath. I was face-down on my couch, one of the few pieces of furniture still left in the cleared-out apartment, where I’d blacked out from too many vodka cranberries, and now there was a dog licking my face.

My sofa jolted, shook, and the room swam behind my closed eyes. “Get up.”

“Go away.” The harsh light of day hit me as I rolled onto my back, and a headache bloomed behind my eyes as I peered at Eli’s silhouette. “How’d you get