14

sebastian

 

“Welcome to my humble abode,” I exclaimed, running down the steps of my porch to greet Tabby and Greyson.

“It’s so small,” Greyson grumbled, getting out of the car and looking up at my house with enough disgust to set the thing on fire.

“What the hell were you expecting, the Taj Mahal?” I asked with an eye roll.

I really wanted to hug them, after not seeing them for a few days. It had weirded me out, to feel so alone without their company, after only having it for a short period of time. And it wasn’t exactly the best company a guy could get, if I’m being honest. But good or not, it felt real, and that was better than any type of company I could get from random chicks.

Still, I didn’t hug them. Instead I offered Greyson an awkward shoulder slap, and Tabby denied me the air-kiss I attempted by hurrying away. Whatever.

“Be nice, Grey,” she reprimanded lightly. “It’s very nice of Sebastian to let us stay here for the next couple of days.”

“Yes, it is,” I agreed, grabbing their bags from the trunk of Tabby’s car. “I’m practically a saint, really.”

Without any reply, I led them into the house and to their rooms. It was only a four-bedroom house, with the third room converted into a drum studio and the fourth used for storage, so I gave Greyson the choice of bunking with Tabby or taking the couch. I figured there wasn’t any chance of him wanting to share with me, and I was certain Hell would freeze over before I ever got Tabby into my bed.

“Great. I came all the way here to sleep on a freakin’ couch,” Greyson grumbled, crossing his arms and scowling.

“Dude, I haven’t even shown you the couch I’m talking about yet,” I pointed out, leading him toward the basement door.

Tabby followed as I brought him to the basement den, or what some would call a man cave. A sixty-inch TV and a shelf of video game consoles was the first thing you saw as you came down the steps, followed by the large, leather sectional, complete with the biggest fucking lounge I could find at one end. It was big enough for me, at six-three, to lay on comfortably, so Greyson would have no problem.

When I turned to assess his reaction, I saw his wide-eyed enthusiasm as he wandered over to the bar and refrigerator.

“I stocked the fridge with snacks and drinks. There’s also a microwave behind the bar over there.” I smirked, dropping his suitcase on the floor in front of the cushioned ottoman. “Does this suit you, Your Highness?”

“Uh … this is okay,” he muttered, but the expression on his face told me it was more than okay. He was impressed, and dare I say it, happy.

“Just wait until you see my drum studio,” I told him, jumping my brows and winking. “You can play whenever the fuck you want without bothering the old battle-axe over here.”

“Hey,” Tabby growled from behind me, and I turned to grin at her. “And by the way, there better not be any alcohol in that bar.”

“What?” I dropped my jaw. “You mean tequila and vodka weren’t a good idea?”

“Sebastian,” she gritted through her teeth.

With a snicker, I rolled my eyes. “You must think I’m a fucking idiot, Thumbelina,” I said, nudging her toward the stairs. “I saved all the booze for us.”

“Ha-ha,” she drawled. “Greyson, I’m going to let Sebastian show me my room. Are you okay down here?”

Turning back to look at him, he was already in the fridge and pulling out a can of soda. “Uh-huh,” he murmured before heading to the couch and dropping down.

“Remote’s on the seat next to you.” I pointed, and he nodded absentmindedly. Turning back to Tabby, I chuckled under my breath. “I think he’s fine.”

Heading up the two flights of stairs to the second floor of the house, I grimaced when we reached the hallway.

“Okay,” I announced, pushing open the first door. “This is your room. I know it isn’t anything fancy like whatever swanky five-star hotel that dude wanted to put you up in, but … Well, you can check it out.”

With a sigh, Tabby entered the room. I waited in the doorway, as she took in the King-sized bed, complete with the new bedspread I had my mom help me pick out. She ran her hand over the mountain of pillows and turned around to face the TV on the opposite wall, hanging above the dresser now topped with a fresh bouquet of flowers.

“Sebastian,” she uttered, her voice tight as she walked toward the vase of brightly colored tulips. “Did you actually get me flowers?”

“Would you call me a presumptuous dick if I said yes?” I cocked a brow as she looked toward me.

“No,” she replied, shaking her head. “I would say that’s very sweet and thoughtful of you. They’re beautiful, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, reaching my hand up to grip the back of my neck. “Is the room okay?”

And, in that moment, it became my favorite room in the whole fucking house. Because, for the first time since I met her, it was then that she smiled at me. Not a slight twitch of her lips, not a polite curve of the mouth in the presence of her nephew. This was a genuine, all-encompassing grin that creased the corners of her eyes and lit her entire face with an ethereal glow. And all I could do was stand there in the doorway, wondering if it was just my heart that had stopped, or if it was time altogether.

“It’s perfect,” she nearly whispered, her voice hushed against the impact of her smile.

What the fuck is happening? My exhale left my lungs in a gust of uncertainty, while my inhale puffed me up with pride for making her happy. For making her smile.

“Cool,” I responded, not knowing what else to say. “Uh, over here …” I walked away from the door to head further down the hallway. She followed. “This is the bathroom.”

I pushed the next door open. Tabby’s eyes lit up with another dose of shock as she stepped inside, taking in spacious wide, glass shower stall.

“Well, this is nicer than mine,” she complimented, running her fingertips over the vanity countertop.

Chuckling, I leaned against the wall. “Surprised?”

“Uh, yeah,” she said, laughing airily. “A little. I didn’t think it’d be so … clean.”

Laughing and pushing a hand through my hair, I decided to mention, “If you want to take a bath while you’re here, there’s a jacuzzi in my bathroom.”

All remnants of happiness withered from her face as she screwed her features up with disgust. “I don’t even want to know what’s happened in there.”

“Uh, aside from jerking off about seventy-thousand times, nothing,” I countered, narrowing my eyes with a smug smirk. “You’re the first woman aside from my mother and sisters to ever be in this house.”

“Oh, like I’m going to believe that,” she snickered, shaking her head incredulously. “Seriously. You don’t need to lie to impress me. I don’t give a crap.”

“Well, clearly you do, if you’re making accusations like that. And I’m telling you, I don’t let the women I sleep with know where I live. That’s the last thing I need,” I groused, folding my arms over my chest.

“You let my sister know where you lived, after sending those letters,” she argued, pinching her lips with a victorious smirk.

“That was different,” I insisted, my tone wry.

“Oh, yeah? Well, how do you know you don’t have a whole tribe of children out there that you just don’t know about?” she shot back. “Or better yet, how do you know a thousand women haven’t gotten rid of pregnancies that you made happen?”

This little fucking witch. How could she go from being so grateful to being so fucking nasty in a matter of minutes?

I can handle a lot. I could banter with the best of them, and I enjoy it, especially with her for some reason. But that comment … That was a low blow, considering she had read the letters I’d sent. She knew how I had felt back then, and she was using it against me.

“You know what, Tabitha?” I shook my head, edging away and turning to cross the hall to my own room. “Go fuck yourself.”

I heard the sharp intake of her breath from behind me as I threw my door open and let it slam shut. Crossing the floor to my bed, I stopped and pinched the bridge of my nose. Fuck. It took me a second to realize that what I was feeling wasn’t even anger. No, that pinging ache in my stomach wasn’t fury or rage; it was the feeling of being insulted and hurt—by her. For reasons I couldn’t yet understand, I hated that she thought that way about me.

A soft knock came to the door. “What?” I growled, pinching harder.

Tabby came in, quietly stepping into the room. “Hey, I, um … I didn’t mean that. I shouldn’t have said it.”

“Whatever,” I grumbled.

“God, you sound just like Greyson,” she laughed gently, awkwardly.

Reluctantly, I turned around to face her. Guilt was painted over her face like a timid mask, all doe-eyes and pouty lips. Not knowing what to do with her hands, her fingers twisted together, and she looked up at me with what I assumed was the hope that I’d forgive her.

“I’m sorry.” Her words floated on her weighted breath. It was something I doubted she said very often.

“Don’t sweat it,” I muttered, inhaling and exhaling the remainder of my hurt away.

Her eyes skittered to the side and eyed my bed. I had to admit, having her there, in such close proximity to where I slept, injected enough sexual tension into the air to suffocate me. If I wasn’t absolutely terrified of her screaming and clawing my eyes out, I might’ve tossed her down right there.

“I should unpack,” she announced abruptly, the moment she realized I’d followed her gaze.

“Sure,” I nodded, hoping she didn’t catch sight of the obvious hard-on beginning to strain against the zipper of my jeans.

She turned around to head back across the hall when she stopped. “By the way, I can’t believe you actually put me across the hall from you.”

Calm down, dick. “Why’s that?”

“Just seems very presumptuous of you,” she mocked. “Almost seems like you’re expecting something to happen.”

Fucking relax. “I guess it does almost seem that way.”

She glanced over her shoulder and if I wasn’t mistaken, I thought I detected just the hint of a flicker burning in the center of those emerald eyes. But without another word, she exited the room. I heard the door across the hall gently close, and not caring if she heard, I released a primal, guttural groan.

Maybe she was right. Maybe this was a terrible idea.

Or maybe this is exactly what you both need.