A rough swallow bobbed down my throat. The refrigerator kicked on, making me jump.
“What do you mean, last time?” he growled
Shit.
I guess Luke really didn’t know all these years. And apparently, it hadn’t come up in their conversation today either. A million thoughts scrambled through my mind. Lie, don’t lie. Downplay it. Tell Luke it was none of his business. Plead the fifth.
“Lydia,” Luke said, pulling my attention to him. “Did Seb hook up with you before you left for New York?” His voice was icy calm now. A lightbulb went off behind his narrowed eyes. “Something happened between you two, and that’s why you left like you did. That’s why you started hating him out of the blue.”
“Luke, relax. That was a long time ago.”
“I know how long ago it was,” he shouted. “Eleven fucking years ago. You were a fucking baby.”
“I was not. I was eighteen. And again, this. Is. None. Of. Your. Business.” I was shouting now too.
“Fine. But when this blows up and you’re the one left crying, I’ll still be there to pick you up and dry your eyes,” he yelled as he made his way to the door.
“Please. I’d call Scarlett before I called you,” I shouted at his back just as the door closed behind him.
I tried to sit and watch some trash TV after he left, but I was too amped up. How dare Luke come bursting in here,telling me off for dating someone. How dare he try to dictate who I was allowed to sleep with.
Besides, he was the one who forced Sebastian and me together. If it weren’t for Luke setting me up with this job, rearranging my living arrangements, I would still be hating Seb for wrongfully thinking that he used me all those years ago.
I wore a path on the polished hardwood floors, pacing the length of the living room. My adrenaline started to wane after a couple of hours, and before I knew it, I was fading fast. Seb wasn’t going to be home for another couple of hours. Anger still simmered in my blood as I washed my face and changed into a sleep set, crawling into bed to wait for him.
As soon as his deep, rich scent hit me, a weight lifted from my chest. I huffed in a deep breath, gathering as much of his aroma into me as I could. My breathing slowed, my lids growing heavy. As the anger at Luke seeped away, the feeling of guilt crept in.
I didn’t want to come between Seb and Luke’s lifelong friendship. Seb had been such an important part of Luke’s life throughout the years, it didn’t feel right to be the wedge that drove them apart.
But why should I have to sacrifice what could be something real and good just because Luke didn’t like it? He was a grown man with a full life of his own: a good woman who loved him, impending fatherhood right around the corner, a career protecting and serving the community that he loved—and was really good at.
Thoughts and feelings jumbled my brain until finally, the sweet escape of sleep overtook me.
* **
Bright rays of sun illuminated the house. It was still early, only 7:00 a.m., but I had fallen asleep earlier than usual, so apparently, that meant I was up earlier than usual too. The coffee maker, which was usually prepped and ready for the morning, sat empty. After fighting to separate the filters, I measured out the coffee grinds and started a fresh pot.
It somehow didn’t taste as good as when Seb made it, but it would do in terms of a caffeine boost. I pulled one of Seb’s sweatshirts over my head and took my mug to the backyard to soak up some of the May sun’s warmth, and also so that I wouldn’t wake him. His yard bordered his neighbors on either side of him, no fences between any of their property lines, making the space feel so much bigger. Wildflowers lined the back perimeter in a colorful array acting as a border between the yards and the beach just past them. The sounds of the ocean, methodic and calming, floated through the salty air. I took a sip of my coffee just as the sliding glass door flew open, bouncing off the rubber stopper with a thud.
I jumped out of my skin.
“Holy hell, Seb. You scared the shit out of me,” I said. My hand flew to cover my racing heart.
Sebastian’s eyes held an intensity unexpected at this early hour. He stalked toward me like a predator, pulling my mug from my grip and gently placing it on the patio table without a word. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest.
“I thought you were still asleep.” My arms draped across his shoulders as I tilted my head up to look at him. Hestudied my face, his gaze tracing every inch like he was trying to memorize it. “Are you alright?”
“No.”
“Can I do something to help?” I lifted to my toes, placing a kiss to his underjaw.
His low growl sent a shiver down my spine, so I did it again, this time adding a little bite.
“You weren’t in bed when I woke up. You weren’t in the house. I thought for a second…” he said, trailing off before finishing that thought.
“Thought what?”
“I thought maybe Luke talked to you yesterday. Just so you know, he’s not super cool with this.” His mouth touched mine in an intimate, sweet kiss. His full lips were soft yet firm. Seb pulled back, ending the kiss far too soon and resting his forehead on mine.
