The vehemence with which Sebastian said it told me he comprehended the damage Neal had done. And that was enough to prove they were nothing alike. I nodded. “I knowthat.”
“A few minutes ago,” he said, “you said you forgave him, but not for long. Whathappened?”
I hugged my legs more tightly, clasping my elbows. “It . . . when he asked me to take him back, I assumed he’d realized what he’d had in me. And he did, but not what I’d thought.” I rested my chin on my knees. “He said he never should’ve leftsomeone like mefor a stronger woman. To him, I wasn’t loyal or devoted—just easy to control. He was the first person to ever make me feel someek.”
“And I was the second.” Understanding dawned on Sebastian’s face. “I came along and said you’d get run over in thiscity.”
“Before Neal, I would’ve brushed it off. But you hit anerve.”
“Georgina, you aren’t meek. For one, youdidn’ttake him back. Secondly, you wouldn’t let him bully you into not adopting a pet that neededyou.”
“That was for Bruno, notmyself.”
He shook his head. “You’re drawing non-existent lines. What matters is that you were strong. For him and for yourself. You’re both George and Georgina.Yougot up in front of a room that first day atModern Manand gave the shit out of your presentation—no oneelse.”
It was such a simple concept that I was embarrassed to admit I’d never really thought of it that way.Iwas still the one standing at the front of the room, not some version of myself that I could return to a box later . . . even if it sometimes felt thatway.
And of course there was the fact that I’d forgotten to be either version all day. I’d just beenmyself.
“Now, since I can’t kick my own ass,” Sebastian said, “tell me where to find that cocksucka Neal so I can make him sorry he ever opened his piehole.”
Smiling, I pushed Sebastian’s shoulder. “I have to admit, it’s a little sexy when your accentsurfaces.”
He caught my wrist, sliding his hand down until he held mine. “I’m serious. I don’t like how he treated you. Not atall.”
“You don’t have to worry abouthim.”
“AndFrank?”
My insides pulled, sending a twinge of excitement down between my legs. Sebastian wanted me all to himself. I hadn’t pegged him for the possessive type, but I recognized my own jealousy in him, which had quietly formed seeing him with Isabella, June, or in photographs with other women. “There’s nobody else,” I said. “You?”
“Not even close.” He squeezed my hand and let it go, leaning back on his palms. “Did you give Bruno hismeds?”
“Yes. Thank you forasking.”
“See?” He grinned. “I’m a natural at this dogthing.”
“It’s easy to think that when you don’t have one. From the outside, it looks like lounging in Central Park, cuddling on the couch, and posting cute videos. But there’s a lot of shit too.Literally.”
“You keep trying to talk me out of adopting Opal,” hesaid.
“It isn’t something you can decide on a whim. What if she chews up your furniture? What if you want to leave town? What if she gets sick and needstreatment?”
Sebastian flinched. “Then I’d take care of her. Who’s going to return a dog because she’s sick? What a load ofshit.”
“Nealwould’ve.”
Sebastian looked as if I’d sucker punchedhim.
I hadn’t meant to compare him to Neal after I’d just finished explaining that was why I wouldn’t see Frank again. “I didn’tmean—”
“Give me more credit than that,Georgina.”
“There’s no glamour in taking care of a sick dog. His care got in the way of vacations and nights out and even nights in.” Bruno’s legs twitched as he surely dreamed of chasing squirrels and a certain attractive beagle-foxhound mix. “You never know how you’ll react until you’ve been in thatsituation.”
“I do know. I have been in it.” He briefly clenched his teeth. “My mom hadcancer.”
My breath caught, and I instantly regretted everything I’d just said. He hadn’t said how she’d died. No wonder he’d been so helpful with Bruno. I covered my heart. “Sebastian.”
