I retraced my steps to the door, barely breathing. I had to find out what was really going on. If they were hooking up, I could hate him and move on. But if there was a chance she was there for another reason, I had to know.
Before I could change my mind, I rushed upstairs and knocked on Sebastian’s door.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sebastian
I only had a few seconds to wonder who was knocking, before I opened the door.
“Jesse?”
My heart stuttered. She was here. After days of silence, after I’d convinced myself she was done with me, here she was, standing at my door. Surprise flooded through me, but more than that—hope. God, the longing in her eyes mirrored what I’d been feeling every single day since our fight.
For a moment, I just stared, hypnotized, wishing with everything in me that I could pull her into my arms and kiss her until neither of us could breathe. But I didn’t know if I had that right anymore.
“Hi,” she murmured, blinking as if coming out of a trance.
She took in my work clothes—dark shirt, jeans, sneakers, and the glasses I wore when my eyes were tired from staring at lines of code all day. Which they were. I’d barely slept since we’d broken up, lying awake, replaying every conversation, every moment, trying to figure out how I could fix it. I’d also wanted to give her space, despite the fact that every hour of silence cost me dearly.
I watched her intently, waiting for her to speak, afraid to hope but unable to stop myself.
She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, movement at my feet drew both our attention. Robin was attempting to scale my leg like a tiny golden mountain climber.
“Oh, my God.” Jesse’s entire face transformed.
She dropped to her knees and gently scooped the kitten to her chest. He let out a questioning meow, digging his tiny claws into her paint-stained T-shirt to hold on.
I knelt beside her, unable to resist being close to her, and stroked Robin between his ears. I smiled—something I hadn’t done genuinely in days.
When I glanced at Jesse, I caught her staring at me. My heart clenched painfully. I’d missed her so damn much—her presence, her laugh, the way she looked at me like I was her everything.
“Where did you get him?” she asked, stroking the kitten as he clawed his way up her neck, pushing his whiskers into her face.
“I found him a couple of hours ago,” I explained. “I stopped for takeout on my way home from work, and there he was, alone on the sidewalk, meowing his little heart out. I grabbed him before someone trampled him, tucked him inside my shirt, and brought him home.”
Her eyes locked on mine. “You bought takeout?”
I glanced away, shrugging. The truth was too pathetic to admit—that cooking reminded me of her, of mornings making breakfast for her, of teaching her how to properly season a pan.
“I… haven’t felt like cooking lately.”
I stroked Robin again, and my knuckles accidentally brushed against her breast. The contact sent electricity through me. Every cell in my body remembered touching her, remembered how perfectly she fit against me, around me. I could feel myself gravitating toward her, desperate to close the distance between us.
The sharp tapping of Candi’s heels on the wooden floor shattered the moment. She appeared in the doorway of my bathroom.
“Jesse? Hi.” She waved enthusiastically.
Jesse raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised. “Candi, you remembered my name.”
Candi rolled her eyes. “How could I not? I’ve only been here ten minutes, and Sebastian’s talked about you nonstop.”
Heat crept up my neck. I ducked my head, focusing on Robin, but I could feel Jesse’s eyes on me. I hadn’t meant to be so obvious, but Candi had barely walked through the door before asking what was wrong, and everything had just spilled out.
Candi went on, oblivious. “Sebastian texted me to tell me that he’d found this cutie and ask for help. I have three cats, so I’m a bit of a specialist—although my fiancé wants me to get rid of them. That’s never going to happen. I told him I’d get rid of him before I’d give up my babies.” She frowned. “Anyway, I set up a litter box in the bathroom, and I brought over a few cans of moist food and other stuff.”
I looked down as Robin clawed his way from Jesse’s neck onto my shirt. “Thanks so much, Candi. I owe you big time.”
She waved her hand, flashing the enormous diamond on her ring finger. “No problem, I’m happy to help. I looked him over for fleas and didn’t find any, but you need to take him to the vet as soon as possible to get him checked out. He’ll need shots. I’ve left my vet’s card on the table.”
