When I finished, she shook her head. “You can’t let this go. It’s unacceptable.”
“What can I do? He didn’t actually assault me, or do anything that could be taken seriously. He never even touched me. On the contrary, he can claim that I assaulted him. How can I prove otherwise?”
She clenched her jaw, tapping her foot on the car floor. “I’m sure he would have done more if you hadn’t fought back. But you’re right, it wouldn’t be much of a court case, a matter of ‘he said, she said’.” An edge laced her words, each syllable sharpened with a subtle irritation that lingered in the air. “Don’t think about it anymore, at least not tonight. You need rest.”
I couldn’t argue. I could sleep standing up if I had to.
“Thank you, Janine. Do you know how long he’ll be in the hospital?”
“The doctor said it depends on how quickly he heals, but at least a week.”
Panic shook me at the thought of Sebastian not sleeping in our bed for a week.
As though sensing it, Janine tried to reassure me. “Don’t worry. Robin will keep you busy, and you can call me any time. My schedule is pretty full during the day, but we can get together some evenings to keep each other company.”
I smiled. “That would be nice. I’m so grateful to you and Kim for dealing with Robin. How do I get him back? I’m happy to drive to your friend’s place tomorrow.”
“I’ll talk to her and text you. Here we are, just pull over there.” She pointed to the curb.
I took my first look at Sebastian’s childhood home. It was a pretty, white building, with neat flowerbeds and a well-manicured lawn. The street was well lit, although most of the windows were dark at this late hour.
As I stopped the car, Janine grabbed her massive purse and opened the door.
“Thanks for the ride, Jesse. Will you be okay getting home? Do you want to spend the night here? Sebastian’s room is still untouched—posters of semi-nude women included.”
I considered her offer. My first instinct was to say no, but the thought was tempting. A look into teenage Sebastian’s life would be an interesting experience. However, now was not the time. I needed to go home, to Sebastian’s apartment, sleep in his bed, between his sheets, holding his pillow. At the end of this overwhelming day, I needed time with my own thoughts, and the memories we’d built together.
I shook my head. “I’ll be fine. I’ll take you up on that offer soon enough, I promise.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. Call me if you need anything. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
I sat for a moment, watching her until she entered the house. When she climbed out of the car, Janine had let in a blast of air, hot even at this hour of the night. I cranked up the AC and lowered the temperature to clear my head. I drove with the music blasting, fantasizing about hot coffee, cold shower, clean sheets, and the day Sebastian would be back home.
Had he been serious about his proposal? I thought he might be, but I was too exhausted to speculate. Married or not, I just wanted to be with him.
Sebastian had given me a key to his apartment only days after we’d started dating. I hadn’t been as quick to give him free access to my place, and he’d never asked. He’d always waited for me to be ready, patient and constant—an incredible presence in my life that I’d appreciated only when I thought I’d lost it.
As I unlocked Sebastian’s apartment and stepped inside, I promised myself I’d never take him for granted. The air was soothing, pleasant, smelling of his aftershave and this morning’s cinnamon toast. I couldn’t believe so much had happened since. The place was empty without Sebastian and Robin.
I walked into the bathroom, stripped off my clothes, and turned on the shower. I checked the shower head to make sure it was secure. I remembered the watery fiasco from only a few days ago. It was strange how time flew when one was happy. Sebastian, Robin, and I had turned into a family so quickly, so naturally. We were simply right together.
I showered, toweled off, and crawled into bed. I whimpered as my tired body relaxed on the cool, comfortable mattress. I reached across the bed, my heart tightening at the cold, empty space beside me. But Sebastian was going to be okay. I repeated the words like a mantra, desperate to comfort myself until my lover would be back in my arms.
* * *
The phone woke me up next morning. It was Janine.
“Hello.” My voice was raspy, my throat dry.
“Hi, sleepyhead. You’re not awake yet?”
“I don’t know. What time is it?”
“Half past ten. I’m on my way over with Robin.”
I jerked upright. The last thing I wanted was for my future sister-in-law to think I was a slob.
