Sometimes Sebastian wished that he had the kind of relationship with his mom where she comforted him – where she gave him emotional support – and he didn’t have to censor his every statement for fear that she’d turn it around and make it about her.
Sebastian winced, immediately ashamed of himself for being so unfair to his mom. She didn’t make things about her, not really, though her feelings when things happened to him often meant that Sebastian spent more time worrying about managing those feelings than dealing with his own.
He didn’t think that his mother was consciously aware of that dynamic.
Or maybe Sebastian was being stupid. Maybe he was the one who made it about her feelings so that he wouldn’t have to deal with his own issues.
Either way, talking to his mom had not helped his frazzled mental state.
Needing a distraction, Sebastian picked up his phone and started playing Candy Crush. He grabbed a pillow and shoved it under his chest, lying down with the phone stretched out in front of him.
He played until his phone’s battery was down to five percent and his bladder was screaming at him that he needed to pee. He climbed off the bed, taking his empty plate from the corner of the bed and moving it to the desk next to the door, and made his way into the bathroom. He did his business, after which he went in search of a toothbrush and some toothpaste.
It wasn’t really late, but Sebastian was tired and he wanted the day to be over with. He might as well go to bed.
After a perfunctory search, Sebastian determined that there was no toothbrush to be found. He would have to go to the bathroom in Viggo and Bjorn’s room if he wanted to brush his teeth.
Sebastian was torn, but in the end his desire to feel clean in his mouth won out over his reluctance to enter Viggo’s private space. He ran across the hall, grabbing the toothbrush and toothpaste and hightailing it back to the guest bedroom.
His teeth clean, Sebastian then took a quick shower before climbing into bed. His hair was damp, soaking into his pillow, cooling it down and then making it clammy. Sebastian kind of liked the feeling. It reminded him of when he was little and used to shower before school only to climb back into bed, snuggling up and getting out just minutes before the school bus arrived to pick him up.
Nothing could beat the feeling of those delicious stolen moments of rest.
Then of course eighth grade had arrived, with Mr. Bradshaw in first period, and Sebastian was only too happy to get up early and spend an hour getting ready.
Thinking back on his crush made Sebastian smile. Mr. Bradshaw must have known that Sebastian was head over heels in love with him, but he’d always treated Sebastian with the same kind of sunny professionalism that he treated all the other students. He never acknowledged or drew attention to Sebastian’s awkward feelings.
Then again, something told Sebastian that Mr. Bradshaw had been used to students crushing on him. He was probably an old hand at dealing with it by the time he had Sebastian in his class.
Those had been simpler days, Sebastian mused, his mind once more turning to Viggo and the fury he’d displayed when Sebastian suggested that Bjorn might have accidentally killed someone. Now everything was complicated and difficult, and Sebastian had no idea what he should be doing.
Turning over, moving his pillow so that he was no longer resting on a wet spot, Sebastian wished that he was back home with his mom.
* * *
The next morning Sebastian woke up at the crack of dawn. He took a quick shower, turning his face into the spray to wake himself up, and then got dressed, grabbed his phone, and headed downstairs to eat breakfast. He’d slept poorly, anxious dreams waking him up several times during the night, leaving him groggy and tired and generally feeling like shit.
“Morning.”
Sebastian jumped, splashing coffee onto the counter and his wrist at the sudden sound of Viggo’s voice behind him. He hissed, rushing to the sink to rinse his wrist where the hot coffee had scalded him.
“Morning,” he mumbled, glancing behind him and almost swallowing his tongue at the sight of Viggo standing there in nothing but a pair of tight boxer briefs.
“Are you okay?” Viggo asked, coming up behind him and looking down at his wrist. He took Sebastian’s arm in his hand, thumb moving over the red skin where he’d been burned.
Sebastian held his breath, the feeling of Viggo’s almost naked body pressing into his back making it hard to breathe.
Sebastian kept forgetting howbigViggo was – how he towered over him – but trapped between the imposing alpha and the sink, it was impossible to think of anything else.
“I’m fine,” Sebastian stuttered, staring at his wrist caught in Viggo’s massive hand. “I just burned myself a little.”
“I didn’t mean to startle you.” Viggo let go of his wrist and stepped away, turning around and leaning back against the counter next to the sink. He looked down at Sebastian’s face with furrowed brows. “Do you need anything for that? Should I take you to the hospital?”
Sebastian chuckled, shaking his head and turning off the water. “No, it’s not a bad burn. I just wanted to get water on it so that it won’t sting later. But thank you for offering.”
“Of course,” Viggo said. He put his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder, squeezing down gently.
Sebastian very pointedly did not look up at the much larger man. He could still remember the cold rage in Viggo’s eyes the night before – the way he’d squared his shoulders and glared – looking like he was just seconds away from ripping out his throat.
