Page 81 of The Life We Wanted


Font Size:

Romansmiled almost bashfully, tipping his head downward. “Well, I suppose wecouldtalk business, but I think I’d prefer to discussyouinstead.”

Abolt of lightning struck my tongue, disabling my ability to speak, as the doorto the agency jingled open. A duo of voices, a trio of laughs, and a pair of footsteps.It was all happening so quickly, I couldn’t process what was happening, until thedoorway to my office was flooded with the forms of Sebastian and Greyson.

“Oh,Roman. Hey,” Sebastian immediately greeted, walking into the office tosuffocate us all. “Good to see you again, man. Sorry to interrupt—”

“Oh,not at all,” Roman replied, not even beginning to hide his irritation.

“Great,”Sebastian clapped him on the shoulder. “Nice suit, by the way. What is this?Silk? Cotton?”

“It’sa cotton blend, yes.” Roman straightened his lapels, cocking his head andstaring ahead toward the wall.

“Beautiful.Designer?”

Romanturned to glare upward, and Sebastian tipped his head expectantly. “It’s TomFord.”

“Ah,very nice. I was only wondering because, you know, award ceremonies are comingup. I’ve gotta figure out who I’m wearing—they say that, right?Who? Anyway,last year, at the Grammys, I wore Armani. Nice suit, but God,” he turned to me,“that thing was fucking hot as Satan’s—”

“Sebastian,”I cut him off, pleading with my eyes for him to leave me alone and allow theadults to conduct their business. All the while hoping he’d never leave again.

Withhis lips parted, he turned to me, staring momentarily as though his thoughtsand words had suddenly been forgotten. “Oh, right, yeah. Uh, Greyson and I arehitting the road, so we thought we’d stop by and see you before we left.”

“Youlocked up the house?” I asked, completely ignoring the terse line of Roman’slips and the ticking muscle in his jaw.

“Oh,shit, was I supposed to?” Sebastian turned to Greyson, his eyes widened withmock horror before looking back to me with tired sincerity. “Of course I lockedup, Tabby.”

Irolled my eyes with a lighthearted laugh. “Thank you.”

Henodded. “Yep.”

Anawkward silence wedged itself into the middle of the room. Roman, with hisfingers tapping together irritably, and Sebastian, possibly replaying themoments from the night before, both keeping their eyes on me. These twoopposites, both of them wanting me in a way I couldn’t quite understand.

Ilooked up to Sebastian with a smile. “I’ll see you guys soon, okay?”

Hisgaze dropped to my lips. He wanted to kiss me goodbye. A sadness, a loneliness,a longing flickered over his gaze as he swallowed. The secrecy of our relationship—itjust is—was weighing on him, and I wondered how long we could keep itgoing, or if we should at all.

Hesettled for bending over and kissing my cheek, moments before Greyson steppedinto the room and mirrored the affection on my other side.

“Bye,Aunt Tabs,” he said with a smile, before turning to Sebastian, “I’ll be in thecar, Dad.”

Sebastiannodded, and Greyson left, leaving the three of us alone.

Asthough Roman wasn’t sitting there with us, Sebastian turned his entire bodytoward me and said, “He’s saying it all the time. It’s so fucking weird.”

“It’sa good thing,” I assured him, smiling gently.

Romancleared his throat, and we both turned to look at him. With eyes only onSebastian, he asked, “Isn’t yoursonwaiting for you?”

Angerflared in my gut at the comment, but before Sebastian could open his mouth andsay something I’d regret for the both of us, I stood up and took him by thearm. Smiling apologetically at Roman, I said, “So sorry about this. Will youplease excuse us for just a moment?”

Idragged Sebastian from the room before Roman could reply. I felt Jess’s eyes onour backs as I pulled him into the bathroom and closed the door behind us.

“CanI just remind you how much I don’t like that guy? He chafes my dick just lookingat him,” Sebastian casually mentioned, leaning against the wall with his armsfolded over his chest.

“Yourfeelings toward him are irrelevant,” I reminded him.

“Whyis he here?” he demanded.

“That’snone of your business,” I stated firmly.