Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“It’s been crazy in here tonight, handsome,” Kai, one of my bartenders, said over the music. “Feels like it’s slowing down some, though.”
Kai was a compulsive flirt, but a great worker and a good kid. He was a bit younger than me, only twenty-five, and his family lived in Inland Empire, southeast of Los Angeles. He was gorgeous and he knew it, with flawless brown skin, a great smile, and wide eyes like he wanted to see the world and take everything in. But he also made me nervous sometimes, not only because he was flirty but he trusted everyone.
“Yeah, it’s slowing down. Also, stay away from that guy in the corner. I don’t like the way he watches you. I’ll walk you out tonight.”
Kai clutched his chest over his heart and feigned a swoon. “Be still my heart. You’re the sweetest.”
“No, I’m not. I just don’t want my help getting hurt,” I lied.
“Okay, sure. Whatever you say. I know how to take care of myself, but I appreciate the offer. But if you insist on being my knight in shining armor, you can…either that or get your sexy friend Marcus to do it.” When I cocked a brow, he said, “Ugh, fine,” before flittering away.
My gaze followed him to make sure he didn’t head over to that guy, which was the only reason I saw…Sebastian. I recognized him right away despite the baseball cap pulled low on his head. There was something different about him. It wasn’t in the way he kept his head down because he often did that when he was here, hoping not to be seen, but there was a curl to his shoulders now, something about him that said he wasn’t the typical Sebastian he was when he showed up looking to fuck.
I hadn’t expected to see him. We hadn’t talked in months. I actually already had someone lined up for tonight, whom I was supposed to meet with later.
But maybe Sebastian wasn’t here for that at all. He had a boyfriend now. We hadn’t slept together since before they started dating.
I frowned as he worked his way through the crowd, heading for the main counter where I was. There were too many damn people, and he wouldn’t be able to sit down. As if realizing he needed to watch where he was going, Sebastian tilted his head up, gaze landing on mine. He smiled, but I didn’t, just ran a hand through my hair, which was always a fucking mess.
I motioned toward the far back corner at the end of the bar. It was roped off so people didn’t come behind the counter, but Sebastian just nodded, his grin growing. He didn’t seem as down as he had a minute ago.
“Be right back,” I told Eliza, another bartender, then sneaked over just as he slipped under the rope, keeping himself hidden in the darkness.
Crossing my arms, I leaned against the wall and waited. He had to be here for a reason. He always was. He might text once in a while to check in, but when he wanted to see me, it was always to get laid. There were thousands of guys in LA who would sleep with him, so I couldn’t figure out why he always came to me, though there was a good chance I wasn’t the only one. It wasn’t as if he was the only person I slept with.
“Busy tonight,” Sebastian said.
“Yep.”
“You look good.”
I smiled. “Thanks. You too.” His gaze shot toward the bar, as if he was making sure no one was paying attention. He was out now, but if people realized Sebastian Cole was here, it would be chaos.
“You busy tonight?” he asked. When I grinned, he rolled his eyes. “Not at the bar. Clearly, you are. I mean after.”
“No boyfriend?” I’d been curious from the start, but I wouldn’t have asked if he didn’t make it clear he wanted to hook up.
“I came home three nights ago to find him in bed with my friend, so nope.”
Guilt immediately settled in my gut. I probably could have found a better way to ask him that. I couldn’t see Sebastian coming here if he was with someone. “Shit, man. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too. It is what it is, though.”
“As you can see, I’ll be here late.”
“I can wait.”
“You realize that basically any guy in this bar would fuck you, right?”
Sebastian shrugged. “I want easy.”
“You realize that basically any guy in this bar right now would easily fuck you, right?”
He chuckled, and I felt like I’d won something. “I want familiar.”
For some reason, that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It made sense. We were obviously familiar with each other, but something about how he said it, coupled with the sadness in his eyes tonight, made my stomach knot. “I’m not trying to be a dick—I know you’re going through a hard time—but nothing has changed for me. If we hook up, it’ll be sex and that’s it. I’m not looking for more. I won’t ever be looking for more.”