Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“That’s very kind of you.”
Sebastian turned to look at me. “It’s not kindness. I’d find a way to walk on water if that was what Royal needed me to do.”
I loved this man.
“When you called me to set this up, I assumed you were more than casual. This is love then. I mean, I could tell that the moment you walked in the door and I saw you together. I just … ” She paused, and I could tell she was nervous. Unsure. “I had planned on asking you to come stay with us. I have a guest bedroom, and I wanted to get to spend time with you—”
“No,” Sebastian interrupted her.
She swung her eyes to him.
“She’s staying with me. If she wants to get to know you, that’s fine. But”—his jaw clenched as he looked at me—“she’s aware I don’t respond well when I don’t have her close.”
Maybe I should get mad at him for taking control and making my decisions for me. But I didn’t want to go live in her house. I was grown now. I wasn’t a child anymore. She was Jill. The woman who had given birth to me. My mother was Grams. I wasn’t looking for a replacement.
“I didn’t mean to step on toes,” she said.
I shook my head. “You didn’t. But I didn’t come here today to make that connection. I needed to see you. It was closure for me. I, uh … I’m not ready for more. Not now. Perhaps in time. I would like to know about Alvie though.”
I could see my words had hurt her, but they were the truth. I wasn’t ready to just forget that she’d left me and never come back twenty-one years ago. I had forgiven her, I realized. But if she wanted more, it would take me time to move forward with that.
She began to tell me about Alvie, and I listened, asking questions with Sebastian beside me. He stayed quiet, his hand on my thigh. The meal went smoothly, and I found myself relaxed and enjoying the conversation. I knew when I left here today, not only would the monster under my bed be gone for good, but the mark she’d left me with wouldn’t haunt me anymore.
There was only one person I couldn’t live without in my life. Sebastian was my future. He had become the center of my world. I knew that one day soon I’d be tested again and I looked forward to it. I was going to ace the test with flying colors. Bring it on, Boss.