Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“Maybel Jacobs,” I tell her.
“Mmm, nice to meet you. I’m Tanya Arturo.”
For once, I consider using the Arturo name because she looks like she doesn’t give a shit about anyone without money or power. Her makeup is perfect to accent her brown eyes, her hair perfectly straight down to her butt, not a gray in sight even though she has to be in her late thirties. Something in my gut tells me this woman is bad news, but I have no confirmation or reason to believe it other than Sebastian’s silence and desire to look anywhere but at the woman or even me.
It hits me then. Was this the aunt Sebastian mentioned one time before? What is she doing here? Not that I have much say in if she comes or goes, as this isn’t my home, but if this was a planned visit, indeed Seb would’ve told me ahead of time, right?
“Tanya, I told you not to come here. There are a number of hotels to stay at. You could’ve chosen any one of them.”
“And miss seeing you?” She pouts. “I think not. Plus, this is my home. I deserve to be here as much as you do.”
“Whatever,” he sneers. “Make yourself at home.”
“Great,” she beams and turns, giving me a smile. I’m temporarily frozen, unsure what to do. I feel this unruly desire to protect Sebastian, but I have no idea what I’m protecting him against. Certainly not this Tanya woman. “It was nice to meet you, Maybel. Maybe I’ll be seeing you around?”
“Definitely,” I reply and make a note of the flash of anger that flickers in her eyes.
“Excellent. Let’s go, Marcus.”
The woman snaps at the bald man with her luggage and starts walking, her high heels clacking as she disappears from the kitchen.
What the fuck was that?
“What’s going on? Are you okay?” I step toward him, but he shakes his head, waving at the shine of glass still littering the floor like he needs the distraction.
“Nothing. I got careless. As I told the maid, I’ll clean it up.”
“Her name is Elyse, and I’m not just referring to the glass. That woman, who is she, and what happened?” I take a deep breath, realizing I’ve just hit him with a lot all at once. “No one would fault you for losing it after everything that happened today.”
“I don’t give a shit what her name is,” he snaps and then sighs almost as if he’s defeated. “I’m fine, Bel. Don’t worry about me, and don’t worry about Tanya. She’s no one, and she’ll be out of our lives as fast as she entered it if I have anything to say about it.”
I feel like there’s this vast distance between us, and I hate it. I know he’s only being an asshole to push me away, and he can be however he wants to be, but I want to make certain he knows I’m not going anywhere. Against his wishes, I take a step forward and wrap my willowy arms around his middle, hugging him as tightly as I can.
“Sebastian. I’m here. When you’re ready, I’m here. And I love you. I’m not going anywhere.”
At first, it’s like hugging a two-by-four, his entire body tense and unmoving, but then he presses his face to the top of my head, the tension easing from his body. I wish the moment would last longer, but it ends as quickly as it happens.
Taking a step back, he severs the connection.
“Try not to worry about me. I’ll be okay. You have your hands full enough with the psychopath.” He gestures toward the way I entered, no doubt indicating Drew.
I hate it, but I can’t make him talk to me. I can’t make him take my support or help. I have to wait until he’s ready, and it sucks so much.
“If you need anything, you know where I am.”
He nods, but I’m not convinced he’ll come to me if he needs something. I leave the kitchen without anything to eat. My appetite is mostly ruined now anyway. Entering the bedroom, I find Drew sprawled out on the bed, one eyebrow raised in question.
“Was the pantry empty?”
I shake my head and cross the space, needing to be closer to him. “No. I didn’t even look.”
“That’s fine. Let’s order a pizza or something,” he whispers into my ear, dragging me onto the bed beside him. I let him, mainly because I’m not sure what I can do to help Seb’s situation right now. I twist out of Drew’s hold and turn to face him.
He stares at me, concern etched into his features. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m really worried about Sebastian. I’m worried about the behavior I just witnessed downstairs, and how he acted toward Elyse. Then Tanya showed up.” I let the frustration pour out of me. “She gives me a bad feeling, and I don’t even really know her.”