Page 10 of Almost
At my use of Kiera’s nickname toward him, Sebastian visibly flinches. I think it takes us both by surprise that I call him it. I didn’t mean to, but it slipped out regardless.
“It’s just a nickname, Thalia, kinda like how everyone calls you Lia,” he points out.
Oh this is funny, and so not the same.
“You have a nickname. A few of them from what I recall.Asshole, jerk, dick, idiot, but I guess you’re probably just used toBash,” I reply quickly, not bothering to hold my tongue now. He stares at me with a blank expression, but I note the tic in his jaw telling me I’m getting to him, though.
Kiera interrupts us, her cheeks flushed. “I’m so sorry, Thalia, but my coworker ended up falling sick in the middle of his shift, and they need me to come cover. Is it okay if Sebastian finishes telling you everything? He’s been really involved with it so he knows it all. I feel terrible about this because we made this appointment and—”
“It’s okay. I understand. Things come up,” I say nicely, but I really don’t want to be left alone with Sebastian right now.
“I can drop you off at the clinic if you want?” Sebastian offers, clearly not wanting to stay here any more than I want him to.
Kiera leans up to kiss his cheek. “No, that’s okay. I’ll catch an Uber.” Then to my surprise, she hugs me and I have no choice but to hug her back.Oh god, this is so weird.“Thank you again, I’m really excited that you agreed to do this.”
“You’re welcome,” I say, hoping it doesn’t sound as awkward as it feels coming out of my mouth.
She exits in a rush, leaving us with a bag of my favorite takeout and her wedding book. I can’t hate her because Kiera’s a goddamn saint.
I pull my hair out of the ponytail that’s quite literally doing nothing to keep it out of my face, and Sebastian leans against the counter.
“Are you going to be able to do this, or do I need to tellmyfiancéethat she needs to find a new photographer?”
I glare harshly at him as I attempt to twist my hair back again, but it’s not cooperating, adding to my irritation. “I can be professional. The real question I’d like to ask is how much does she actually know about our relationship because I’ll bet you didn’t tell her everything. I forget that seems to be a pattern with you.” I could never tell at my parents’ house for holidays whether Kiera was being polite, or if she genuinely doesn’t know the depth of our old relationship.
His jaw drops in utter disbelief that I would bring that up. “Are you seriously bringing that shit with Vera up again after six years?”
“Answer the question, Sebastian. What does Kiera know about us?”
“It’s in the past,” he answers, shutting the book.
Well maybe it’s not in the past for me. Not when I’m being dragged into this mess because he couldn’t tell Kiera in the first place to find a different photographer. “She deserves to know the truth. If you’re so afraid of telling her, then maybe you shouldn’t be marrying her.”
“Are you jealous? Is that what this is?” Sebastian asks, tugging a hand through his hair as a bitter laugh escapes me.
“What exactly do I have to be jealous of? A woman who is fucking clueless to who I am? Does she know that you proposed to me?” He ducks his head, breaking our eye contact, telling me all that I need to know. “You are unbelievable. If I didn’t want you out of my life so fucking bad I would have never agreed to this.”
His shoulders tense, and I can’t feel bad when he’s once again made choices he has to live with. “Why did you agree to this if you’re just going to be a bitch the entire time?”
I suck in a sharp breath because I don’t know why I agreed. I shouldn’t have. I close my eyes hoping that when Iopen them, I’ll find out this has all been some version of a cruel joke. Why did I have to pick up that phone call? I should have sent it straight to voice mail.
“Because I hate you. I’ll do pretty much anything to never have to see you after June twenty-sixth, even if it means watching you marry Kiera. After all I am the worst thing that almost happened to you, so why did you even ask me?”
I want to hate him so badly. It should be as easy as breathing at this point. But I don’t know. I don’t think I can hate him, but Sebastian doesn’t need to know that.
His lack of response is infuriating, almost pushing me over the breaking point.
“You owe it to Kiera to tell her the truth. Let her make the decision if she wants me to still photograph the wedding afterward. Get the hell out of my gallery, Sebastian, and don’t come back.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Sebastian
IT’S BEEN A week and a half since I’d had sex or anything resembling sexual intercourse. Ten days. A really long fucking ten days. Seven days since my fight with Thalia. Nine weeks until I’m married to Kiera. But who’s keeping track?
I spend a lot of time at the gym these days working out. Kiera spends a lot of time studying.
“Seb, come on, please get ready. We’re going to be late so put your shirt on because not even your muscles will change my mind about this whole sex thing,” she playfully scolds, putting in the diamond earrings I got her for Christmas a few months ago.