Page 29 of Bid For Me
There’s a moment of silence as we continue down the path, the sound of the dogs’ panting and the rustling of leaves filling the space between us. It’s strange, having him here like this. No posturing, no tension. Just…walking.
“What do you want, Seb?” I ask after a few moments, unable to shake the feeling that there’s more to this than him just showing up randomly.
He glances at me out of the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable. “Can’t I just want to spend time with you?”
I snort. “Since when?”
“Since now,” he says, and there’s something in his tone that makes me stop and look at him. He meets my gaze head-on, and for once, I don’t see the cocky billionaire or my brother’s best friend. I see something else, something I’m not sure how to handle.
“Elle, I know I’ve screwed up,” he continues, his voice quieter now. “But I’m trying. I want to figure this out.”
I sigh, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. The dogs tug at their leashes, oblivious to the tension between us, and I take a moment to gather my thoughts.
“This,” I say, motioning between us, “is complicated, Seb. And you showing up like this doesn’t change that.”
“I’m not trying to complicate things more,” he says, and there’s a sincerity in his voice that throws me off. “I just…wanted to see you.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so instead, I just keep walking.
Seb keeps pace with me, the dogs pulling us forward, their eager energy the only thing that breaks the tension between us. I feel his gaze flicker toward me every few seconds, but I refuse to look at him. He’s probably waiting for me to say something, to break the silence, but I won’t. This is my space, my time, and if he’s going to invade it, he’ll have to do so on my terms.
We walk for a few minutes like that – quiet, the occasional bark or rustling of leaves filling the void – until Seb finally speaks again.
“You know,” he starts, his voice low, like he’s trying to ease into the conversation. “I didn’t expect to see you like this.”
I glance at him, narrowing my eyes. “What, you mean not dressed like I’m about to attend a board meeting?”
He smirks, but there’s a softness in his eyes. “Something like that.”
“Well,” I say, a little defensively, “not every day is a fashion show.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” he murmurs, and I can’t tell if he’s teasing or not. “You always seem…untouchable.”
That catches me off guard. “Untouchable?”
Seb stops walking for a second, causing the dog he’s holding to stumble before catching up. He runs a hand through his hair, looking uncomfortable. “Yeah, like…like you’ve got everything perfectly put together all the time. Like you don’t let people see the real you.”
I scoff, shaking my head as I keep moving forward. “You’re unbelievable. Just because I don’t walk around in jeans and sneakers every day doesn’t mean I’m hiding something.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he says quickly, stepping in front of me and blocking my path. The dogs immediately start circling his legs, tangling him in their leashes, but he doesn’t seem to care. His eyes are focused on me. “I just mean…I’m trying to get to know you, Elle. The real you. Not the version you’re forced to present to the world.”
I blink, taken aback by the sincerity in his voice. He’s standing so close now, his familiar scent mingling with the cool breeze. Part of me wants to snap at him, push him away, but another part of me – one that I hate to admit exists – wants to let him in, just a little.
“And what makes you think you haven’t seen the real me?” I ask quietly, looking away.
“Because the real you wouldn’t be this guarded all the time,” he says softly. “I know I’ve screwed up over the years – god, I know it – but I want a chance to fix everything. To get past all this...complicated mess.”
I don’t know what to say to that. My hands tighten around the leashes, the dogs shifting impatiently at my feet. The truth is, I’m tired. Tired of the tension, the fights, the confusion that comes with Seb being back in my life. But more than that, I’m tired of pretending like it doesn’t affect me.
“You’re right,” I finally admit, my voice low. “It is complicated. But it’s not just you, Seb. It’s everything.”
He looks at me, waiting for me to continue, but I don’t. I can’t. Not yet.
“I know,” he says after a pause. “But maybe…we can start by walking the dogs?”
I huff a small laugh despite myself and nod. “Fine. But don’t think this makes anything easier.”
Seb grins, a genuine one this time, and falls into step beside me again. “I wouldn’t dare.”