Page 26 of Sebastian

We both silently agreed not to mention how much pain he was obviously in and continued our charade that everything was fine.

“More kisses?” he said when his painful laughter died down. “I can do that. Though, I might have something better.”

“Better? What could possibly be better?”

He smirked at me, and for a moment he looked just as carefree as our first date. “Mirrors.”

The baffled look I gave him nearly sent him into another laughing fit.

“Ha, ha. Ow. Ha. Stop looking at me like that. It’s too cute. I can’t handle it right now.”

“I think I need to call the doctor. You might be concussed, because you’re talking nonsense, Bastian.”

With one hand he tipped my chin up. I thought he was going to kiss me again, but instead he just let our foreheads rest against each other.

“Sebastian. My real name is actually Sebastian. It’s not nonsense. That clue I gave you about the level you can’t beat. The answer is mirrors. You have to inspect each mirror in the level. One of them has a secret message written on it that you’ll reveal by breathing on the glass.” He flashed me a cocky grin.

“Oh. Sebastian. I like that. Thank you for sharing that with me. Hmm, breathe on yourself,” I repeated his earlier clue. “I see now. You think you’re so clever. Don’t you, Sebastian?” I flashed him a smile, his name on my tongue feeling right somehow.

“Well, one of us is lying injured in a hospital bed, and one of us isn’t. So, I’m clearly not that clever.”

From that point on, the conversation remained casual. We had some very serious discussions waiting for us in our future, but now was not the time for that. Now was the time for relaxing, enjoying each other’s company, and being grateful that we were both alive.

And I was. No one could say I wasn’t grateful that Sebastian had survived.

Yet, a part of me wished that we could turn back the clock to just a few hours ago, when beating a level in a video game was the only thing we had to worry about.

CHAPTER 10

Sebastian

I could walk just fine. Damien and Newt didn’t need to hover around me like fruit flies looking for their next snack.

So what if I tripped twice walking from the car into my apartment. I was still getting used to the crutches that the hospital had saddled me with. Surely a learning curve was to be expected.

“Bas, slow down,” Damien scolded me when my crutches accidentally banged against the front door.

Why had I chosen to live in an apartment above our office in a building with no elevator?

The stairs hadn’t seemed like a big deal when we’d purchased the place, but now they were proving to be a real hindrance.

Damien tried to grab me under the arm to support me, but I knocked my other crutch against his shin.

“I’m fine.”

With an exasperated sigh, Damien looked toward Newt while gesturing at me. “Reason with him. Maybe he’ll listen to you.”

Their shared concern for me had created an instant camaraderie between my brother and Newt. I would have been glad to see them getting along if they weren’t using it to gang up on me.

Newt’s shorter height allowed him to slip under my arm and drape it over his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get you inside so you can sit down. You’ve already been walking too long.”

I didn’t dare fend him off the same way I did with my brother. Damien and I sparred regularly, so I knew he could take a hit. Newt, on the other hand, likely bruised easily and I’d feel terrible if he got injured just from trying to help me.

Giving in, I let them guide me through the door.

Newt paused for a moment at the sight of my apartment. It wasn’t a typical set up. Most of the lounging space had been dedicated to workout equipment and a sparring mat. A single couch, chair, and television had been squished into what was supposed to be the dining area. However, Newt didn’t say anything about the unique decor choices, and helped me navigate to the couch without tripping over the dumbbells lying on the floor.

When I finally sat down, I refused to sigh in relief. My brother and Newt would only use it as evidence that they were right, and I needed to take things easier.

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