Page 35 of Flipping the Script

“Luka,” I said with a nod. “He started a few weeks ago.”

“How is he?”

“Seems nice enough. He mostly works evenings and weekends. I’ve only had a few shifts with him. But he knows his stuff, and he cleans up after himself. That makes him a good coworker in my books.”

A glint of something silver caught my attention, like the reflection of firelight off a metal watch. I glanced toward the house in time to see Sebastian slip out of the back door and make a beeline for the woods.

He disappeared between two trees, his dark clothes and hair blending into the forest.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah?” I swung my attention back to Ben. “Why?”

“You seem off tonight.”

“It’s been a long week.” I shrugged, hoping that would be enough of an explanation for him.

A loud crash from inside the house, followed by an even louder “I’m okay!” interrupted whatever Ben had been about to say.

Instead of saying anything, Ben rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh.

“Was that Jace?” I asked. That had sounded suspiciously like his younger stepbrother.

He nodded. “That kid is going to be the death of me.” He motioned to the house with this drink. “I should…”

“Good luck.”

When Ben was inside the house, I looked around the yard. Ez, Wes, and Jett were gone. Pulling out my phone, I sent Ez a quick text to see if they’d left.

He sent back a smirking emoji, as well as the peach one, an eggplant, and the water droplet.

Chuckling, I tucked my phone away and went to take another drink from my beer. I paused when the rim of the bottle touched my lip. Sebastian wasn’t back. Was he still in the woods? Was he okay?

Why did I care? He was a big boy. If he wanted to hang out in the woods like a swamp witch instead of out at the party, that was on him.

I put my mostly full beer on a nearby log bench. I wasn’t in the mood to drink, and warm beer wasn’t it.

I should go. The only people I wanted to see had already left, and Ben had his hands full with his brother and would probably be busy for a while.

My gaze flicked to the forest without my permission. Why had Sebastian left the party? Was he hooking up with someone?

My gut churned as I scanned the group. None of the girls who’d been drooling over him were missing, not that I could see. But there’d been a bunch of people inside. Had one of them snuck out with him when I hadn’t been looking?

Irrational anger prickled at my chest, and I found myself striding across the yard before I could stop myself.

6

SEBASTIAN

Tipping my face up,I relaxed against the tree I was leaning on. A soft breeze moved over my skin, rustling the leaves just enough I could hear them over the muted sounds of the party filtering through the trees.

Why had I even come tonight?

Ben and I were good friends, but I hadn’t really kept in touch with anyone else in town after grad. I was still friends with Ezra, who was Jesse’s best friend, because of course he was, but he and Ben were pretty much it.

I shouldn’t have come. I’d known exactly what would happen, because it was the same thing that happened every time I came back for a visit.

Maybe I’d hoped things would be different because I was back for good?

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