Page 15 of Almost

“What if we make a pact that if we’re not married by thirty-five then we just go for it?” I ask, chuckling, and Eric smiles at me.

“I certainly wouldn’t be complaining. Life would always be interesting. We’d make pretty kids, but are you sure I’m the person you want to make that deal with?” He raises an eyebrow at me, and I tilt my head in confusion. I’m not quite sure what he means by that? “I always figured you and Bash would find your way back to each other.”

I pull my hair out of the clip it’s pulled back in. It’s useless at its job. “He’s engaged. Plus, he goes by Seb now. I don’t even know who he is anymore, Eric. He’s definitely not the guy who proposed to me.”

“Seb? Oh god, that’s terrible.” Eric laughs, clearly finding the nickname as appalling as I do. “He isn’t married yet, though. If anyone could change his mind, it’d be you.”

I know what he’s getting at because I’ve let my mind drift there as well. It doesn’t matter. Sebastian and Kiera are getting married.

“I called him Seb when he was here with the fiancée while she was on the phone. Bash literally flinched so hard, so I don’t think even he’s used to it.” I don’t want to change his mind. Kiera’s nice, and she’s happy with him. She’s what he wants.

“Why were they here? I thought you were avoiding Bash like the plague?” Eric asks curiously, and I wish it was the truth.

I groan, rubbing my forehead because I’m an idiot. “I’m the wedding photographer.”

“No fucking way,” Eric swears, and I half expect him to look at me like I’m stupid. Except he’s only looking at me with concern. “Are you okay?”

I feel tears well up in my eyes because I’m so far from it. None of this is okay. I try to smile because as far as everyone else knows, I’m fine. “I’ll be fine. Sixty-three days until the wedding, and then I never have to see him again.”

“Is that what you really want?”

No.

“Yes. It was my condition to agreeing to photograph it. I asked him to forget I ever existed, except Kiera has no idea because she’s a fucking saint. I think she wants us to be friends or something, but I don’t have the heart to tell her it’s not going to happen,” I say, feeling a tear slide down my cheek. I brush it away hopefully before Eric can see it because this is pathetic.

“Oh, Thalia,” Eric says, wrapping an arm over my shoulders, and I slide closer to cling to him. It feels nice to be held, I can’t lie.

“I know. It all sucks. The real kicker is that Blake took it upon herself to tell Kiera I was seeing someone. She thought she was helping, but now Kiera wants me to come over fordinner and bring the guy I’ve been seeing. Except I haven’t dated anyone since you.”

“So this is what’s up,” he teases easily, going back to his question. “I’m happy to play along with this if that’s what you want. I’m assuming after all that’s why you called when we’ve only talked a few times since breaking up. I do think if you said no, she wouldn’t be able to blame you. Hell, I’m surprised Kiera’s trying that hard after everything that went down between you and Bash.”

“She doesn’t know. I don’t know what she knows, but I know it’s not everything,” I say softly because it’s not fair for him to pretend it didn’t happen—thatwedidn’t happen, and that’s exactly what he’s doing.

Sometimes when I’m drunk or it’s late at night and I can’t sleep, I let my mind think about what could have been. If he hadn’t proposed or if he’d listened when I said not right now. I wasn’t saying no. But that’s what he heard. And then he left me standing there outside that restaurant.

“You’re kidding, right?” Eric questions, his face surprised. “I just thought she was being polite when I met her at your parents’ house by trying to be your friend.”

“No, I think she genuinely doesn’t know. Isn’t that awful?” I pull away from underneath his arm to drag my hands over my face, groaning dramatically. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Eric looks around the gallery walls, and I follow his gaze to a black and white portrait of the beach I used to go to with my family as a kid. Life was so much simpler as a kid, and I took it for granted. I would give anything to go back to playing mermaids in the surf with my brother.

Eric clears his throat, drawing my attention back to him. “Shit, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around themess he’s gotten himself into, so I can’t imagine how you feel. What I do know is that Bash never should have put you in that position.”

I pretend to pick lint off my shirt because I know that Sebastian shouldn’t have, but he still did. “What’s done is done. I’m in it now. I only wish he’d stop involving me more than I need to be, considering he’s the one who ended things between us.” I waited days for him to come home, but when he finally did, he didn’t want to talk. He told me to go, so I packed my things and I left.

“He doesn’t know what he’s missing.” Eric smiles softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners turning the conversation a different direction.

I look at him curiously, processing the words he’s saying and the potential underlying meaning. “Did you actually mean it when you said you’d go with me?”

His bright eyes roam over my face, and he dips his head in a slow nod. “Lia, I’d do pretty much anything for you. I wasn’t lying when I said I missed you. I never told you, but in college when you said you were going to set me up, I was hoping you meant with you. Natalie was great, and I’m grateful for the time I had with her, but before her, I wanted you.” I catch my jaw before it can fall open in shock because I never realized. We’ll chalk this up to another person I missed having feelings for me in college because I had my blinders focused on Sebastian Walker. “If you were serious about the whole getting married at thirty-five if we aren’t already married to other people, I’m your guy.”

I’m not sure if it’s the genuine sincerity of his words, or the comfort of familiarity, but I lean over and kiss Eric softly. Pulling away, I stare at him, waiting to see what he’s going to do. Eric smiles warmly, and my cheeks flush. “Like I saidearlier, there’s never a dull moment with you.” He gently grabs my chin, and I hold my breath as Eric presses his lips to mine again.

Maybe trying things with Eric could be good, and exactly what I need.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Sebastian

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