Page 13 of Fall

“Hey, bro,” a voice shouts as the office door is slammed open, and I turn to see a man walking in. This must be Sebastian, as he looks so much like Elliot but less wild.

Sebastian has a suit on, his hair is cut short, and his jaw is close shaved. He gives us both a cheeky smile. “And you must be Tilly. Izzy has been telling me about you and your unexpected arrival,” he says.

“You’re Sebastian, right?” I ask, and he nods.

“The good-looking brother.” He points a finger at his chest, making me laugh.

“The brother who has his own office,” Harley points out, and Sebastian only grins.

“Was I interrupting something?”

“No, but Tilly isn’t feeling well so I’m going to take her home,” Harley says.

“I’m fine now,” I say, standing up and walking around the desk, but Harley catches my arm, stopping me.

“You sure?” he asks, his thumb rubbing circles on my arm.

It is comforting, and I find myself leaning into him a little. “Certain,” I reply, and he lets go after a second’s pause. “Nice to meet you, Sebastian,” I say as he opens the door for me, nodding.

I walk out of the office and go back to my desk. The rest of the day goes quickly and, before I know it, it’s time for us to close up.

“Hey, Tilly, my wife, Maisy, is making dinner and she invited Harley and you to come. She would love to meet you,” Sebastian says as he comes out of his office, just as I walk down the corridor toward Harley’s office.

“I don’t know . . .” I say as I watch Harley come out of his office, locking the door.

“Come on, Maisy makes amazing food, and Jake loves to meet new people,” Sebastian says, tilting his head to the side as he looks at Harley and me.

“I guess I can,” I say just as Harley gets to us, his eyes locked with mine.

“How are you feeling?” he asks me straight away.

“I’m good now,” I tell him.

“Was it just a morning thing?” Harley asks, making my heart pound when I know he is onto what is going on with me. I should just tell him, but I can’t seem to make the words come out of my mouth. Let alone, even think the words to say them.

“Yes,” I say, giving him the answer he wants without saying another word, and he nods, his eyes moving down my body.

Thankfully, Sebastian starts talking and I can look away from Harley’s luring, green eyes when they meet mine. The unspoken word just seems to burn between us.

“Tilly said she is coming to dinner with us. I’m sure you won’t disagree with that.” Sebastian pats Harley’s arm and walks off.

“Meet you two there,” Sebastian adds over his shoulder, and neither I nor Harley move.

I don’t know what to say to him, or how to say anything. I feel like any chance of him liking me just went flying out the window, and I’m expecting to see a Harley-sized hole in the front door.

“Come on.” He sighs after a second of me overthinking everything, shocking me again when he slides his hand into mine as he leads us out of the gym.

“Why are you holding my hand?” I ask him.

“Why are you not letting go?” he responds, and I choose not to answer that as I look away.

I wait for him to lock the doors, and then we get into his car after he unlocks it. The drive out of town is quiet, and I don’t feel like saying anything as I just watch him drive. How can someone drive so sexily? Just watching the way he turns the wheel and the way his muscles in his arms flex as he changes gears is beyond hot. I’ve never noticed that about anyone before, but here I am, staring at a man driving.

I’ve never had anyone walk into my life and make me feel safe around them, but I feel that way around him. He makes me feel safe, he makes me feel like my past can’t haunt me.

We eventually pull into a driveway not far out of town, and a barn conversion house appears at the end. The barn is lit by little solar lights under the windows, and there are two cars parked at the side, which Harley parks next to. I get out my side at the same time as Harley, who seems to just be watching me for something, gets out of his. I almost like that he doesn’t demand an answer from me.

“Har-har,” is shouted from the door by a wriggling, little boy in the arms of Sebastian.

---