Page 6 of His Secret Addiction

My eyes shoot up at Abby’s mystified tone, and I follow her gaze to the entrance of the hotel, equally curious and afraid to see what has grabbed her attention. I gasp when my eyes lock on the boy I’ve admired my whole life. Man, really, and he looks nothing like he did the last time I saw him in person. His hair has grown a little longer, and his lean body looks more muscular under the dark denim jeans and stark white t-shirt. The black ink covering his arms is definitely new.

“Sebastian…”

The word comes out in a whisper as I try to assure myself that this is actually happening. God, he looks so hot with those dark locks framing his chiseled face, and there is something about the way his eyes are trained on me that has my body heating up.

“I think I am dreaming, Lizzy. Did a rockstar just show up at our hotel?” Abby whispers, awe in her voice, but even she doesn’t make any move toward the man. “He looks so much better in person, and… Oh my God! He’s coming over, Lizzy. I can’t believe you didn’t warn me!”

We both watch as the man approaches the front desk, and breathing gets harder the closer he moves.

Questions race through my mind.

Why would Sebastian Foster post me on his social media and claim to the whole world that he loves me when we haven’tseen each other in so long? Hell, we barely spoke when we lived next door to each other.

Is this some kind of a joke? Did James somehow convince him to play a prank on me? I’m going to kill him. Jax is officially my favorite cousin. In fact, after this, Jax might be my only cousin.

And for Sebastian to play along? It’s downright cruel of him to mock my feelings, childish as they may have been. Did he even consider my feelings? My anger builds rapidly, replacing any nerves I felt at seeing him again. I glare at the man approaching us, ready to tear him apart for being an inconsiderate jerk, but when he stops in front of the reception desk, I nearly forget that I am mad at him.

Christ, he smells and looks so freaking good that I find it hard to find my tongue or gather my thoughts enough to voice them.

“Hi, Lizzy,” he says in that deep voice of his that used to lull me to sleep, those dark eyes firmly on me when he speaks. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it? You look good.”

Well, shit.

Chapter Three

Sebastian

In all my years of performing, I have never understood stage fright. The way some people’s hands tremble, voices quiver, and hearts race when they step on the stage, it has always been the opposite for me. I come alive on stage. The rush of adrenaline when the spotlight hits, the excitement from the crowd, and the way they scream when I perform have always been a tangible force for me and not the paralyzing fear most people experience.

And yet, I find myself experiencing just that as I stare into the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.

There is a tremble in my hands and a slight quiver in my voice. My heart is pounding so fast and hard against my chest, it’s a wonder neither of these girls can hear it.

Is this what stage fright feels like?

If so, then it seems that I have been underestimating some of my bandmate’s troubles before they walk on stage. Despite my best efforts to keep a cool outward appearance, my insides are twisted with nerves.

This is not a feeling I have ever had around Elizabeth Fae. To me, she’s always been the quiet girl next door who wouldsometimes trail after her older cousins. The same girl who I would sometimes catch watching me play my guitar from her bedroom window.

Right now, she looks nothing like the girl I knew back then. I never quite thought of her as anything more than my quiet little neighbor.

For a long moment, our eyes stay locked on each other, and I spy something akin to heat in those pretty eyes, but it’s quickly replaced by something else. Something that looks a lot like anger.

“You have some explaining to do, Sebastian Foster,” she finally says, her eyes narrowed on mine.

“Lizzy…” I start, but quickly stop when I remember that we have company. Standing next to me is a girl I barely noticed when I walked in. Fuck, it was not my intention to come off as rude, but I haven’t stopped thinking about Lizzy, and when I walked in, she was all I could see. Turning toward her, I offer my hand in greeting. “Forgive me for being rude, I’m Sebastian.”

“Oh, I know,” she says giddily, taking my extended hand. “I have been a fan of your band for years. You were always my favorite band member.”

“Really, Abby? Just a minute ago, you told me the DC stood for Dirty Chapter,” Lizzie accuses her friend.

“Dirty Chapter?” I ask, turning to Lizzie who rolls her eyes.

Abby shrugs, not looking the least bit embarrassed. “I thought it sounded cool, and it just kind of stuck in my head. Don’t worry, I know it’s really Dynamic Circuit,” her friend says.

“Dirty Chapter does have a nice ring to it,” I comment.

“Right?” Abby chirps. “You should definitely use the name Dirty Chapter if you decide to form another band instead of going solo.”

---