Page 43 of Closer

“I don’t know what to think anymore.”

“Then don’t.” She shrugs. “Just give him a chance?”

The elevator dings, the doors sliding open. I glance inside, then back at her. “I… Thank you.”

“Anytime.” She winks.

I step inside, and the doors start to close. I make a split-second decision and jab the ‘open’ button, holding it. “Serena?”

She peeks inside, eyebrows raised.

“Why are you so nice to me?”

“Easy. Because I can’t have my own fairy tale ending.” She huffs. “I don’t want to be the reason you can’t find yours.”

I didn’t expect this answer. “Why can’t you?”

“Maybe some other time.”

“Sorry.”

She waves. “No worries.”

The elevator doors start to close again, and this time, I let them.

What the hell am I doing?

Chapter 14

Sebastian

Fuck this traffic. I slam my hand against the steering wheel, glaring at the sea of unmoving cars stretching before me. Of course, there would be an accident on the one day I need everything to go smoothly.

4:32 PM. Lil’s probably already checked in by now. And here I am, stuck on this godforsaken highway, watching my carefully laid plan go up in smoke.

My phone buzzes with another message from our group chat. Connor’s been updating us on him and Mary.

Connor: Is it too early for me to apologize again?

Elijah: Give her more time. Gem said Mary needs some space to sort out her head.

Brandon: Eli, with the insider info.

Sebastian: Wait till she approaches you.

Connor: I’ll try.

Connor: Speaking of trying. How’s your mission going, Bash?

Sebastian: Stuck in traffic. Some asshole decided today was a good day to crash his car.

Brandon: Shit. You gonna make it in time?

Sebastian: Don’t have much of a choice, do I? Can’t exactly let her slip away again.

Elijah: You got a plan B if she doesn’t agree?

I let my head fall back against the headrest. Plan B. Right. I’ve been obsessing over every possible scenario for days. And the only plan I was able to come up with was A.

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