Page 99 of Closer

And I know she wants it with her.

Chapter 29

Lilian

Beside the coffee maker lies a little note in Sebastian’s bold scrawl.

Had to head into the office. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I’ll be back later. Bash

Short and to the point.

The coffee brews and I wander into the library again, trailing my fingers along the spines of the books. He’s never been much of a reader. At least, not that I knew of.

And to top that, almost two shelves full of romance novels. What if they’re all from a past girlfriend of his?

Or did he—No, that’s ridiculous.

Sebastian doesn’t want me, not really. He’s confused. Trying to assuage his guilt over how things ended between us.

A gleam of metal catches my eye, and I freeze. There, sitting on the desk in the middle of the room, like a ghost from my past, is the sewing machine.

How did it get here? I left it at the apartment.

Why?

He must have brought it over. Why would he do that?

It’s like seeing a whole new side of him. No, it’s not a new side. It’s him before everything went to…

Sebastian’s not perfect. Far from it. I am, too. But maybe… maybe he’s trying. Maybe this time could be different.

And then there’s this. The sewing machine. The one thing I couldn’t bear to part with, even when I left everything else behind.

He remembered. He cared enough to bring it here.

My vision blurs with unshed tears. Damn it. Why do you have to make this so hard?

I want to trust him. I want to believe that we could have a future together. But I’m scared. Scared of getting hurt again. Scared of losing myself in him.

I hate you.

I need to get out of here.

I pull out my phone, shooting Mary a quick text.

Lil: You free today? I could use some girl time.

Mary: For you, always. I’m upstairs.

Lil: I’ll get ready and come up.

An hour later, I’m sitting across from Mary, hands wrapped around a steaming mug of tea.

“So.” She eyes me over the rim of her latte. “Spill. What’s going on?”

My shoulders slump. “Honestly? I have no idea. This whole thing with Sebastian, living with him… It’s messing with me.”

“I get it. It’s a lot to process, especially after everything that’s happened between you two.”

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