Page 149 of The Heart

So I guess this is it.

I stare after them for one last moment. Gazing at the life that isn’t mine.

Then, I leave.

—

Fucking someone on stage tonight probably would have helped take away some of the tension, because the amount of alcohol I consumed certainly fucking didn’t. But even as the thought crosses my mind, I realize how uninterested I am in that. How doing anything with anyone aside from Leena would just feel... hollow.

Leena. Fuck!

I quickly lock the front door to the club, then pull out my phone, checking it for the first time since I left the penthouse this afternoon.

She’s called three times and texted me twice, but I can’t make myself look at any of them. Of course she would check in, that’s just how she is. And I did leave pretty abruptly, which I’ll have to apologize for later.

I’m still thinking about that, and about what a fucking disappointment I am, when I’m finally crawling back to my empty flat fifteen minutes later. I walk down the hall slowly.

Leena deserves so much fucking better than this. Thanme.

I cannot believe I just went and got myself shitfaced drunk instead of just fucking talking to her.What the fuck is wrong with me?

I suddenly stop. And I decide it’s time to make a change. I need to be better, for Leena.For me.

I’ll keep my promise to the guys, I won’t fuck anyone on stage, or anywhere else. I’ll leave my bed empty for her. Tomorrow, I’ll wake up at a decent fucking time and go to work on Monday morning like a responsible fucking adult. Because that’s what she deserves. Not…this.

I have a shit-ton of paperwork to catch up on anyway after being gone so long.

I can text Leena tomorrow, and maybe we can plan a night later this week when I can see her. Maybe sometime when she isn’t so busy and has the time for me. Maybe the guys will even bring her to The Club once in a while, and I can see her then too.

I set down my duffle and stare at my door for a long moment, knowing how empty it will be on the other side. I run a hand over my face before pulling out my key.

“Colton,” I hear a deep voice say from down the hall. I turn to see Sebastian walking toward me.

“Seb?” I say, then glance down at my phone. “It’s three-thirty in the fucking morning.”

“I know.”

We stare at each other as he shifts uncomfortably on his feet.

“How did you know where I was? You’ve never been here,” I ask, just to push past the awkwardness.

“Leena.” He lets out a chuckle, then steps forward, reaching into the front pouch of my bag. He holds up a tiny rose gold necklace with three little interconnecting hoops.

I stare at it hanging between us, the tiny tracker pendant still hooked onto the back.

I hold out my hand, and he drops the delicate piece of jewelry into my palm. I’m…confused.Then my eyes flash to Sebastian in concern, because she never fucking takes it off. I can’t think of a single reason why she would.

“She knew you would ditch, was worried you wouldn’t come home. She just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he says.

“So, she sent you after me?” I chuckle, because I can’t think about how he just said,“come home.”I can’t get my hopes up like that, because it’s notmyhome, it’s theirs.

“Leena doesn’t know I’m here,” he says and I stare, waiting for him to continue. “She and Lu fell asleep hours ago. I… stayed up to see if you’d come back. When you didn’t…” he trails off.

Okay,nowI’m so fucking confused.

My voice is soft, tired and more than a little sad when I finally break the silence. “You gave me a key, probably out of pity, and you let me be with Leena because it makes her happy. But I don’t fucking belong in your relationship, Seb.”

He stares at me for a long moment.

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