Page 119 of Sebastian's Baby

“Whoa. The world is spinning,” I point out.

“Are you okay, Mr. Fox?”

I straighten myself and nod. “Yup. All good.” We start toward the exit, and I catch the bartender’s eyes as I go. “Thanks, Kaylee! Have a great life! Don’t feel sorry for me! I’m a rock star! Did you know that?”

Damn. I wish I had a guitar with me. I could’ve played something, and then she would know I’m a rock star. Oh, wait, she knew who I was. She knows I’m a rock star. Lita knows I’m a rock star, but she doesn’t love me. That sucks.

I let Daryl help me get to the SUV that he parked a block away but feels like it was parked two thousand miles away. I get into the back seat and strap myself in.

“Do you still want to go to the bachelor party?”

“What? Yes. Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?” I frown at him.

“No offense, Mr. Fox, but you’re drunk.”

I laugh and shrug my shoulders. “All the more reason I should party with my friends.”

I unscrew the lid of the bottle and take a swig from it, shuddering as I pull it away from my lips.

19

LEVEL 16.6 – Party Like a Rock Star

We drive to Andersonville,and I’m feeling decidedly seedy by the time we arrive there. I’ve only had a couple more swigs of my Glenfiddich, but I’m numb all over except for my heart, which still hurts.

I’ve had a few calls from Gabriel this afternoon, but I didn’t want to talk to anyone, so I didn’t answer. I send a text to him now because I feel bad that I’m late.

I just got here.

About fifteen seconds later, he replies.

We’re here already. I’ll see you downstairs.

Daryl helps me out of the car and into the laundromat that is the entrance to the Chicago Magic Club. The laundry machines are running, and I look around, trying to figure out how to get into the club. Daryl manages to find the entrance, and we enter into a magician’s library. I look around, and it’s kind of fascinating. There’s a deck of cards floating in mid-air, but I’m distracted when someone calls my name, and I look around to see my friends at the bar.

I walk over to them, stumbling a little on the way, but manage to get there and say, “Hi, guys!”

“Sebastian, are you drunk?” Gabriel asks with his eyebrows raised.

I grin at him. “Define drunk.”

I sway a little, then steady myself by leaning on the bar.

“What’s going on, Seb?” Harrison asks, looking concerned.

“Why do you guys have drinks and not me?” I ask, looking at the cocktails they have in their hands.

I turn to the bar and try to get the bartender’s attention. I ignore my friends’ questions as I wait to be served and manage to not slur my words when I order the first cocktail on the menu.

“To Gabriel!” I announce as I lift my glass. “May you always be happy with a woman who doesn’t tell you to fuck someone else when you say you love her!”

I take a sip of my cocktail, but my friends all look at each other without joining me.

“It’srudenot to drink when someone makes a toast, you know. Also, maybe bad luck. Probably bad luck. Do you want back luck, Gabriel?”

“Seb, what the hell is going on?” he asks me.

“Oh. Well, I’m in love with Lita.”

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