Page 62 of Heart Break Her

“That’s not how friends kiss,” I say, out of breath.

Sebastian’s eyes are dark, and his pupils are dilated as he tips his forehead down and rests it on mine. “I don’t want to be your fucking friend.”

His lips claim mine again, this time possessively. Draining me. Pouring out something that feels a lot deeper than anything he’s ever said. Except this time, when he breaks free, something that looks a lot like sadness stains his expression.

“Too bad that’s all we can be,” he says, nose to nose, taking in a final breath before stepping away.

The rest of the band has made their way off stage, and even though it’s clear no one missed what happened, they avert their gazes as they walk past. Sebastian follows them, not so much as looking back.

Leaving me breathless.

Confused.

A puddle.

Because that’s what rock stars do—light you on fire and watch you go up in flames. They take what they want, when they want it, not caring about the impact or consequences. They leave us to unravel all by ourselves.

“What the ever-loving fuck was that?” Merry says as she and Quinn move in front of me with arms crossed over their chests. “Did you fail to mention something happened with Sebastian last night during our eleven-hour drive today?”

I shake my head and push myself off the wall, surprised he didn’t melt me into it. “Nothing happened. I don’t know what that was.”

And I really don’t. Because what he did and what he said are two very different things, and I have no clue where this leaves us.

“That didn’t look like nothing.” Quinn quirks an eyebrow.

“I don’t know,” Megan says, passing by with a disgusted smirk. “Looks like any other day of Sebastian with his many groupies.”

Merry shoots Megan a warning glare, but Megan ignores it, sauntering off after the band.

“She’s just trying to get under your skin,” Merry says, and Quinn nods in agreement.

I shake my head. “It’s fine. And she’s right. It was an intense concert, and I was the first person he saw when he walked off stage. I mean, he’s Sebastian.”

Quinn looks at Merry like she thinks I need to be committed, but there’s no point giving their assumptions any validation. Even if Megan said what she said just to piss me off, she isn’t wrong. At the end of the day, Sebastian is a celebrity. They come with high drama and even higher libidos. He was no doubt feeding off the energy of the performance and took it out on my mouth.

We’re just friends, like he said.

“Come on.” I tug on Merry’s arm. “Show’s over, anyway. Let’s go.”

“You can say that again,” Merry laughs. “Let’s get changed. We’re celebrating tonight.”

“What are we celebrating?”

“Being alive.” She grins and wraps her arm over my shoulders, dragging me down the hall with her.

“Isn’t that every night?”

Quinn shoots me a devious smile. “You only live once, baby doll.”

Maybe it’s that I’ve already slept most of the day on the bus. Or it could be Sebastian’s kiss. But screw it. I’m ready to party. And I can’t help but wonder if maybe this is how the thrill of this lifestyle gets infectious after a while.

“Unless you’re a stripper, there’s no way you’re covering me in fucking glitter,” Rome says to Eloise as Merry and I make our way up to the band.

They’re sitting in a circle of couches in the hotel room, which is currently jam packed with people. A cluster of women is waiting like vultures for them to finish their conversation. No doubt, they’re in a silent competition over who will snag a band member for the night.

“But black light is just fucking cliche,” Noah argues.

“And in your case, probably disgusting,” Merry says, lifting her eyebrows at him.

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