Page 64 of The Life We Wanted

“Ohreally?” I challenged. “Name three.”

“Okay,”he smirked and pressed his lips to mine. “One, I don’t give women my number. Usedto, not anymore.” He kissed my chin. “Two, I never spend the night with a womanI’ve been with.” Slowly and holding my gaze, he lowered to his knees. “Andthree, I never sleep with the same woman twice.”

Hookinghis hands behind my calves, he pulled me to the edge of my chair. “Just becauseI’m breaking them all for you, Tabby, doesn’t mean they’re not there.”

***

Afterdinner, Sebastian and Greyson hung out in Greyson’s room, playing with hisdrums while I cleaned up. Sebastian had made enchiladas, enough that we’d haveleftovers for the next night or two.

Thisis nice, I found myself thinking as I climbed the stairs to mybedroom. But what about this was nice, exactly? Was it having Sebastian herefor Greyson? Was it having someone else to rely on? Was it simplyhim?Maybe it was all of the above, and choosing felt like choosing a favorite pairof Chucks. They wereallcomfortable, and theyallfelt good. Notfor any particular reason, other than they just were.

Itook the time to take a long, hot shower, fantasizing about our afternoon trystin my office. We were never caught, Alex had been out of the office and Jesswas on her lunch break, but the risk had still been there. I’d never done somethinglike that before. Not even close. The most daring I’d ever been was making loveto my ex in my parents’ house, one night when he was staying in town. Howevermany rules Sebastian was breaking for me, I was breaking so many more for him, andI smiled to myself, remembering every touch of his tongue and lips as though itwere happening again right there in my shower.

Afterslipping my arms into my robe and tying the sash, I left the bathroom to tellGreyson it was almost time for bed. When I entered the room, Sebastian wastuning his drums.

“Youguys having fun?” I asked, leaning my hip against the doorframe.

Sebastianglanced up at me, his eyes feeding on what he knew to be naked under the robe,and I unsuccessfully hid my coy grin.

“Ifyou consider twisting lugs for hours and hours on end, then sure, having ablast,”he grumbled, shifting his glare to Greyson, who threw himself back against hisbed.

“Ohmy God, man, I told you, you don’t have to do it,” he groused, flipping hisarms above his head. “And it hasn’t beenhours. You’ve only been doingit for like, fifteen minutes.”

“Fifteenminutes of my life that I’m never getting back, my friend,” Sebastian teased, liftinghis lips into a half-smile as he tapped a drumstick against a tom. “I’m justglad you don’t have a sixteen-piece kit, or I’d be jumping off a bridge rightnow.”

“Isaid you don’t have to do it,” Greyson mumbled with a shrug.

“Nokid of mine is playing drums that sound the way these just did,” Sebastianreplied, and Greyson groaned, rolling over on his bed to face him, watching.

Iobserved them for a couple of minutes in silence. Sebastian, making sure hisson’s drums sounded as good as they could. Greyson, studying his every movementthe way a kid might watch his dad change the oil in a car. It was quiet, but itwas bonding, and it was happening quicker than I expected it to.

“Youhave any drum keys?” Sebastian asked Greyson, setting the last drum back on itsstand.

Greysonshook his head. “I lost the one I had.”

“Whatdo you tune with, then?” Sebastian sat up straight on the stool.

“Ifound a socket wrench and I use that.” Greyson sat up and opened the drawer inhis night stand, producing a small wrench and handing it to Sebastian.

“Whydidn’t you tell me you didn’t have one?” I asked him, mildly irritated. “Iwould’ve gotten you, um, keys.” I had absolutely no idea what I was talkingabout.

Greysononly shrugged before looking back to Sebastian as he turned the wrench over inhis hands.

“Thisis fine. It’s the right size to use without messing up the heads, assuming youknow what you’re doing. But here,” Sebastian stood up and fished something outof his pocket, producing his fist to Greyson, “open your hand.” Greysoncomplied, and Sebastian dropped two silver tools into his open palm. Use those,and if you lose them or you need help, let me know. Okay?”

Greysonnodded, looking at the keys in his hand. “These are DW,” he commented,examining them closely. “Do you get like, five-thousand of these?”

Sebastianchuckled warmly, reaching up to set his hair free from the elastic. Goldenstrands spilled out over his shoulders and one hand smoothed it all out. Wasthis a mating dance, I wondered? Because, with every rake of his hand throughthe thick mane, I felt my knees growing weaker and the fire between my legsburning brighter, stronger.

“Sincethe endorsements started, it kinda feels that way, yeah,” he answered Greyson.

“Endorsements?”I asked, allowing myself a selfish moment of wanting to be included.

Sebastianturned his head with a little lift to his lips, as though suddenly reminded Iwas still there. “In a nutshell, I’m paid to advertise for specific brands. So,for example, my drums are DW and my cymbals are Zildjian. I’d be using thisshit regardless, because it’s what I love, but when they approached and askedto endorse me, I was like, fuck yes. Now, I’m always set until the contractruns out or they sign me on again.”

Inodded, genuinely intrigued. “So, that must mean you’re pretty good, right?”

Greysonscoffed. “Oh my God, Aunt Tabs,” he groaned, shaking his head.

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