Page 29 of Dance With Me
“Nah, just going to grab and drink. Then we’re going to walk into town for a bite to eat. Thanks, though.” Seb walked into the kitchen where Dom was making them a quick cup of tea.
“Are you ready to go after this? We can grab a bite at that new wine bar that’s opened,” Seb suggested.
“Sounds great. Let’s go, doodlebug.”
Seb shook his head. Dom and his pet names.
They finished their tea, grabbed their shoes, and made their way into town and to the new bar.
They sat at a table, and the waitress brought their menus over. Once they’d chosen, Seb went to the bar to order their food. As he stood waiting, an uncomfortable sensation rolled over him. His neck prickled, and he looked around, looking for anything or anybody, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.
He made his way back to their table, and they chatted about the studio, what Dom planned to do class-wise, when he would come in to observe and start the new lessons. Seb still couldn’t shake the feeling of unease, though, but it was soon forgotten when the waitress brought their food over.
“Oh my God, I didn’t realise how hungry I was,” Dom said as he took another bite. “This is so good; we should definitely come here again.”
Seb agreed with him. “Do you want another drink?” he asked as he tried to catch the waitress’s attention. He called her over, but she was already walking towards them, a drink in her hand.
“You must have read my mind,” said Seb, smiling at her. “But I wanted two drinks.”
“Compliments of the gentleman at the bar,” she said as she placed the drink in front of Seb on the table. “Already paid for.”
Seb craned his neck to see who was at the bar, but he couldn’t see anyone.
“Oh, and he gave me a note to give you.” She handed him a piece of paper, folded in half.
You will be mine, Seb. No one gets you but me. The next drink I buy you, we’ll be together. Just you and me, like it always should have been.
Seb threw the note on the table and thrust the drink back at the waitress, spilling it on the floor.
“Take it away. I don’t want it.” He slumped down into his chair and held his head in his hands. “Why won’t he leave me alone, Dom.” He sobbed. Why wouldn’t this stop? Why couldn’t they leave him the fuck alone? “I can’t keep going on like this.”
Dom looked at the waitress. “I’m sorry, can we just have the bill, please?”
“Of course, I’ll get it for you right away.”
As she left, Dom grabbed hold of Seb’s arms and pulled them away from his face. “I don’t know what the fuck is happening here, Seb, but this can’t go on. It’s beyond a fucking joke now. Let’s just go, and we can call the police from your place. I’ve got the note.”
They stood up and Dom pulled him into a strong hug.
The waitress came back, but before she left, Dom showed her a picture of Daniel, conscious of what Seb had said before.
“Was this the guy?”
“Mm, maybe? I didn’t really get a good look at him. He was wearing a baseball cap so I couldn’t see what colour his hair was. It could have been. I’m sorry, I can’t really remember. It’s so busy here.” She smiled apologetically.
Dom thanked her and paid for their meal. They left the wine bar, Dom’s arm slung protectively across Seb’s shoulders, no mean feat considering their height difference. But that was just Dom. He cared and would do everything in his power to make Seb feel safe. Seb refused to look up, his gaze on the ground as they walked back home.
In no time at all, they were back at the apartment, and Seb ran to the bathroom just in time to throw up the meal he’d just eaten. He felt sick to his stomach that this person was getting to him this way.
He sat for a while, his heart thumping wildly in his chest, his face hot to the touch. Dom knocked and spoke gently through the door.
“Hey, sweetness. Do you want to come out now and we’ll ring the police? I know it’s probably the last thing you want to do, but I really think it’s important to do this now.”
Seb contemplated staying, but he knew this had to be done. He stood up and splashed some cold water on his face as he looked in the mirror. His skin was pale, accentuating the dark smudges around his eyes. He dried off and turned to open the door. He walked straight into the arms of his best friend.
“I’m ready. Let’s get this over with,” he mumbled into Dom’s shoulder.
The police arrived shortly after and took both Dom’s and Seb’s statements. As neither one of them had seen anyone at the bar, there was very little to say, really. They gave the name of the wine bar they were at and the name of the waitress that had served them. Luckily, Dom had had the foresight to get her name.
