Page 114 of Until You (Forgive Me)

Christian dropped back, leaning against the shower door. How had life got so complicated?

∞∞∞

As he left the shower, Christian could hear Seb talking to someone in the main living area. Christian walked through, wearing the clothes Seb had delivered, to find his sister leaning against the kitchen island, scowling at his best friend.

They both looked up before Scarlett averted her gaze, a blush spreading over her cheeks, while Seb turned away, focusing his attention on the food he was preparing.

“Did I interrupt something?”

Not that he cared. It appeared even expensive whiskey could leave a nasty hangover if drunk in quantity.

“No!” they both said together, the sound of their voices making him flinch.

Scarlett moved to his side, handing him two tablets and a glass of orange juice.

“Here, you idiot,” she said. “This should help.”

Christian took the tablets together before collapsing on the stool next to the bar. At least it was only his best friend and sister seeing him in this state. That was a good point. What was his sister doing there?

“Why are you here?” he asked Scarlett.

“That’s gratitude for you,” she mumbled before adding, “Seb called. And before you say anything, I would have ripped him a new one had he not.”

He watched Seb frown and almost laughed. Scarlett had always followed Seb around when she was younger. Christian had called her, hislittle shadow. Unlike many of his friends, Seb had never excluded Scarlett. Instead, when she needed help, he’d always been the first to step in and fix her toy or reach for something she couldn’t. He’d stopped noticing their relationship when they got older. He supposed it was because Scarlett had moved away. Seb’s closeness to Scarlett was why he’d asked him to escort her to America to help her settle in. He was the only person he’d truly trusted to look after his sister. It was funny to see his friend scared of her.

Scarlett dropped herself onto the stool next to him. “Seb told me about the letter. I’m sorry, Christian.”

He turned his head towards her, as her hand came to rest over his, giving her a half smile. The letter was more of a relief than anything. Star and Damian knew the truth, and although that would help their relationship in the long run, it changed nothing. His daughter would still never be his. Lily was still gone. His life was empty, and he had now lost the one person who had made him feel something for the first time in too long. It wasn’t just the sex, which had been amazing. But it had become more than that. Isabella understood him. Her presence had soothed him, made him laugh, she had shown him there was more to life than money and work. But he’d even messed that up... he had not been enough for her to stay.

Christian shrugged, as Seb slid a plate of food in front of him.

“Eat,” he said before turning and staring at Christian’s state-of-the-art coffee machine.

Seb grumbled and started pushing random buttons. Scarlett huffed before moving to stand next to him.

“Out of the way,” she said. “It’s not that difficult.”

Seb stepped back as if Scarlett had burned him.

The three of them remained in an awkward silence as Scarlett prepared the coffee. The main buzzer rang, and Christian groaned internally. When had his apartment become a local meeting place?

Seb moved towards the apartment door.

“Is he here?”

“Hi, Star,” Seb said. “Come on in. Let me take this gorgeous little man.”

Seb lifted the car seat holding baby Theo, out of Star’s hand, before shutting the door.

She looked embarrassed, her eyes flitting between Seb, Scarlett, and himself.

“I hope I’m not intruding. It’s just I stopped by your office, and Lucy said you hadn’t been in.”

“Come in, join the party,” Christian said, waving his hand at Seb and Scarlett.

“I’m sorry, I can leave,” Star said. “I just wanted to check on you.”

“Don’t mind grumpy. He drank himself into oblivion and has a raging hangover,” Scarlett said, dropping and cooing at baby Theo.

---