FIONA
Oh my God, Sebastian is about to kiss me. What the fuck is wrong with us?
Every part of my body is tingling. My stomach explodes with butterflies, and my pussy is clenching with need. My eyes snap up to his mouth, so close that I’m breathing his breath, our lips millimeters apart.
This is so wrong. This is so weird. He’s my best friend’s brother. But that fact is somehow making this encounter even hotter, like some sort of taboo fantasy come to life. I’m practically vibrating with the want to take this further, and Seb seems to feel the same way based on the way his eyes flutter closed.
The door downstairs opens with a creak, and we jump apart, staring at each other wide-eyed. The shuffling of feet as B removes his shoes catches my attention, and I turn, looking down into the entryway. Brantley pauses, scanning the room before his gaze rises to the loft. His eyes narrow as they meet mine, and tendrils of guilt take root in my stomach.
Seb grabs my hand and pulls me toward the back wall.
“I…this can’t happen,” Sebastian whispers. “It’s not right. You’re Charlie’s best friend. It’s not okay. And I’m not ready. I don’t know…” He’s rambling, and he looks so scared.
“Whatchu guys doing up there?” The singsong lilt of B’s deep voice sounds like he knows exactly what we were doing. Or what we were about to do.
Sebastian takes a deep breath and gives me a serious look. I put my hand on his cheek, give him a sad smile and nod.
“Nothing,” I call as I leave him and climb down the ladder. “Just unpacking.”
B takes in my flushed appearance, and I straighten my sweater self-consciously and run my hands through my hair.
“Uh-huh.” For some reason, he drops it, but I suspect it’ll come up again at some point now that we’re all unexpectedly sharing a space.
My emotions have been so chaotic in the last hour since B arrived. His presence makes me remember what we had, and despite the years that have passed and his obvious remorse, I don’t know if I want to forgive him for fucking it up.
Seb is a wild card though. Magnetic attraction like that is a whole new experience for me. I’m unapologetically pansexual, and while I’ve loved a handful of people and lusted after many, there was always some kind of buildup. Brantley and Anna are the only people who really brought out that soul-bending connection that I felt with Sebastian within minutes.
Brantley takes off his coat and hangs it on one of the hooks by the door. “Did you know there’s a barn at the end of that trail outside?”
“I vaguely remember it,” I say, moving aside as Sebastian climbs down behind me.
“I’ll be right back,” he mutters and walks quickly to the bathroom.
I watch him leave as I gnaw on my lower lip, nerves souring my stomach. He seems so anxious. I really hope that we haven’t damaged whatever our relationship is, friendship or otherwise.
“Anyway,” B continues, annoyance coloring his voice, “I tried to call my AA sponsor, and my cell phone seems to get a better signal if I walk in that direction.”
The toilet flushes, and we hear the sink run before Seb opens the door. He looks more like himself.
“Did you say AA?” I ask.
“Oh yeah,” B says, looking down at his feet. “I’ve only been to, like, three meetings, but I didn’t want them to think I’d given up already if I hang out here a while.”
My heart squeezes with pride. Despite the fact that alcohol killed my mom, I don’t begrudge anyone a drink. But I spent years trying to get my mom back into Alcoholics Anonymous. I was rarely successful. The effort it takes to recognize you have a problem and then follow through with the meetings is huge.
“When did you start going to AA?” Seb asks, eyeing B like he’s not sure he believes him.
Brantley’s head shoots up at the question, and I swear his cheeks redden. “After I—” He licks his lips. “After the fight at the pub.”
Seb cocks his head, like he’s remembering something. “I’ve seen you with alcohol since then.”
“I know. I’m not perfect. I’ve had a few drinks. But since the night you hit me, I haven’t gotten drunk.”
“Wow,” Seb says, his voice taking on a hint of sarcasm. “Now you just need to get a job and you’ll be a functioning member of society again.”
Brantley’s fingers brush absently against his neck. “Low blow.”
I sigh. “See? You both have lives outside of me.In Vancouver.”
