I picked up the glass of wine, taking a sip. It burned as it made its way down into my stomach. Sebastian must have noticed me screwing up my face.
“I’ll order a different wine.”
“No, it’s not the wine, but I think I should stick to water tonight.”
He tilted his head, knitting his brows together. “Are you still feeling unwell?”
“I’m fine, honestly.”
“The food should be out in a minute. I had them make something you’d like.”
And if by magic, the waiter came over with our food and placed it down. Sat in front of me was a chicken tagliatelle. It looked mouthwatering, and my stomach grumbled. Maybe Iwas hungrier than I thought. Sebastian looked like he had a mushroom risotto. I twisted some tagliatelle with my fork, but Sebastian grabbed it from me and ate it before I had the chance.
“Hmmm, you need to try this,” he said, with a mouthful.
I rolled my eyes at him, snatching the fork back. “I would if you didn’t steal it.”
He chuckled. “Sorry, Nyx, never going to happen.”
I finally brought some to my mouth and started chewing, but immediately, my stomach started to churn. I placed my hand over my mouth to stop myself from retching. I looked at Sebastian, confusion on his face.
“I’m going to be sick.”
I jolted up and ran as fast as I could to the bathroom. As I entered, I managed to get the cubicle door open and locked it behind me. My knees found the floor as I leaned over, heaving into the toilet a few times before everything came rushing up.
“You can’t be in here,” I heard a woman say, shock in her voice.
“I don’t give a shit,” Sebastian snapped back. “Nyx?” He knocked. “Open the door.”
I pulled the toilet flush, then reached up to unlock the door. He pushed it open and looked down at me on the floor. He crouched, tucking my hair behind my ears. I could feel my stomach burning, doing backflips as I covered my mouth, trying to hold it down, but it was no use. I quickly leaned back over as Sebastian grabbed my hair, keeping it out of the way. His other hand rubbed my back as I violently threw up anything that was left.
A few minutes later, I’d finally finished retching into the toilet, and I leaned my back against the wall.
Sebastian cupped my cheeks and looked into my eyes. “You don’t look right.”
I just felt fatigued, like my body had no energy whatsoever. I thought I was hungry, but my stomach was not.
I really shouldn’t have eaten that chicken.
I went to stand up by myself, but Sebastian took hold of me to help. “Please don’t tell Serfina.”
He let out a soft laugh. “Let’s just get you home.”
42
Sebastian
Seven Years Ago
Most twenty-year-olds’ parents would expect them to roll in at 3 a.m. from a night out.
Not my dad.
He’d tell me I was disgracing the family name by getting drunk in some bar and that I should be at home learning the family business.
Shame I wasn’t interested.
The fights had been brutal tonight.
