Sebastian sits beside me with a smile on his face. Every so often, he glances at me like he’s checking in.
Drew notices. “Well,” he says, rolling the dice, “this is new.”
“What is?” I ask.
“You,” he says to Sebastian. “You’re not looming.”
Sebastian raises an eyebrow. “I don’t loom.”
“You loom professionally,” Drew replies. “It’s part of your brand.”
I snort out a laugh. Sebastian rolls his eyes but doesn’t deny it.
As the game goes on, the laughter comes easily. Drew trash-talks terribly. Sebastian pretends he’s not competitive, then absolutely annihilates us when we keep landing on his properties.
“You suck,” Drew says, waving a cracker at Sebastian.
“Clearly not.” He grins as he counts his money. “I’m winning.”
I snort. “This is why I wanted to play Scrabble or Scattergories. You two are the numbers guys.” I fold my arms, but I’m not mad. I’m having too much fun to be angry at either of them.
Mr. Pickles steals a cracker and hisses when Drew tries to reclaim it.
Sebastian leans over and murmurs, “You okay?”
I nod.
Everything feels normal. Warmth spreads through my chest when I realize I belong here. In this house, with these two men.
Later, when Drew stands and stretches, he eyes us again. “So, everything good with you two?”
“Yes,” I say with a smile. “Everything’s great.”
Sebastian nods. His smile is slow and genuine.
“Good,” Drew mutters. “Because if you disappear into the guest bedroom again, my brother is going to lose his mind.”
Mr. Pickles yowls in agreement, like he hated being without Sebastian, too.
Sebastian laughs, real and unguarded.
And for the first time all day, my chest loosens.
This is what it’s supposed to feel like.
53
SEBASTIAN
As I’m getting ready for work the next morning, my phone beeps. I tense when I read the text.
It’s the private investigator I hired. A recommendation from a business associate I trust.
When I saw Silas lingering outside the café the day Ivy met Aaron, I knew it wasn’t random. When I returned to the office, I made some phone calls and ended up hiring someone. I’m nothing if not thorough.
I schedule a meeting at my office, but I don’t tell Ivy. If he finds something of concern, I’ll talk to her. I’m nervous about how she’ll react, given I didn’t discuss it with her first.
After coffee and breakfast, I give Ivy lingering kisses at the door before finally heading to my car and leaving for the office.
