Page 88 of Hate To Be Mine

I downed half the drink in one go, welcoming the burn. “Yep.”

“He was probably just being careful,” Annika said. “His family doesn’t know about you two. He couldn’t exactly tell them you’ve been shacking up.”

“I know.” I finished the rest of my drink. “I know all of that. Rationally, I understand. But it still hurt. I almost forget I’m just the pain in the ass bitching at everyone about the rules.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“Do I? Because from where I’m sitting, it seems pretty accurate. We had a fling on a tropical island. That’s all this is. All it was ever going to be. I’m not the first and I definitely won’t be the last.”

Annika ordered us another round. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing. There’s nothing to do. I’m going to finish the job and go home and forget any of this ever happened.”

“Can you do that?”

I sighed. “No, but I’m going to try it anyway.”

Because the alternative was too painful to consider.

31

SEBASTIAN

The family dinner had been perfect. I didn’t want to admit how much I missed our usual Sunday dinner last week. My family drove me crazy and we argued like crazy, but I loved them. They were mine. And when push came to shove, they would have my back.

We all gathered at a private beachside restaurant. Being on a tropical island just made it all the better. How could you snipe and bitch at each other with such an amazing backdrop?

The biggest news of all was from Elizabeth, who finally told everyone the family would be getting a little bigger. Adrian had been happier than I had ever seen him, and Mom immediately started suggesting names.

After all that excitement, our dinner conversation covered approximately eighty-two topics, including Dad. We always wound up talking about him at one point or another. Usually, it came up when we talked about the business, the legacy, and most importantly, the future.

With a new Blackwell on the way, the future was here.

Everyone had praised the campaign so far. Adrian had reviewed some of the early shots. Briggs had looked over the contracts and permits—all in order. Even Dash, who usually found something to criticize, had admitted the behind-the-scenes content was generating serious buzz.

“You’ve done good work here, Sebastian,” Adrian said, raising his glass. “Really good work.”

Mom had fussed over all of us, but especially me. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. Your father would be too.”

Walking away from that dinner, I felt like I was glowing. Like for the first time in my life, I was rising to the level my father would have expected. The level my family needed.

I wasn’t just the pretty boy. They actually looked at me like I had value to add. Like I was an important part of the company. It only took thirty-five years.

There was only one person I wanted to share my excitement with. One person who would understand why it was such a big day.

My Little Bee.

I pulled out my phone and texted her: Can we talk? I want to celebrate with you.

The message showed as delivered. Then read.

But no response came.

Weird.

I tried again: Everything okay?

Read.