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“Grumpy bear.” Sebastian grabs me and picks me up as I scream and laugh.
“I am. So don’t bug me. I need coffee.” I shake my head and slap his chest as I smile at the room service guy. As I sign the check, I try not to tumble out of Sebastian’s arms.
“Merci,” Sebastian says to the retreating back of the poor service guy as he dumps me on the bed.
“Oh my God, what’s going on?” I sit up, feeling Sebastian’s eyes travel the length of my legs. He turns to look at the room service tray. I know Sebastian still thinks he has feelings for me. I catch him staring at me sometimes and pretend I don’t see it. Like right now, I focus on how excited he is rather than the fact that he was staring at my legs.
“Do I need coffee first?” I reach for the silver pot.
“I need you to do this for me. This is me calling in my best friend card or old lover, partner, whatever-you-want-to-call-us favor.”
Christ, he’s still hoping. I sigh as I pour myself a cup. “You know I’ll always say yes to you.” Sitting on the end of the bed, I cross my legs, making sure the robe covers them.
I need to get better about this. We’re so close that sometimes I forget he’s a straight man. I mean, I don’t, but we used to fuck, so I’m comfortable around him. Lately he’s been hinting that if I need him, he’ll be happy to take the edge off for me. My sex life is so bad that it’s a bummer I can’t accept the offer. Sebastian is fantastic at making a girl come.
I can’t though. I need his friendship more than an orgasm.
“Wait, what’s going on?”
“They haven’t contacted you yet?” He sits down in the big arched chair. Stretching his long legs out, he crosses them at the ankles, then takes off his beret and runs his hands through his curls.
My eyes narrow on him. “Is this what Jeff is calling nonstop about?” I sip my coffee and open the top of the container for my eggs and bacon.
“You want some? I’ll never eat all this. And they only gave me one coffee cup, so get a glass from the minibar area.” I pick up a piece of bacon.
“Gia.”
“Yeah?” I say, almost choking on the bacon with the way his face is looking. “What? Clearly you have good news. Why are you dragging this out?”
“Because I thought you knew.” His eyes find mine. Again, the bacon kind of gets caught in the back of my throat as I swallow it down.
“I’ve been offered to be director of photography on a major motion picture,” he yells.
“What?” I shout, because are you kidding me? No one works harder than Sebastian.
“Oh my God, I’m so happy.” I drop the bacon and throw myself into his arms. “I knew it was only a matter of time until the world saw how amazingly talented you are.”
He smiles, and for a split second I see Rhys’s smile instead. Goddammit, why can’t Sebastian be the one my heart beats for?
“They offered it to both of us.” He laughs.
“What?” I pull back as dread, or adrenaline, makes my stomach flip. All of a sudden, I can’t breathe.
“As a team. I’m the DP and you’re the photographer.” He motions with his hands, and suddenly it all falls into place. I rub my temples.
“Please tell me this is not The Stuffed Muffins movie.” My chest tightens.
“So, they did ask you?”
“No. I mean, yes, they did, but I said no.” I start to pace. I do this when I get nervous or pressured.
“Sebastian, I can’t be a part of it. You take it though.” He simply stares at me. “Stop it,” I continue. “They don’t need me.” I point at him, but the fact is they do. No one has more photos of that band than me. I have pictures back from when I was seven, eight years old with my first Nikon.
“I already passed on this. What the fuck?” I look up at the ceiling and shake my head. “Who asked you?”
“The head of Weddington Studios. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I need you to say yes.” Gone is my playful Sebastian. He’s full-on asking me to do this as a favor to him. How can I tell him no? He’s been there for me through everything, unknowingly keeping me going. But what he’s asking for is not the end of the world. Rhys Granger is my past. I need to think about my future, and this would be amazing on my résumé. In reality, I’ll hardly deal with him. It’ll be the director and me, along with Sebastian.
“Fine. If you need me, I’m there for you.” I smile at him. It’s either that or burst into tears that he’s throwing me into the lion’s den.
