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I got myself ready in no particular hurry and headed upstairs. Cooney and Reggie were the only ones up. Cooney had something cooking and Reggie was striking some awkward pose with a thick book in his hand. He was leaning by the window and wearing a black turtleneck, of all things. I rolled my eyes before anyone noticed me, then got Cooney’s attention.
“Have you seen Sebastian?”
He flashed a knowing smile. His thick, curly hair was pulled back in a ponytail this morning. “You two were getting along quite well last night.”
“Mhm,” I said, folding my arms. “Have you seen him?”
“He stepped out to make a phone call a few minutes ago.”
“Thanks.” I went outside. It was a brisk morning, and the birds were still chirping. Sebastian had his back to me and was standing a little up the hill past the road. “Yeah,” he said.
I paused. I was in the middle of trying to decide if I should interrupt him or go back inside to wait, but what he said next stopped me in my tracks.
“Obviously it’s not what you expected from me. But I want you to take a look at it. I think it’s really good. It’s a rom com.”
My eyebrows pulled together. I’d just sent him my story this morning. Who would he be talking to about it?
“You’re the one who told me to get you anything. This is anything, isn’t it? Just give it a read as soon as you can and tell me what you think of it. Don’t contact anyone about this or share it though. Am I clear? This draft is only for your eyes.”
There was another long pause.
“Of course I wrote it. The voice is different, but it’s for a different market. Just read the thing and get back to me as soon as you can.”
My heart started pounding. Icy anger and bitterness rose up from my spine to my throat. Was he trying to steal my story?
I tried to shout something, but it felt like my throat was about to close up. I rushed inside instead, ignoring Cooney when he asked what was wrong. I went straight to our basement room and started shoving my things in bags. I had no idea what I planned to do once I had my things together, but it didn’t matter.
My chest felt like it was trying to cave in on itself and my brain was pounding. I could barely breathe, let alone think. I just needed to go.
30
Sebastian
I finished up my call and headed inside. I knew my agent was going to be beyond pissed when he found out I’d tricked him but fuck it. I’d done the right thing, and he’d get over it.
I headed down to the basement and found Kenzie on her way up the stairs with her bag slung over her shoulder. Her eyes were red and wild.
“Woah, what’s going on?” I asked.
“Out of my way.” There was no emotion in her voice, and she wasn’t even making eye contact.
“Tell me what’s going on,” I said.
“I heard your little phone call, Sebastian. I have no idea why you’d bother to steal my story, but I heard what you were doing. You tossed it to your publisher like it was yours. You didn’t ask me for a copy so you could read it again, either. You just wanted to steal it. So spare me the excuses and just get out of my way. I’ll make my own way home. And I’m not going to let you get away with stealing my work, by the way.”
“Hold on,” I said, putting up my palms to stop her when she tried to push past me into the staircase. “You heard my call?”
“Yes. I heard more than enough to know what you’re doing.”
“Wait, you really think—”
“Oh, by the way,” she said, eyes welling up with tears. “You might want to change out the condom you keep in your wallet every once in a while. Or else you might get the next girl who is dumb enough to hook up with you pregnant, too. Wouldn’t want too many little unfathered Sebastian Junior’s running around, right?”
Her words made my mouth snap shut. What I’d been about to say fizzled and evaporated in the back of my throat. Was she saying she was pregnant?
I was so stunned I barely realized she’d rushed past me and was halfway up the stairs. “Kenzie, just wait, dammit,” I said. “I lied to my agent so he’d read the story faster. I did it for you.”
“I already told you to save the excuses.” She was half-running up the stairs and wasn’t even turning to look at me.
“Kenzie!” I shouted. “Just stop for a second.”
She got up to the living room before me. “Cooney, will you please give me a ride to the airport?”
