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I’d peeked at it a few times. Corbin had quite the following and posted thirst traps and photos of himself working out almost every day. Sometimes he’d pull Marcus into reels, videos, or photos.
A comfortable silence settled around us as we continued our meal.
“This is good,” Declan said again, which made me smile.
“I’m glad you like it.”
I liked him. A lot. I couldn’t wait to get to know Declan even more.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Declan
I went over to Sebastian’s a few more times that week, and then the next. He’d come to the bar a couple of times to hang out as well. We didn’t do much when we were at his place, just talked, shot pool, or played air hockey in his games room, and often ended up making dinner together. I didn’t know why I kept going as often as I did, or why he asked as often either, but he did, and I always found myself saying yes.
He had the strange ability to make me open up around him, to talk in ways I didn’t with most people. I couldn’t put my finger on why exactly—what it was about him that made him different. Maybe it was because in one way or another, I’d known him for years? Fuck, I didn’t know, but it was almost the way it had been with Parker, when I’d finally allowed myself to let my guard down. Hell, it was similar to how it had been with Marcus and Corbin too. Once I wasn’t being…well, me, things fell into place easily. It felt natural in a way not many things had in my life, which also meant it put me the fuck on edge. But Sebastian also felt safe. It wasn’t as if I had any expectations. He was an actor. He might be struggling with what he wanted right now, but eventually I was sure he’d go back to it. I didn’t expect this to be anything more than it was. I wouldn’t sit around waiting for him, thinking he would want to spend time with me the way I used to do with my parents. I knew the score.
The one thing that was obvious? He had me obsessing the fuck out of him, which made me want to bang my head against the wall and crush those thoughts for good. I didn’t do this. I didn’t let people dominate my thoughts this way, but by the time I left Beach Buns that morning and took a run on the beach, I had to acknowledge that I did with him.
My phone buzzed as I was heading home for a shower. I unzipped the pocket in my workout shorts and tugged it out.
Sebastian: We should go out and do something fun. It’s still early. We have the whole day.
Me: No.
Sebastian: Do you work?
Me: No.
Sebastian: Plans with the Beach Bums?
He was calling them that now, which I refused to admit was cute. He made me think weird thoughts. I didn’t like it—at all.
Me: No.
Sebastian: Wow…you’re in a mood today. Is this one of those times you’re playing hard to get?
My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I read that comment. Playing hard to get? Did he even know me? I didn’t want to be chased. I wanted to be left alone.
Me: What are you even talking about? I don’t do that.
Sebastian: Sure you do. It’s cute. You don’t like wanting to spend time with me, so you fight it, I beg, and then we both get what we want anyway. Come on, Declan. Let’s go do something. It’ll be fun. Please?
Me: Isn’t it a problem for you to go out in public? Won’t we get stalked?
It was a real concern, which was shitty when you thought about it. I couldn’t imagine having to worry about that—about photos of myself splashed all over online, of people interrupting me at dinner or when walking down the street.
Sebastian: Yes and no. I can’t let it run my life, otherwise I’d never do anything. Generally, it’s not bad in LA. Most people don’t pay that much attention to celebrities.
I didn’t reply right away because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say. He always made me feel off my game, like I had to try harder to keep the walls up than I did with other people.
Sebastian: You know I’m giving you shit, right? I’d like to hang out, but I don’t ever want you to feel obligated.
I dropped my head back and groaned. Fucking Sebastian Cole. Sometimes I hated that he was so fucking nice, so sincere. Most people were assholes, and I knew how to deal with that. He wasn’t. He cared about people. How dare he?
I grumbled at myself, wondering what I was doing the whole time I typed out my reply.
Me: Nah, it’s fine. I don’t have anything else going on. Where are you dragging me?
