AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We turn around something before Henry comes to a stop. I reach out and find the edge of the couch, so I crouch down and unbuckle his harness, pulling out a treat from my pocket.
“Here’s your water,” Sebastian says from my left.
I bite the inside of my cheek, debating if I should point out that “here” isn’t really a useful direction for me. It’s not his fault. He wouldn’t be the first nor the last person to say something like that. Hell, even Kate occasionally says things like “It’s over there” or “It’s next to that green blanket,” and she’s known me for over twenty years.
Absentmindedly, I smooth my hand over the back of my skirt and take a seat. Only I don’t sit on the cushion, but on something wooden, metal strings digging into my skin.
Sebastian’s guitar.
“Shit!” I jump to my feet quickly, turning around to check that the instrument isn’t damaged. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize it was there. I…”
How could I be so careless? Who knows how expensive this is? Or how important? I didn’t know much about guitars, but I remember reading he has a whole collection left from his dad. What if…
Hands land on my shoulder, and Sebastian’s soft laughter breaks me out of my thoughts. “Relax. It’s fine.”
“It’s your guitar. It’s not fine.”
“I have a dozen more back home and even here. Besides, I should have been the one to remove it so something like this wouldn’t happen. Here, let me take it.”
His hands slide down my arms, leaving tingles burning underneath my skin at the touch.
“That’s why I hate going to other people’s places.”
“Because you’re going to sit on their guitars?” Sebastian teases.
“No,” I make sure to glare at him as Icarefullytake a seat, this time sweeping my hand over my seat to confirm there aren’t any more surprises. “Because I’m not familiar with their space. And I can’t really expect everybody to adapt to me in their own home.”
“But if they’re your friends, would they care?”
The couch dips as Sebastian sits next to me, his knee brushing against mine. The heat of his tall frame radiates off of him in waves.
“No, I guess not.” I turn to him. “’Here’ is not really much help, you know? The directions need to be more specific than that.”
“I guess you got me there,” Sebastian chuckles, not in the least bit fazed by my comment. “The water is on the coffee table in front of you. It’s in the bottle, and there isn’t anything around that could cause any damage if you knock it over, so…”
“Thanks.”
“Of course. I hope you like pepperoni.”
My stomach rumbles once again. He must have pulled the box closer because the smells are more intense, or maybe it’s just the fact that I’m hungry.
“Who doesn’t?”
The box bumps into my elbow, so I reach inside, carefully grabbing a piece and taking a bite.
“Damn, that’s good,” Sebastian lets out a soft groan.
“Is this from Luigi’s?”
“How did you know?”
“They have the best pizza in town.”
For a moment, we eat in friendly silence, neither of us saying anything. I’m debating if I should push it and go for the third slice when Sebastian clears his throat.
“Birdy?”
“Yeah?”
