Page 60 of Almost

Because I was with him during his highly public rookie season, I’ve received some inquiries from celebrity gossip magazines and blogs wanting to ask if I know what happened. I delete all of them as soon as they pop up because I have no interest in talking to anyone.

I did feel better about where Bash and I stand after our talk. We had to get it out in the open, and I think it was really good for us. I’m a little skeptical of the wholejust friendsthing, but maybe we’ll be able to make it work? It’s worth a shot at least.

Realistically, I think friendship is something we both need. Not that I was too emotionally attached to Eric because of my underlying feelings for Sebastian, but I’m not ready to jump into anything, and it’s definitely not what Bash needs.

We need to get to know each other again. I know I’m not the same person I was four years ago, and neither is he.

One thing that hasn’t changed is my inability to sleep, and Sebastian still struggles with his insomnia as well. It’s not the same as when we lived together, but I don’t feel guilty calling him late at night or early in the morning. He’s caused me enough stress over the past few months that Bash is just going to have to get over it.

“Are you still awake?” I ask after a minute of silence passes. I’m sitting on the window seat in my room, looking out at the night sky. It’s clear tonight, without a single cloud in the sky.

He groans, the sound sending shivers down my spine. “Yes. A minute isn’t enough time to fall asleep, Thalia.”

Fuck. It’s nice hearing him say my name all husky and deep because he’s tired. I’m totally fine.Friends. We’re just friends.

“Well, I didn’t know.” I scoff, rolling my eyes as I put the phone on Speaker to set it down. My hand is getting tired from holding it up. “I talked to Eric.” I don’t specify when I did. It was the same night after Bash came by the gallery, but I haven’t brought it up until now.

I can tell this catches Sebastian’s interest, despite how he tries to stay casual about it. “Oh, what’d you talk about?”

“The conversation you had with him the morning after my gallery opened.” I leave out the fact that was the same day Kiera cheated, but it doesn’t slip my mind. I’m sure it doesn’t slip his either.

Things might have gone so differently that day if I had been the one to answer my phone.

“How did you find out about that?”

I comb my fingers through Zeus’s fur just to have something to do. “You told me when you were drunk. I wasn’t sure if I heard you right until I asked Eric about it.”

Bash clears his throat on the other end of the phone. “He was right to tell me to leave you alone.”

I know what Eric had to say about the conversation, but I’m curious as to what Sebastian has to say about it. “Why did you call?”

“To apologize, and ask you if I was making a mistake marrying Kiera. I guess I wanted to see if we had a chance to be…well, you know…” Bash admits, sounding a little uncomfortable toward the end. Eric was right.

I hum an acknowledgment because what exactly do I say to that? Hey, I wish you’d still asked me that because I probably would have saidyes, it’s a mistake. “Is your favorite movie stillTransformers?”

My abrupt change of subject causes him to laugh softly. “That hasn’t changed—neither have you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, considering I just said I was contemplating ending things with KierabeforeI found out about everything because I wanted to be with you, my ego is feeling a little bruised since your only response was to ask if my favorite movie changed. ”

I wish he were next to me so I could smack the amusement out of his voice, but the last thing he needs is to be photographed coming to my house in the middle of the night. The devil works hard, but the tabloids work harder.

The only reason his drunk visit here the night his engagement ended wasn’t photographed is because Sebastian was still engaged in the eyes of the public. They weren’t watching his every move then. Now with theheadlines currently going around? He can’t go anywhere, despite how wrong everyone has it.

“Technically, that’s not what you said.I guess I wanted to see if we had a chance to be…well, you know…is a little vague,” I reply, teasing him. “I actually wanted to know if it still was your favorite movie. I think you’re reading too much into this, pal.”

It feels weird to call him that. But that’s exactly what we are.

However, in the days that have passed, I’ve been replaying how Bash kissed me when I opened the door. It was full of need and passion, which is why I got caught in the moment kissing him back until I remembered that it was wrong. Except, then it wasn’t. So I let him kiss me again?

I think I’m giving myself whiplash.

I need sleep. That’ll help.

“Whatever you say, Thalia. I’m only holding my end of the bargain of us being friends.”

“Bullshit,” I say, unable to hide my smile. It shouldn’t be this easy for us to slip back into place.

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