Page 79 of King of Clubs

Was it normal that he wanted to protect me? I mean, hiring people to look into my past didn’t seem appropriate but maybe his intentions were pure. Wayne and I hadn’t really spoken on the drive home, but one thing he did say had stuck and it was wreaking havoc on my emotions.

Don’t be too hard on him, Marlee. He's a good man. If he lets you into his little circle, you are in it for life and he will shelter you from whatever pain he can, even if that means he carries it himself. He just needs your patience and he'll learn.

“Marls, I can see your mind ticking again. I told you, alllll men are confusing. They’re impatient in one breath and then entirely adorable in the next. But you know his intentions are good,” she looked at me with her eyebrows raised.

“I know. I just don’t even know how to be with someone who actually cares about me. How fucked up is that?” My voice was barely audible over the soft music playing. I knew Arna wouldn't judge, but it wasn't easy being vulnerable when I had so few people left in my life.

“Darls, Seb is a good man. He probably should have told you before he went rifling through your life, but we know he was just fulfilling the role of the hot brooding boyfriend who does whatever he needs to do to protect his woman.” She deepened her voice over the last part, beating her chest like a cavewoman and a laugh bubbled out of me as the waitress brought our drinks to the table.

Clinking glasses, we took our first sip and an appreciative noise emanated from within me.

Arna nodded in acknowledgement, “Ya-ummmm. I’m taking a photo and sending it to Andy. The boys will all be there by now and I warned him I’d be coming home drunk and ready to be pounded in the spa. So they better be gone by then.”

“You do realise I still live with you, right?”

“I do,” she answered unapologetically.

“Remind me never to swim in that thing again – and to wear headphones to bed tonight,” I said grimacing, holding my drink in the air and smiling when she lifted her phone. As her phonewhooshed,indicating her message had sent, I felt a little sad.

I hadn’t even thought about Seb being at Andy’s house tonight because I hadn’t spoken to him properly for days. I didn’t know how work was, whether he had thought about me throughout the days or how he was sleeping. I was out of the loop and it made me sad.

Urgh. I missed him.

“So,” she started, putting her drink down, “when are you going to let him back in? And by in, I mean inside your lady lounge?” She wiggled her eyebrows and I choked on my drink. This was the reason we were friends. She always knew exactly what to say to cheer me up and was also the best person to snap me out of the funks when I began wallowing.

“You are insatiable, woman,” I sighed, feeling the familiar tingle of the martini hitting my blood stream. “Probably tomorrow. I hate to admit but I can see where he was coming from and while it wasn’t something I wanted, I understand. I really do miss him.Allof him.” Arna squealed and signalled to the bartender for two more drinks.

“Oh, I bet you do. When Andy goes away, we get super lonely,” she pushed her bottom lip out in faux sadness, pointing at her crotch.

“Of course you do,” I was giggling, but the pride on her face only made me laugh louder.

Our next drinks arrived and I rolled my eyes at the fairy floss flowing from the glasses. Arna grinned and grabbed her phone to snap another photo before sending it too.

“Andy said Seb and Cooper just arrived and Seb has asked about you twice already. I told him to say that you’re on a date.”

“Arna! NO!” My face blanched. I could only imagine what that would do to him and while I was still super angry, he didn’t deserve that.

Not even twenty seconds later my phone buzzed and his face appeared on my screen with a new message. I couldn’t help the way my heart beat a little quicker or the warmth which spread through me at how quickly he made contact when he thought I was with someone else.

Sebastian

Baby, Andy better be joking about you being on a date.

“Oh my god, Arns. Andy told him I was on a date,” I sighed and she shrugged.

“One of you needs to snap out of this funk. I’m sick of seeing you miserable every night.”

“You just want me out of the apartment so you can shag louder.”

“That too,” she grinned and I looked back to my phone where another message from Seb had come through.

Sebastian

I miss you and so does the glass in my office…

And I’m sorry.

I grinned at my phone, crossing my legs at the slow ache taking flight between my thighs at the thought of the glass in his office. Arna’s phone rang and she answered a video call from Andy while I quickly replied.

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