Page 78 of Revival

I close my eyes as his voice washes over me. Hours spent listening to him talk filter through the haze of alcohol, and for a moment, I’m transported back to the resort, lying in a king-sized bed in Spencer’s arms.

“Hey. Hi. It’s me. Cortney. I’m sure you already knew that. I’m not sure if you want to hear from me, but I thought I’d call. I was thinking of you. Well, not thinking of you like that, but more like I was reminded of you. I’m out at the bar playing book trivia with all my brothers’ wives and fiancées, so you could say there’s a lot of romance in the air around here. Not—Not for me, of course.” I laugh cynically. “I’m so far removed from anything resembling love that I might as well be a potato.” I pause. “Wait. That’s not right. People actually really love potatoes,” I mutter.

Wrap this up!my thoughts scream at me.

“That’s actually why I’m calling. Kind of. Not potatoes, though now I’m going to order some potato skins when I get back to the table. Those sound really good right now. Um, no. Hang on.” I take a deep breath. “I’m just calling because I-I miss you.” My voice cracks abruptly. “Sorry. I tried to say that the other day, but maybe I wasn’t clear or maybe you didn’t want to hear it. I just really hope you’re doing well wherever you are. And I just want to say that if you happen to find your way back here, come find me, okay?” Hot tears prick my eyes. I blink heavily to force them away. “I don’t want us to be strangers anymore. We don’t have to be anything, but let’s not be strangers. I can’t—I don’t think I can stand it.”

I pull the phone from my ear and stab the button to end the call.

There. That was oddly cathartic.

Did I say too much? I’m not sure. I can’t remember half of what I said since I was talking so fast. Judging by the lightness now filling my heart, I think it was exactly what I needed.

I pocket my phone and wipe my palms along my leggings before exiting the restroom.

* * *

“Thanks for the ride.”

I pop the door handle and open the passenger door.

“Any time.” Frankie’s smile is disgustingly bright this morning.

I tug a pair of Jude’s sunglasses over my eyes and hop out. Frankie idles until I’m safely in my car before she drives away.

This morning is a little rough. It’s not the worst hangover I’ve ever had, but the throbbing in my head hasn’t made for an easy morning. I dig some pain meds out of my purse and wash them down with my tumbler of water leftover from yesterday afternoon.

“Yuck.” I tip back another swig to rinse out my cotton mouth.

I crank the engine to life and plug in my phone. I lost battery sometime in the middle of the night. We got back late, and I fell asleep before I could ask Jude if he had a spare charger. This morning, I didn’t linger. As soon as I swiped the sleep from my eyes, I asked Frankie to drive me back to my car.

The screen lights up, drawing my attention to my lap as notifications roll in. I unlock my phone with facial recognition, but I’m interrupted by a knock on my window.

“Can we talk?” Sebastian thrusts his hands in his jeans pockets and rocks back on his heels.

Anger doesn’t give me time to assess the situation before I swing my door open and step out. I sway slightly, the head rush making me dizzy with all the abrupt movement.

“Are you joking right now?” I hiss, gripping the top of my door for balance.

He holds his hands out placatingly. “You haven’t been answering my texts or calls.”

“I don’t have any texts or calls from you.”

He cocks his head. “Do you have me blocked?”

The question is enough to momentarily temper my rage. I nearly laugh as I realize that I do, indeed, have his number blocked.

All thanks to Spencer.

The revelation cools me considerably, leaving behind an icy indifference.

I level him with an assessing stare behind dark sunglasses. Sebastian looks the same. Same crisp polo shirt. Same medium-wash jeans. His reddish-blond hair styled back into a slight wave that I used to find attractive. Now he just looks like the pretentious prick I now know he is.

“What do you want?”

“I want to apologize. I made a mistake.”

“You mistakenly fucked your assistant? How cliché. Did she trip and land on your dick too?”

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