Page 101 of The Flirty Forward

“I’ll take care of anything that needs to be taken care of here; you two get out of here,” Gunner says.

The rest of the night is a blur. Sebastian drives us to his house in his car. He helps me get ice on my cheek and gives me pain killers. He does the same next to me at the kitchen table. I laugh at the two of us; I can’t help it. “We’re a mess.”

He scowls; that’s pretty much all he’s been doing all night. “Yeah, but I just played a hockey game. You got attacked by a hockey player.” There’s so much anger in his words, I sigh and walk over to him and climb into his lap.

“Sebastian, look at me.” His eyes meet mine. “I’m okay. I really am. I just have a bruised cheek; that’s it.”

“It could have been so much worse,” he says, running his thumb gently over my cheek.

“It could have been,” I agree. “But it wasn’t. You stopped him.You,” I press his chest with my forefinger for emphasis. “You stopped him. Thank you.” I kiss his lips gently.

“Not fair,” he mumbles. But he kisses me back and pulls me closer, taking us from zero to sixty in less than two seconds. Knowing we’re both weak and a little out of sorts tonight and knowing this could be dangerous for both of us, I give him a final kiss and pull back.

“I better get to bed; I have school in the morning. Is it okay if I stay here tonight?”

He doesn’t bat an eye. “Of course. Are you sure you’re okay? He didn’t do anything else to you?” he asks for at least the fourth time tonight.

I take his hand in both of mine. “I promise. Now let’s get some sleep. I already need coffee tomorrow morning.”

“That doesn’t even make sense,” he says as we head to our rooms for the night.

“That’s why I need coffee,” I tell him. He shakes his head, kisses me one last time, and heads for his room. When he gets to his door, he stops and turns, leaning his arm against the top of the door.

“I can’t wait to get married, so you can be in my bed every night...where you belong.” Without another word, he turns and walks into his room, leaving me staring after him. I close my door slowly and get ready for bed.

The next several days pass in a blur. I somehow keep going back to Sebastian’s at night. I tell myself that it’s because my stuff is there, but really, it’s more complicated than that. I don’t want to return to my own house that’s empty and...sad without Sebastian. I've gotten used to having him in my space. I know I need to, though. So after three nights at his house, I finally go home to my house, which works because he has a few away games anyway.

He calls me late the night he gets back from his away game, like I knew he would. “Hey,” I say when I answer.

“Where are you?” he asks.

“I’m doing well, thank you. How are you, Sebastian?” I ask.

“Sorry, you just worried me. How are you, Love?”

I smile. “I’m good. And I’m at home safe and sound.”

It’s quiet on the other end. “Why?” he asks softly.

“I need to be in my own home, not because I don’t want to stay with you. I do, but this is still my home. And we’re not married,” I add softly. “I know it makes me old-fashioned, but Idon’t really want to live together before we get married. I mean I do, but...”

“It’s okay,” he says gently. “I get it.”

“Congratulations on your win tonight,” I tell him, trying to cheer him up.

“Thanks.” His voice sounds flat. He blows out a breath. “I miss you.”

My heart squeezes. “I miss you too. Do you still want me to attend that event with you tomorrow night?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

“Yes. Will you go with me?”

“Yes.” I missed the last one because my cheek had been black and blue. Sebastian tried to convince me that nobody would care, but I opted not to go. The last thing Sebastian needed was pictures of us online with the thought that he had done that to me. And for the people that did know what really happened, I didn’t want to deal with their pity and questions all night. So I’d stayed home and sent Sebastian by himself. Now, the bruising has completely faded, and I’ll be at Sebastian’s side for this one. “What time should I be ready to go?”

“It starts at seven, so I’ll pick you up at six if that works.”

“Perfect.”

We talk a little bit longer, but I can tell he’s wiped. “Get some sleep, Handsome. I love you.”

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