Page 60 of Perfect Night

She didn’t respond.

“That’s why you wanted me in the office, isn’t it? So you could ambush him. I’m going home and he better be there.”

“Of course he’ll be there. He’s not gonna give up on his sugar daddy.”

“Is that what you said to him?”

“I only said what was true.”

“For fuck’s sake, Bex. I love the man. Why can’t you be happy for me?”

“What? You love him?”

“Yes. I haven’t felt this way about anyone, since, well, since ever. I never even felt this way about Brandon.”

Bex looked shocked.

“You better not have fucked this up for me.”

And with that, he rushed out to get home, praying Charlie would still be there.

Charlie wasn’t answering his calls or texts as Sebastian raced home from the office. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if Charlie had run again. It would be understandable after what Bex said, but Charlie had to know how much Sebastian loved him. Why did he keep having doubts? Once the car pulled up at his apartment, he was out of the door and sprinting for the elevator. He might be fit, but twenty flights of stairs were not on his to-do list for today.

It seemed to take ages to get to his floor, and once he was there, he ran down to the end of the corridor. Being out of the way had seemed like a good idea when he bought the place, but not when he was in a hurry. He dropped his keys, trying to get them in the lock. When he was finally inside, the place was eerily quiet.

“Charlie?” he shouted. “Charlie?”

He headed for the spare bedroom. Charlie’s suitcases were still there, which was a relief. He went to their bedroom – after one night here together, he already saw it that way. No sign of him, but he could hear the shower running. Thank God. He tapped on the door.

“Charlie, I’m home.”

No answer. He tried the door. It was open, so Sebastian went inside. The sight shattered his heart.

Charlie was sitting on the floor of the shower, his knees tucked up and gripped by his arms, his head leaning against the wall, his eyes red and swollen from crying. The man he loved was broken.

Sebastian turned off the water and grabbed a large towel. Charlie didn’t protest as Sebastian scooped him up in his arms and carried him into the bedroom. He gently dried Charlie, who seemed to be out of it. It was like he wasn’t there. Once he was dry, Sebastian took a fluffy robe and put it round him, before he carried him to the bed and put him under the covers. Sebastian discarded his suit quickly and stripped down to his boxers. He pulled on a T-shirt and got into the bed, pulling Charlie against him, so his head was resting on his chest.

“I love you,” he said, kissing him on the head.

Charlie broke down in tears, and all Sebastian could do was hold him whilst he cried. He couldn’t believe his sister had done this to him. He hoped she’d feel awful once she knew what she’d caused. But right now, he only wanted to think about Charlie. Heheld him tight until he was cried out and fell asleep. Sebastian wasn’t letting him go, but after a while he couldn’t stop himself from drifting off as well.

He woke up to the sound of voices and reached out for Charlie, who wasn’t there. Panicked, he shot out of bed and headed toward the voices. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Charlie and Bex chatting together. Was he dreaming?

“What’s going on?”

“I came over to apologise,” said Bex. “I only got here five minutes ago. Charlie said you were asleep.”

“Look, I appreciate it, Bex, but we haven’t talked properly yet. You should come back later.”

“Sebastian, it’s fine. She’s your sister. She was only looking out for you.”

“I wish it was just that. Seb, you better sit down.”

She only called him Seb when she was going to say something which would upset him. Their mum did the same. It was a name he associated with bad things, which was why everyone in his life called him Sebastian. He took a seat at the breakfast bar with both of them.

“Look. I have a thing about prostitution.”

Sebastian winced. Charlie didn’t react.

---