Page 12 of Tempting Sebastian

“I did, but you have it all wrong, Jackson. I wasn’t angry with you. I was angry with myself and Ian for letting our employees down. Your situation hasn’t had a negative impact on work. We had a negative impact on your life, and we won’t be so careless in the future.”

Jackson looked like he was on the verge of tears. “Um… ok. What now? I’m not ever going back to the shelter again. Not after…”

Cutting him off, I said, “No. You’re not going back there or staying here in the bus terminal. I want you to come home with me. You can stay with me for as long as you need. I meant what I said.”

He looked down and cleared his throat, managing to get out a cracked, “Thank you,” before Quinn hooked her arm in his and led him toward the doors to the parking lot. I followed behind them, dealing with my own emotions. I hadn’t expected just how much I needed Jackson in my life. That day proved it.

Chapter 10

Jackson

I couldn’t get over how Sebastian and Quinn searched the city to find me at the bus station. We grabbed some food at a drive-thru and ate on the way back to Sebastian’s. I sat at the dining room table, across from Quinn, listening to her as she told stories about Sebastian as a child and growing up. It was clear that she adored her big brother. I would occasionally look at Sebastian and each time I would catch him staring at me and then quickly look away. I wondered what he was thinking and found myself in a trance.

Quinn’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Jackson…earth to Jackson.”

I blinked and laughed, “Oh, sorry. What did you say? I was caught up in a thought.”

She smiled and said, “Are you tired? Don’t let us keep you up if you’re tired. Bash and I have a tendency to stay up and talk all night. We did it as kids too and paid the price the nextmorning.” They laughed. Sebastian nodded his head. Her calling him Bash was cute.

“Um, I am tired, but I’ve been enjoying the conversation. I haven’t had much ofthisin my life, so it’s nice.” I looked at Sebastian again but this time, he looked sad, staring at me for a minute. He stood up and went to the kitchen. I took my cue. “I think I’m going to head up to bed. Thank you so much for dinner and for the great conversations here. This was nice.”

Quinn and I stood up, but before I could move, she came toward me to give me a hug. “It’s nice to have you here, Jackson.” She said the next part in a lowered whisper, “Don’t worry about Bash. It’s not you, okay? He was really worried about you and he’s glad you’re here.”

I nodded my head, gave her a small smile, and went upstairs.

After setting my things back in the closet, I thought about how good it felt to be back. I wasn’t even gone for a full day, but it felt like an eternity. The bed was exactly as I had left it, and the note that I had written was open on the quilt. I stood at the side of the bed for a moment just staring at it and fidgeting with my hands Sebastian’s voice came from behind me.

“I hate that note,” he said.

I snapped my head back to see Sebastian standing in the doorway. “What?”

He walked toward the bed, picked up the note and stared at it. “I hate this note. I don’t ever want to feel how it made me feel again, Jackson. I was worried about you. Don’t leave again…not until you’re ready. Promise me.”

There was a lump in my throat, and I was finding it hard to put words together.

“Jackson. Promise me.” Sebastian looked at me with deep eyes, there was something behind them, but I wasn’t sure what.

Nodding, I said, “I promise. I won’t leave until I’m ready.”

Sebastian crumpled the note up and shoved it in his pocket. There was a hint of a grin. He put his hands in his pockets, dropped his head, turned and walked out. He paused briefly at the doorway, without looking back and said, "Welcome home."

I felt my insides crumble.Home.I had a home.

Chapter 11

Sebastian

When I left Jackson’s room and got back to my office, I pulled the crumpled note out of my pocket and tried to straighten it. I set it down on my desk and sat in my chair. just staring at it. Jackson was back, and I was happy. I felt like I could breathe again.

A box where I kept things I thought were important sat inside my desk. I was struggling with deciding whether or not to keep the stupid note, but reached down, grabbed the box out, and placed Jackson’s note inside. That was the end of it.

***

Time moved along as if nothing had happened and having Jackson back had quickly gone back to feeling normal. We’d gotten back into a rhythm at work and home. He rode with me into work each day and I waited for him after work to give him a ride home.

I was heading to the kitchen at work to make myself some coffee when I stopped because I overheard two women in the restoration department talking. One of them said Jackson’s name.

“I heard Jackson was sleeping under a bridge,” one gossiped.

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