Page 130 of The Bittersweet Bond

“And? Is that chapter closed now?”

His gaze stayed on the road. “It was never really open.”

Her lips twitched slightly. Then, she leaned back into her seat. “Okay.”

He shot her a quick glance. “Okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah, Bas. You messed up, but you ended it. I get it.”

His shoulders loosened a little as he maneuvered through the empty streets.

“Thanks for saying it,” she murmured after a moment.

He smirked slightly. “Now you know. No more secrets.”

Chapter 37

Morning Run Through Turmoil

Sebastian

The air was crisp and fresh, the morning sky over Santa Barbara streaked in soft hues of pink and gold. Bas kept a steady jogging pace, his footsteps echoing against the pavement in a familiar rhythm. His breathing was controlled, but his mind was anything but. The argument with Evin from the night before replayed like a loop in his head—every accusation, every unspoken fear flickering behind her eyes. He wanted her. And more than that, he wanted to prove to her that he could be different. But before he could do that, he needed to settle something first.

When he rounded the corner leading to Cat’s house, his pace instinctively slowed. Her sleek, modern beach house stood exactly where the rich jogged—maybe not quite in Sandstone Cove, but close enough to fit into that world. He exhaled sharply, wiping a thin sheen of sweat from his forehead, before making the turn without thinking too hard about it.

If he wanted to give Evin space, if he wanted to be the kind of man she couldtrust, then he had to draw some boundaries first.

And Cat… she was a line he should have cut off long ago.

__________

The front door was half open, which was typical for Cat. She loved acting unattainable, but in reality, she enjoyed attention—the kind a half-open door invited. Bas raised an eyebrow, knocked against the frame, and stepped inside without hesitation.

“Cat?” His voice was calm but firm.

She appeared from the living room, a coffee cup in hand, her long blonde hair perfectly tousled—as if she had spent hours achieving exactly that look. She wore an oversized hoodie that slipped off one shoulder and grinned in surprise when she saw him.

“Bas,” she said, her voice warm and familiar. Too familiar. “What a rare visit.”

“I was out jogging,” he started, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Thought I’d stop by.”

“Lucky me, being up so early,” she purred, taking a small sip of her coffee, her gaze lingering on him, deliberate as always—too long, too direct. “Come in. Want something to drink?”

He shook his head, holding her gaze. His voice turned firmer. “I don’t have much time.”

Her smile faded slightly, and she raised an eyebrow. “Okay… So what’s up, Bas?”

He took a deep breath. “We need to talk, Cat. About us.”

“I know... I know... There’s no ‘us’ anymore,” she interrupted, her tone suddenly more distant. “You made that clear last time.”

“That’s exactly why I’m here,” he said calmly. “I don’t want any misunderstandings. Last night…”

She gave a dry laugh. “Misunderstandings? You used me, and I used you. Last night… let’s just forget it.”

Bas studied her carefully. This was the Cat he knew. But just to be sure, he made it crystal clear: “So we’re on the same page. No half-open doors, no drama.”

Cat stared at him, her expression wavering between understanding and something that almost looked like vulnerability. “Drama? Me? That jab was deliberate,” she said, tilting her head slightly. The implication was obvious, but he didn’t let it get to him. The only thing that mattered was closing this chapter for good.

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