Page 133 of Mr. Aster
“So, you’re my dream girl, too?” Titus teased, his golden eyes so damn mesmerizing I couldn’t help but smile in return.
“I guess so,” I said dryly. “Okay, fine. We’ll get tacos from a food truck or something.”
“I was thinking more of an elegant dinner,” Titus responded, confused.
I looked at John and smiled. “His brother fell in love with a girl who fed him grasshoppers. Do you think I’m down for fancy restaurants? If we give him cause for concern so I can at least get a phone call from him, Sebastian must see you doing something he knows I would insist upon. Hopefully, that’ll be enough to make him jealous. If I go to the fancy restaurant on a date, he’ll know I’m not into you.”
“Wow, you’re going for the throat,” John said.
“I miss him,” I finally admitted, feeling a yearning to do anything to hear from him. “Maybe I should just text him?”
“A woman of your nature isn’t desperate enough to chase a man, is she?” Titus arched an eyebrow that was too sexy for my own good.
“I’ve never chased a man.”
“Well, good. Then don’t text him. You let us do the work, and we’ll get that old dog hunting again. Sometimes all it takes is igniting that testosterone, and boom, they remember what’s good for them.”
“I hope this doesn’t backfire on me,” I said.
“Don’t worry,” John said with sympathy in his voice. “I will ensure that doesn’t happen. All I know is that my brother found something in you that he’s terrified to lose. You both found something in each other, and it was unexpected. While you embraced it, Sebastian became a chicken shit and ran from it. Being the good brother that I am and knowing you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to him—his words, not mine—I want to help you both find your happiness again.”
“Okay,” I said, looking at Titus. “What a great friend you are to date me just to piss off your friend so he comes after me again.”
“What are friends for?” he chuckled. “Look at this: I’m only in Los Angeles for a month and already qualified to audition for a soap opera.”
“The drama runs thick out here, and the plot lines are strong,” I said.
“Hey, let’s go tell everyone the plan,” John said. “I’m sure they’ll enjoy plan B since plan A—inviting Seb here tonight—failed.”
“He was invited and didn’t come?” I asked, pissed.
“Nope,” John said. “That date with Titus doesn’t sound so bad after all, does it?”
Maybe it wasn’t the greatest idea, but to hell with it. After all, what did I have to lose?
Chapter Fifty-Five
Darcy
After the holidays had passed and I’d still heard nothing from Sebastian, I knew it was finally time to let go and move forward with my life. Was it bullshit that it all fell apart becauseboth of uswere unwilling to make an effort to reach out to the other so we might figure out what the fuck happened between us? Absolutely. And if I were any other person hearing about what was going on between Sebastian and me—or rather what wasnotgoing on between Sebastian and me—I’d think I was a weak idiot for hiding away like this, too.
Regardless, I wasn’t going to beat myself up about this anymore. The constant waking up and checking my phone, followed by trying not to think about him all day for the past four months, was enough to send my ass to the crazy farm.
I rationalized my reluctance to reach out to Sebastian like this: he and I discussed things when I left for Los Angeles. He knew why I was going and wasn’t in the dark. Whenhedecided to leave, the only thing he did was dial my number. He didn’tleave a message, send a text, a telegram, or even a goddamn raven to let me know he was going away. He must’ve seen that I attempted to call him back, and he still didn’t bother to make another move. He just left without a word, leaving my mother to tell me he’d gone. That level of disregard and disrespect was too big a pill to swallow, and it stopped me from being the one to initiate contact because, ultimately, why should I chase after someone, begging them to want me?
I’d love to say I’m confident enough to accept rejection, but I’m not. I don’t think anyone is. However, because my feelings came from out of nowhere, and they were stronger than I’d ever experienced, I’d gained a new fear and insecurity that I didn’t like.
I also didn’t like that I was obsessing over the man either. It wasn’t good for my mental health, and I needed just to knock this shit off. I’d allowed the holidays to come and go, and I got nothing from the man. If that wasn’t reason enough to believe he was done with our fling, I didn’t know what was.
Everyone’s opinions about how I was handling things died down after the holidays. I believe it was because they all came to the same conclusion as me: Sebastian had no intention of furthering our relationship, and he was most likely chumming it up withhis kindagain.
“I never thought you’d call,” I heard Titus say, answering the phone on the first ring.
“Well, I never planned on calling,” I smirked, “but here we are.”
“Here we are indeed,” he chuckled. “What’s happening, Darcy? Are youfinallygoing to let me take you out on that date? You certainly know how to keep a man waiting.”
“I planned on fine-tuning some details with you before I publish my last article forLifestyles,” I said.
