Page 52 of Finally Forever
He passed those stares out like flyers whenever we were in a public area in Europe.
The housekeepers nod and tuck their chins as they scamper in my direction.
Panicking that they’ll greet me and alert Sebastian to my hiding spot, I run, making my steps as light as possible as I race to the nearest open door.
A powder room. I close the door behind me and catch my breath, trying to take comfort from the fact that Nathan seems to be on my side. Well, on the side of Sebastian and me being together.
What isn’t comforting is this plan Sebastian was talking about and why Nathan doesn’t like it. That and how Sebastian wants to remove me from his life. My stomach sickens again at the thought. I can’t give up hope yet. Nathan could help me turn things around. Hopefully, Riley will too when he arrives. I just have to hang in there and pray Sebastian’s memories return.
21
Sebastian
“Let’s do something. All this sitting around is making me antsy. You know how I like to keep busy,” Nathan says.
“I do.”
With his beer in his hand, Nathan follows me down the hallway to the game room. “Wait until you see this.”
I shove open the double doors and flip a switch on the wall that Xavier told me about. Lights flash and video game sounds fill the air.
“Holy shit. This is a legit game room.”
“It’s cool. I might get one after I free myself and am able to settle down somewhere.” I walk to the pool table and grab a stick. “Want to play?” I gaze at Nathan and set my beer on a nearby table.
“Rack’em up.” He gets a stick and sets his beer next to mine.
“Solids or stripes?” I line up the white ball for my shot.
“Solids,” Nathan says.
I crush the cue to the white ball. Cracking sounds and the balls scatter everywhere. Two stripes line up with the holes and one rolls in.
“Are you going to kick my ass at the game like you used to?” Nathan jokes and sips his beer.
“It’s not my fault I’m great at everything.”
“Except for remembering,” Nathan teases, but it doesn’t sit well with me.
I stiffen, the urge to defend myself rising in me like a tidal wave. Where is it coming from? My competitive nature, or am I feeling something about this situation, like I’ve started feeling something for Ainsley? I’ll never admit it to anyone. It’s not like I remember her, but I can’t deny she’s stirring up emotions in me that I want nothing to do with.
If I’m to pursue this plan, I need to stay emotionless and disconnected from everything and everyone. I couldn’t do this in my past from fear and lack of trust in myself. Then I got involved with Ainsley and chose another path. I’ve been given a second chance to do what I wasn’t brave enough to do before, and I refuse to let anything, or anyone, stand in my way.
I line up my next shot and miss. Fuck. My thoughts are distracting me. I need to clear my head and stay sharp.
“Sorry, man. Bad joke.” Nathan walks around the pool table, surveying his next move.
“It’s fine.” I swallow a mouthful of beer.
“I want to help,” Nathan says and settles on the far-right corner to hit a solid that’s close enough to the hole to sink.
“You can by doing what I asked and connecting me with that guy we talked about.”
Xavier doesn’t know about Nathan helping me, and Nathan doesn’t know about Xavier helping. Options are always the best strategy. So is keeping the people who could stop you from doing something busy and believing they know more than they do. It gives me the power to vet each contact I get from them and choose the person who’s best for the job. It also means, if one of the contacts I choose backs out of the deal, I have another person in play and my plan remains intact.
“I already reached out to him,” Nathan says. “But I want to help with your plan, too.” He sinks the ball and grins.
Maybe I should let him win for once. “I can’t get you involved. You’re engaged and starting a new life. I still protect my friends above all. I haven’t changed in that way.”
