Page 93 of Hollywood Undercover
Chapter 38
SEBASTIAN checkedthe clock on the wallagain.
“Damn it, Alexandra,” he grumbled,frustrated.
She had told him not to call off the dinner before she raced out of the house almost two hours ago. Since then, Sebastian hadn’t heard a thing from her about where to meet. Getting Clint out of the house was a complicated enough feat without having to worry about where they weregoing.
He silently admitted he was more agitated about the way she ran off without an explanation. He wondered if something might’ve happened to Maxwell at the hospital or whether she needed help, and then reminded himself she was a capableadult.
And, it’s none of mybusiness.
Coming out of the living room, he found his phone and called over to Clint. Beth answered, and Sebastian let her know he would pick them up within an hour. His thought was, even if Alexandra couldn’t make it anymore, he and his friends would pick a restaurant downtown and enjoy the night out withouther.
He got showered and dressed with less enthusiasm than he would have had if Alexandra were coming out for sure. Fully aware his sullen mood was unwarranted, he didn’tcare.
I’m in the privacy of my ownhome.
I can be a grouch if I want, after how this month hasbeen.
He adjusted his tie and quickly checked the mirror before heading downstairs for his phone, wallet and keys. On the drive to Clint’s, there was a tension in the air he couldn’t explain. Deep down, he sensed something was up, and quickly dismissed it asanxiety.
My buddy and his common-law wife are possibly about to meet the fantasy woman I told them about—and she’ll be dressed as aguy.
Fuck, no wonder I’mnervous.
Across town, he pulled into Clint and Beth’s driveway. They were expecting him, because the door opened before he put the Jeep in park. Beth emerged first, and her upbeat smile helped to evaporate Sebastian’s bad mood. Clint rolled out after, and wheeled down the ramp in his electric wheelchair, dressed and ready togo.
“Hi Beth. Wow, you look great,” Sebastian complimentedher.
Beth smiled. “Thanks Bash. You look great yourself.” she answered, waiting for Clint at the bottom of thesteps.
“I’ve been looking forward to this all week, buddy,” Clint said in a deep chuckle when he made it down the ramp. “I thought for sure you would have phoned for a raincheck tonight, you bigflake.”
Sebastian smiled, getting ready to tell him Alex would probably be a no-show. “Which seat is more comfortable for you, buddy? Do you want to rideshotgun?”
“No, man. I prefer the back seat, if you don’t mind. Help meup.”
He opened the door behind the front passenger seat, and with a grunt, helped Clint into the back seat of the Jeep, reaching up for theseatbelt.
“Hang on there, Bash. I got this part,” Clint reminded him, taking the seatbelt from Sebastian’s hand. “There are still some things I can domyself.”
“Got it. Hey, do you remember that time I got so drunk after the firehouse Christmas Ball, you had to carry me out and strap me in your truck to take me home? Well hell Clint, I’m just returning thefavor.”
Clint nodded, laughing harder. He remembered. They had enjoyed a lot of good times over the years. Sebastian decided tonight was about having more of those good memories, whether Alexandra showed up ornot.
With Clint inside, Beth reminded him how to load the electric wheelchair into the back, and they were ready togo.
“Beth, do you want to sit in the front seat?” heasked.
“Oh, no,” she told him, following him around to the door behind the driver’s seat. “I’ll sit withClint.”
Back in his seat, he looked at them in the rearview mirror to break the bad news. “Guys, I hate to do this to you, but it may just be the three of ustonight.”
Clint leaned forward. “What happened to meeting your new girlfriend? I thought that was the whole reason fordinner?”
Sebastian hesitated. “I’m still not sure if she’ll come out. Something came up, and it might overlap with our plans. She said she’d call and tell us where to meet if she gets freed up in time,but—”
His phone rang just as he was finishing his explanation for Alex’s absence. The anticipation shot through him when heanswered.
