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Tilly
“He fell asleep before I got to the third page of the book,” I say as I walk back into the main living area of Carolyn’s apartment. I reach to pick up toys as I make my way to the sofa where Sebastian is still sitting.
He slides to his feet to help. “He’s a great kid, Matilda. He might actually know more about the moon than I do.”
I laugh as I pile the toys into a bin in the corner. “Do you want something to drink? Carolyn usually keeps a few cans of soda in the fridge, or I can get you a glass of water.”
He dumps the toys he’s collected into the bin. “Nothing for me.”
“I’ll grab something for myself.” I start the walk toward the kitchen. “Cooper is going to talk about meeting you for days.”
I hear Sebastian chuckle as I round the corner and grab a soda from the fridge. I pour it into a glass. I take a large sip before I head back out toward the living room.
Sebastian is still on his feet, but he’s grabbed his cell phone from where he put it on the coffee table earlier.
All evening it’s been chiming signals of incoming text messages. I expected him to announce that he had to get back to work, but instead he read the messages without replying.
His fingers are rapidly typing something on the screen now. I don’t interrupt. Instead, I cross over to the dining room table, place the glass down, and tidy the books and laptop so it’s one less thing Carolyn will have to deal with tomorrow.
I raise my head when I hear Sebastian curse under his breath.
“Is something wrong?” I twist my lips wondering if he’s about to walk out because of work.
He looks over at me. I see the hesitation in his expression before he answers. “It’s Wendy. She wants to meet for a drink.”
I didn’t see that coming. I look down to hide the disappointment I know is on my face.
“My mom taught me to be a gentleman at all costs.” He lets out a measured breath. “It’s not easy to do that when you’re trying to end a ... when you’re trying to tell a woman that the arrangement you had with her is over.”
“It’s over?” My voice takes on a higher pitch.
Dammit. Why the hell did I ask that question?
A look of satisfaction flashes across his face. “Yes.”
My heart does a happy dance inside my chest. I have no idea if Wendy is the only woman he has an arrangement like that with, but she’s the one I know he fucked in our apartment.
I’m relieved to know that it won’t happen again.
Just as I’m about to invite him to sit with me on the sofa, the apartment door opens and Carolyn walks in.
We both turn to look at her.
The broad grin on her face says it all, but I ask anyway. “How was your date?”
She closes the door softly behind her. “Good, I think. We’ll see if he calls for a second date. Thank you both again for taking care of Coop.”
“It was our pleasure,” Sebastian responds evenly. “You have an amazing son.”
“I think so too,” she says happily as she pushes her blonde hair back from her forehead. “I hope he behaved.”
“He was an angel,” I interject. “Hanging out with him is the best.”
“You two can take off.” She gestures toward the foyer. “The night is still young. Why don’t you head to the bar across the street and have a drink?”
I turn on my heel, so I’m facing her. Raising a brow, I tilt my head. “We’ve both had a long day. I think we’ll head home.”
“I could use a drink.” Sebastian walks across the apartment toward the door. “It was good to meet you, Carolyn.”
“You too, Sebastian.” She winks at me when I look back at her. “I hope you both have fun tonight.”
I shake my head. When we first arrived hours ago, she eagerly shook Sebastian’s hand before pulling me aside to ask me why the hell I wasn’t sneaking into his bed at night. I laughed it off, but obviously, she’s trying to set us up now. “Goodnight, Carolyn.”
She leans closer to tug me into an embrace, whispering into my ear, “I really hope you have a sheet-clawing, screaming-at-the-top-of-your-lungs night.”
I laugh softly as I pull back. “I’ve never had one of those.”
She looks past my shoulder to where Sebastian is standing. “I think tonight may be the night you do.”
