Oh hell.
I puff air into my cheeks. “With all due respect, Jeremy, Bart seems like a pretty fucked-up guy. You can do a lot better than him.”
“I know.” He sighs sadly. A waitress walks by. “Excuse me,” Jeremy says. “I’ve changed my mind. Can I see the drinks menu, please?”
“Of course.” She smiles.
I watch Jeremy for a moment. “Why are you still working for him? Why are you still with him? How many chances are you going to give the man?”
“I love him.”
“Sometimes love isn’t worth the payoff.” I sigh. “Look at you. You’re gorgeous and in the prime of your life. But you’re in love with a married man who has now finally left his wife, yet he still isn’t willingly returning to your bed.”
“He loves me, April. I know he loves me.”
“I don’t doubt it, but it seems that he needs time to get his shit together. Perhaps he needs to sow his gay wild oats or something before you and he can plan a future.”
He exhales heavily. “Maybe.”
Jeremy’s eyes drift back to the other side of the restaurant. I look over to see the Greek god standing to pay the bill. He’s tall and powerful, dominant.
“He’s gorgeous.” Jeremy sighs.
He really is.
I reach over and take Jeremy’s hand in mine. “So are you, and you’re so young. Too young to be putting up with this fucking bullshit. You have your whole life ahead of you.”
Jeremy exhales heavily as his eyes find mine. “Enough of my disastrous love life. How’s Garcia treating you?”
I smile, grateful for the change of subject. “Surprisingly well.”
The week has been strained. I’ve hardly seen Sebastian. His stress levels are at an all-time high. He leaves before I wake in the morning, and he is home late at night.
Meeting after meeting, press conference after press conference.
I’ve been working and coming straight back here.
He insists on me sleeping at his house, even though he’s hardly here. He says he’s not sleeping without me and that it is non-negotiable. I can’t say that I’m upset about it. I don’t want to sleep without him, either. We turned a corner in the Maldives I’m not sure where that corner leads to but I’m down for the ride.
Parliament is going to a vote on Friday, and word has it that Sebastian is going to be elected as the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Tonight, we are meeting the gang at a restaurant for dinner. I’m ready, dressed, and waiting to go.
Where is he?
My phone beeps with a text from Sebastian.
Sorry babe, running late.
Kevin will pick you up in five minutes.
I’ll meet you there.
I reply.
Okay xo
The headlights swing into the driveway, and I grab my coat. Well, this is new, meeting his friends without him beside me. He’d better not be too late. I make my way out and smile at Kevin before I get into the backseat.
“Hello.”
“Hello, April. Lovely night, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
He reverses the car out and we pull into the street. I watch the traffic zoom by, and I think back to all those years ago when I was hiding around the side of Sebastian’s house while he went inside with Brandon.
Brandon, now, there’s a blast from the past. Sebastian hasn’t mentioned him to me at all. Hmm, I’ll have to remember to ask about him later.
Twenty minutes later, we pull up at the curb. Kevin parks and gets out of the car. He then opens the door for me.
“Have a lovely night,” he says with a warm smile.
“You, too. Thank you.” I make my way inside and look around. The restaurant is bustling. Chatter and laughter fill the space. There’s a big bar in the center of the room with chunky metal stools around it. Huge brass lights hang down low, creating a trendy vibe. I catch sight of Spencer at the back of the restaurant. On closer inspection, I see the others are sitting with him. I make my way over.
“Hello.”
“Hi.” They all smile.
Spencer pulls out the chair beside him and taps it.
“Thanks.” I slide into my seat. “How are you feeling?” I ask Bree.
“Oh God.” she winces. “I’m still not right, and I am never drinking again.”
“Big week, huh?” Julian says.
Spencer fills my glass with wine and passes it to me.
“I’ll say,” I agree.
“How’s he going?” asks Spencer.
“He’s okay.” I shrug. “Very busy and stressed, but that’s to be expected.”
“I still can’t believe that Theodore has died. Do they know any of the details? Was he murdered?” Charlotte asks.
“Good grief.” Spencer huffs. “Murdered? This isn’t an action movie, Lottie, calm down. Why do you think everyone is fucking murdered? If I go missing, you’ll all know who did it.”
Everyone laughs.
“I’m not sure about any of the details,” I lie. I don’t know what Sebastian has told them but I’m not oversharing.
Julian’s eyes hold mine and, once again, I’m reminded that if Sebastian knows something, Julian and Spencer do, too. He tells them everything.
The group continue to talk conspiracy theories. I look around the restaurant, it has a really cool vibe. My eyes roam over the crowd and then stop when I get to the bar. I see a familiar person sitting with another woman.
My blood runs cold.
Helena.
What is she doing here?
Sebastian walks through the front door, towering over everyone around him, and flanked by security. Wearing a dark suit and a pale blue shirt with tie, he looks as handsome as ever.
Sebastian Garcia cannot hide in a crowd and it has nothing to do with being the Prime Minister.
My eyes immediately drift back to Helena to see if she notices him. Right on cue, she glances up and sees him. Her face lights up, and she smiles softly.
Huh?
That doesn’t look like the face of the woman who hates him.
My skin begins to crawl.
I watch on as she stands and walks toward him. He glances up and his step falters when he sees her. She approaches him. Her face is hopeful, and then she smiles and says something. His security guards step forward and Sebastian holds his hand up to them as a warning to stay back.
Helena rises on her toes to kiss his cheek, but he turns his head away from her.
Cold and hard, in front of everyone who is watching.
My stomach twists. I know how much his dismissal hurts.
Helena drops her head.
God…
And for the first time ever, I feel sorry for her.
It’s one thing to have a marriage break down, but to fuck it up so badly with a man like Sebastian Garcia must take you to a new level of regret.
How would you ever forgive yourself for losing him?
I watch her, watching him.
“Shouldn’t it, April?” Brielle asks, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Oh, sorry.” I return my attention to her. “I beg your pardon. I didn’t hear you.”
“I said that sangria should be used as a weapon in war.”
I giggle and raise my glass to her. “Agreed.”
Sebastian appears at our table. “Hello.” He smiles and loosens his tie.
“About time, fucker.” Spencer smiles.
Sebastian sits down beside me and leans over to kiss my cheek. “Hello, sweetheart,” he whispers, his finger running up the back of my neck. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Hi.” I smile bashfully. God, he’s a beautiful man. I glance up to see the rest of the table and the restaurant for that matter, are watching our interaction. I blush, embarrassed. Sebastian reaches over and, in one sharp movement, pulls my chair toward him. He takes my hand and places it over his thick quad.
He picks up a menu. “Just so you all know, I’m eating everything in the house tonight. This is my breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
“You haven’t eaten at all today?” Charlotte gasps. “Sebastian, that’s so bad for you.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure he had a liquid lunch,” Spencer mutters dryly, raising a brow.
They continue talking, and my eyes fall back to Helena. She’s sitting back at the bar now, watching our interaction.
Have his friends seen her? Do they shun her, too?
Once upon a time, this would have been her sitting at this table in my place.
I wonder what it feels like to watch us from the outside.
I can’t imagine.