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Dean leaned forward his elbows on his knees and he rubbed his hands over his face.
“Delilah, I’m sorry that you went through all of this because of me, because of my stupid mistake. I promised Mom and Dad that I’d look out for you, and I’ve been doing a terrible job at it.”
I moved from Sebastien’s side and pulled Dean to his feet.
“You’re the best brother a girl could ask for. You’ve always looked out for me and you’ve been my only friend for so long. Yes, you made a mistake, but we all do. Mom and Dad would be happy that you agreed to go to rehab and get your life back ontrack. The only way you’ll be terrible at looking out for me is if you choose to give up.”
Dean pulled me into a hug and I wrapped my arms around his waist. When we pulled apart, he smiled as he sat back down, and I went back to Sebastien’s side.
“Dean, why didn’t you come to me for help? Everything could’ve been avoided if you had done that the moment you lost your money and Hawthorne’s from a bad investment.”
Dean sighed. “I just thought I could figure it out on my own. I hadn’t expected things to escalate as quickly as they did.”
“Next time, come to me; we’ve known each other since we were eight. We’re like brothers. It hurt to know that you needed me, and you didn’t trust me enough to help you. And it’s not like I couldn’t afford to help you.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“When my brothers found out that I had been trying to deal with Hawthorne alone they were pissed. I have an amazing support team, but just like you, I wanted to do it alone. Wanted to prove that I could do it alone.”
“It’s a male ego thing,” I said.
Sebastien looked at me, “Oh, really? If I hadn’t pried the information from you, you wouldn’t have told me anything.”
I shrugged my shoulders, “The difference is I had no one to go to, no best friend, and Dean was in rehab,” I said. I turned to Dean. “I couldn’t tell you what Hawthorne was doing. I knew you would’ve left rehab, and I didn’t want that for you. I wanted you to finish, to be clean.”
“You’re right, I would’ve left,” Dean stated unapologetically.
“And probably gotten yourself killed and I would’ve never forgiven myself,” I said.
Dean nodded.
My stomach started to gurgle again, and I sighed. “Now that you guys are playing nice with each other, can I please go up to bed?”
“Dee, what’s wrong?” Dean asked, concerned.
“Allergic reaction to something I ate. I’ll be okay.”
“I’ve been such a bonehead. Since I got here, it’s been about me, me, me. Do you need me to get anything for you?” Dean asked.
"That’s my job, now,” Sebastien stated as he stood up from the sofa and pulled me to him. “If you need anything to eat or drink the kitchen is through there,” Sebastien pointed at the door that led to the kitchen. “I’ll order something for dinner. So, we’ll see you around six-thirty.”
“Sure.”
Sebastien and I made our way to our bedroom, and once we closed the door, he pulled me into a kiss, like he hadn’t seen me for years. I looked into his eyes, and he looked worried. I’d never seen him look like this.
“Sebastien, what’s going on?” I swallowed. “Did you tell us that the videos were taken down just to appease Dean?”
Sebastien cupped my face with both hands. “We’ve taken down the videos. And my brothers said they don’t see you any differently, just in case you try to get out of ever seeing them again.”
My stomach twisted. “Your brothers saw the videos?”
“Sweetheart, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Axel took one look and said you weren’t enjoying yourself and that the only opinions that mattered about the situation were my brothers', mine, Emily's, Lucy's, Mrs. Kensington's and, well, now Dean's. And we know the whole story, so we don’t give a fuck.”
“I’m sorry but having your brothers see me like that your words are doing little not to make me feel weirded out about it.”
Sebastien’s eyes were intense, before he sighed, “It’s my fault. Everything you and Dean went through, Eso being dead. It’s all my fault.”
“Sebastien, I don’t understand. How is this your fault?”