Page 13 of Bid For Me (For Me #1)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Elle

As the blaring ringtone jolts me awake, I fumble for my phone with a groan, my heart racing with each consecutive missed call from my brother.

Forty-seven missed calls.

He didn’t even try this hard to contact me to apologise for being a prize dick to my bestie.

Panic knots my stomach, as I contemplate the reason behind his relentless attempts to reach me. Could it be something serious, like news about our parents or one of the kids? I hit accept on the next call, bracing myself for the worst.

“What’s happened?” I blurt out, my voice laced with anxiety.

“You’re dating Sebastian? Are you fucking kidding me?” Aiden’s voice blasts through the phone, his tone sharp and accusatory.

I hang up, the sudden onslaught of questions and judgments leaving me reeling.

But Aiden is persistent, immediately calling back, his voice laden with frustration. “Don’t hang up.”

“If you’re just going to scream at me, I’ll go back to ignoring your existence, you dickwad.”

“Elle! Fucking Sebastian ? Come on. What were you thinking ?” His words cut through me like a knife, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

That I thought I wouldn’t be a virgin by now at the very least.

“It’s none of your damn business, Aiden!” I snap, my frustration boiling over.

“He’s my best friend, of course it’s my business,” he retorts, his tone defiant.

“Go away,” I mutter, my voice barely above a whisper, as I struggle to contain my emotions.

“Oh real mature, Elliebelly,” he taunts, the use of the childhood nickname grating on my nerves.

“Don’t call me that!” I growl, my hands trembling with anger and hurt.

“Elle, if you’re in some kind of trouble I can help, you just need to?—”

“I’m not in trouble, Aiden!” I cry, cutting him off. “Is it so hard to believe that Seb might actually want to date me and isn’t just stepping in to help me out of a bind through some sense of loyalty to you?”

“Are you fucking him?”

“Ew, don’t be gross, I will never discuss sex with you. We didn’t when you dated my best friend, so I don’t intend to start now I’m dating yours.”

“Oh, so that’s what this is! Some warped, fucked-up revenge plan, then, is it?”

“Goodbye, Aiden. Be glad Seb gave you the courtesy call. We are not looking for your permission. Or approval.”

I hang up again, seething.

With a frustrated sigh, I toss my phone onto the bed, the screen illuminating the dim room as it lands with a soft thud. Aiden’s words echo in my mind, each syllable a reminder of the rift between us, the distance that has grown between siblings who were once inseparable.

When did my brother turn into such a dick?

I bury my face in my hands, willing the tears that threaten to spill over to stay at bay. The weight of Aiden’s disapproval hangs heavy in the air, suffocating me with its intensity. Even if me dating Seb is a sham, I still want our families to approve.

But amidst my inner turmoil, a flicker of defiance ignites within me. I refuse to let Aiden dictate my choices, to dictate who I can and cannot be with. Sebastian may be his best friend, but dating him…marrying him…is my choice.

With a determined shake of my head, I push aside the hurt and anger, replacing them with a steely resolve. I will not let Aiden’s judgement dictate my happiness. I will stand tall, unapologetic in my decisions, and I will not let anyone, not even my own brother, tear me down.

Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders, ready to face whatever comes next. Aiden may disapprove, but I refuse to let his opinion define me.

My phone rings again and I grab it and snap, “What?” before my brain even registers that the ringtone was different this time.

“Good morning to you too, sunshine,” Seb says playfully, his voice warm and reassuring through the phone.

I freeze, caught off guard by the unexpected call from Sebastian. His easy demeanour and teasing tone melts away the tension that had gripped me moments before, replacing it with a sense of comfort and familiarity.

“Seb…” I murmur, my voice softening as I feel a rush of relief wash over me. Despite the chaos swirling around me, his presence brings a sense of calm, grounding me in the midst of uncertainty.

“Hey, I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing,” he says, his concern evident in his tone. “I spoke to your brother late last night after our date.”

A small smile tugs at the corners of my lips, grateful for his thoughtfulness. “I’m...I’m okay,” I reply, my voice wavering slightly with emotion.

There’s a brief pause on the other end of the line, and then Sebastian speaks again, his words filled with sincerity. “I’m here for you, Elle. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. Just know that I’m always here. We’re in this together.”

His words wash over me like a gentle wave, soothing the doubts and fears that had plagued me moments before. With Sebastian by my side, I feel a renewed sense of strength and determination, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

“Thank you, Seb,” I reply, my tone filled with gratitude.

As we talk, the weight of Aiden’s disapproval fades into the background, replaced by the warmth of Sebastian’s unwavering support. He tells me his plans for today – including a business meeting at his father’s company – and asks about my intentions too.

“I actually have today off.”

“How are you planning to spend it?”

“Well…” I debate telling him and then decide I may as well. He’s going to be in my life for the foreseeable future, so it’s only fair he learns about it. “My neighbour is elderly and she has small dogs she sometimes struggles to look after. Her dog walker is out of town this weekend so I offered to take the dogs out in her absence.”

There’s a stunned silence on the end of the line.

“Hello? Seb? Are you there? Can you hear me?”

“Switch to video.”

Frowning, I do as he says, accepting the invitation to turn our voice call to video. The screen goes blank for a moment and then I’m staring into the bright gold eyes of Sebastian Sterling-Knight. My boyfriend. Soon to be my fiance.

Fake fiance.

“Did you just say you’re dog walking today?”

“Yes, why?” I shrug. It’s not that big a deal.

“Elle…you hate dogs,” Sebastian points out.

“I don’t.”

“You told me you hated dogs.”

“When?”

“When Sacha jumped up and?—”

“You ordered your dog to bite me on command, dickhead,” I hiss, remembering exactly what he’s talking about.

I was about eleven and it was the first time Aiden had let me tag along with him to go over to Seb’s house – mainly because he was supposed to be watching me while our parents worked – and Seb had told Sacha to attack me. The dog had jumped up and bit my side, her teeth sinking into the soft flesh of my stomach, just enough to pierce the top layer of skin. It was a joke, and the dog didn’t actually hurt me, but Sacha was a massive Alsatian and when she stood on her hind legs and jumped at me, she was bigger than I was and I got scared. I cried, but pretended it was because the bite had hurt, and not because the dog had spooked me.

For ages afterwards, I was nervous around big dogs.

“Anyway, Mrs Livingtone’s dogs are adorable. They’re pomeranians.”

Sebastian’s bright eyes twinkle with amusement as he listens to my explanation, his lips quirking up into a playful smile.

“Okay, fair point,” he concedes, his tone lightening with humour. “I guess I can’t blame you for being hesitant around dogs after that.”

I exhale a sigh of relief, grateful that he’s taking my past experiences with dogs in his stride. Despite the initial shock of my volunteering to dog walk, Sebastian’s easygoing nature puts me at ease, reminding me of why I fell for him in the first place…when I was a teen and stupid I mean.

“So, pomeranians, huh?” he muses, his smirk widening into a grin. “Sounds like you’ve got your hands full with those ankle biters.”

I chuckle at his teasing, shaking my head playfully. “Better than them taking a chunk out of my stomach. You know, I couldn’t wear a crop top that entire summer because of you,” I jest, adding a touch of mock indignation to my tone.

Sebastian’s laughter fills the air, the sound music to my ears. Despite the playful banter, there’s an underlying warmth in his gaze that reassures me, reminding me that no matter what challenges – like my brother’s disapproval – we may face, we’ll always find a way to overcome them together.

“Can I see you tonight?”

“For a water fight? I thought we agreed to wait?”

“I want to take you somewhere.”

“Another flashy surprise?” I tease, my mind flicking back to last night and the expensive jewellery bag he had in the car that he never presented me with.

“No. I want to show you a little of the real me,” he replies earnestly.

“In that case, of course, Seb,” I tell him softly.

“I’ll pick you up at nine. That should give you enough time to shower, eat and get ready after your dog walking adventure.”

His subtle declaration that we would not be going out for dinner tonight piques my interest. Nine is quite late for a date too. I wonder where he wants to take me. Maybe some bar or nightclub, perhaps. Maybe he’s a karaoke champion on the weekends. I giggle at the thought.

“What?” he asks, smiling at me.

“Oh, nothing, just excited to see the real you, I guess.”

“Don’t worry, angel. I’ll give you a night you won’t regret. Don’t let the ankle biters drag you down. Later!”

The cool morning air fills my lungs, as I tug on the leash, trying to keep the six rambunctious dogs under control. They pull in different directions, their excitement barely contained as they sniff at every patch of grass and bark at every squirrel in sight. My baseball cap is pulled low over my head, shielding my face from the bright sun, my hair up in a messy ponytail and tucked through the back of the cap.

This is my escape – an hour to clear my mind, away from everything. Away from Seb especially.

But of course, that’s when he shows up.

I feel his presence before I see him, the crunch of gravel under his shoes announcing his arrival. I glance up from adjusting one of the leads, and there he is, standing at the edge of the path, arms crossed and eyes scanning me with that familiar intensity.

“Elle.” His voice is a mix of surprise and something else I can’t quite place.

I don’t bother to respond, focusing instead on untangling the dogs, but I can feel his gaze burning into me. When I finally look up, his expression is…confused? He frowns, his eyes roaming over me, lingering on my jeans, sweater, and mud-covered tennis shoes.

“What are you wearing?” he asks, like he’s genuinely baffled.

I stare at him for a moment, stunned. Is he serious?

“It’s called being comfortable, Seb,” I say, my voice laced with sarcasm as I tug the cap lower over my face. “Not everyone lives in tailored suits or designer two-pieces all of the time, you know.”

His frown deepens as he studies me. “I’ve just…never seen you like this.”

“Like what?” I snap. “A normal human being?”

There’s a flicker of something in his eyes – guilt, maybe – but it disappears as quickly as it came. He opens his mouth to respond, runs his hands through his hair as if he’s frustrated, but then does something completely unexpected. He steps forward, takes one of the leads from my hand, and without a word, falls into step beside me.

I stare at him, dumbfounded. “What are you doing?”

He glances down at the dog, then back at me. “Helping. It looks like you’ve got your hands full.”

I blink, surprised by the gesture, but also a little annoyed. “I can manage.”

“I know you can.” His voice is softer now, less confrontational. “But I want to walk with you.”

There’s a moment of silence as we continue down the path, the sound of the dogs’ panting and the rustling of leaves filling the space between us. It’s strange, having him here like this. No posturing, no tension. Just…walking.

“What do you want, Seb?” I ask after a few moments, unable to shake the feeling that there’s more to this than him just showing up randomly.

He glances at me out of the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable. “Can’t I just want to spend time with you?”

I snort. “Since when?”

“Since now,” he says, and there’s something in his tone that makes me stop and look at him. He meets my gaze head-on, and for once, I don’t see the cocky billionaire or my brother’s best friend. I see something else, something I’m not sure how to handle.

“Elle, I know I’ve screwed up,” he continues, his voice quieter now. “But I’m trying. I want to figure this out.”

I sigh, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. The dogs tug at their leashes, oblivious to the tension between us, and I take a moment to gather my thoughts.

“This,” I say, motioning between us, “is complicated, Seb. And you showing up like this doesn’t change that.”

“I’m not trying to complicate things more,” he says, and there’s a sincerity in his voice that throws me off. “I just…wanted to see you.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so instead, I just keep walking.

Seb keeps pace with me, the dogs pulling us forward, their eager energy the only thing that breaks the tension between us. I feel his gaze flicker toward me every few seconds, but I refuse to look at him. He’s probably waiting for me to say something, to break the silence, but I won’t. This is my space, my time, and if he’s going to invade it, he’ll have to do so on my terms.

We walk for a few minutes like that – quiet, the occasional bark or rustling of leaves filling the void – until Seb finally speaks again.

“You know,” he starts, his voice low, like he’s trying to ease into the conversation. “I didn’t expect to see you like this.”

I glance at him, narrowing my eyes. “What, you mean not dressed like I’m about to attend a board meeting?”

He smirks, but there’s a softness in his eyes. “Something like that.”

“Well,” I say, a little defensively, “not every day is a fashion show.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” he murmurs, and I can’t tell if he’s teasing or not. “You always seem…untouchable.”

That catches me off guard. “Untouchable?”

Seb stops walking for a second, causing the dog he’s holding to stumble before catching up. He runs a hand through his hair, looking uncomfortable. “Yeah, like…like you’ve got everything perfectly put together all the time. Like you don’t let people see the real you.”

I scoff, shaking my head as I keep moving forward. “You’re unbelievable. Just because I don’t walk around in jeans and sneakers every day doesn’t mean I’m hiding something.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he says quickly, stepping in front of me and blocking my path. The dogs immediately start circling his legs, tangling him in their leashes, but he doesn’t seem to care. His eyes are focused on me. “I just mean…I’m trying to get to know you, Elle. The real you. Not the version you’re forced to present to the world.”

I blink, taken aback by the sincerity in his voice. He’s standing so close now, his familiar scent mingling with the cool breeze. Part of me wants to snap at him, push him away, but another part of me – one that I hate to admit exists – wants to let him in, just a little.

“And what makes you think you haven’t seen the real me?” I ask quietly, looking away.

“Because the real you wouldn’t be this guarded all the time,” he says softly. “I know I’ve screwed up over the years – god, I know it – but I want a chance to fix everything. To get past all this...complicated mess.”

I don’t know what to say to that. My hands tighten around the leashes, the dogs shifting impatiently at my feet. The truth is, I’m tired. Tired of the tension, the fights, the confusion that comes with Seb being back in my life. But more than that, I’m tired of pretending like it doesn’t affect me.

“You’re right,” I finally admit, my voice low. “It is complicated. But it’s not just you, Seb. It’s everything.”

He looks at me, waiting for me to continue, but I don’t. I can’t. Not yet.

“I know,” he says after a pause. “But maybe…we can start by walking the dogs?”

I huff a small laugh despite myself and nod. “Fine. But don’t think this makes anything easier.”

Seb grins, a genuine one this time, and falls into step beside me again. “I wouldn’t dare.”

We walk a few paces, the dogs tugging at their leashes, and the silence between us isn’t quite as heavy now. I’m not sure if it’s the dogs or the unexpected ease between us, but something has shifted, and I’m grateful for it, even if I don’t know how to handle it.

And then, just as I’m beginning to let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, things are getting a little easier, Seb reaches for me. His hand lands on my arm, gentle but firm, and before I can react, he steps closer.

The next thing I know, his lips are on mine – soft, warm, and insistent. The world around us seems to still. For a moment, there’s no noise, no dogs pulling at the leashes, no weight of everything unsaid between us. There’s only Seb. Only the feel of his mouth on mine, the warmth of his breath, the way his hand slides up my arm and rests at the back of my neck, holding me steady.

I freeze, my body unsure whether to pull away or sink into it. But then, almost as if my body has made the decision for me, I relax into the kiss. I don’t know why. I don’t know how, but it feels like everything else falls away – the confusion, the years of distance, the arguments we’ve had. For a moment, it’s just him, just us, and the world feels a little bit less complicated.

When he pulls away, my breath is unsteady. My heart is pounding. I don’t know what to say.

But Seb, he just looks at me, his expression unreadable.

“I’m not trying to make things harder, Elle,” he says quietly, his voice a little hoarse. “But I can’t pretend I don’t feel this. Not anymore.”

I can’t even look at him. Instead, I stare down at the dogs, the leashes still tangled around his legs. “You’re right,” I whisper. “This is complicated. But we’ll see.”

I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what will happen next. But I know that this kiss…it changes something.