Page 55 of Kneeling for Them

Sebastian doesn’t answer when I text that I’m on my way, but something tells me he’ll be home.I think he’s been hiding out…and I aim to find out why.

He and I both have keys and access codes to each other’s homes, so I let myself into Sebastian’s apartment.All is quiet—he’s not sitting on the couch and playing guitar or watching TV.Cocking my head, I listen and pick up faint sounds of the shower running, so I sit down to wait.

A few minutes later, the shower stops.He pads into the living room wearing a towel around his waist and running a second towel over his head.

“Bash,” I say, before he’s had a chance to see me.

He shrieks like a surprised preschooler.

I throw my head back and laugh.

“Fuck, you scared me,” he says, shaking his head and whipping the towel toward me.

“It’s not like I was hiding,” I say.“And I think you’re extra jumpy.”

“Yeah, well, Trina’s in town.”

“More on that in a bit,” I say.“What happened between you and Ella?”

“You’ve talked to her?”

“Sheisour girlfriend.”

“Let me put on some pants and I’ll tell you everything.”He goes back to his room and emerges a minute later, thankfully wearing some pants and tugging a t-shirt over his head.

“So,” I say.“Ella seemed down.I haven’t talked to her about it, but I know it has to do with you, so let’s just clear the air.”

“Is she working right now?”he asks.“She should be here for this.”

“You’re right, but yeah, she’s probably on her way to the pub right now.”

Sighing, he says, “Short story—Trina wants to work with Ella.She wants Ella and me to do a song together.But I don’t know, something in me just revolts at the idea of Ella and Trina working together.”

“Is it because you haven’t talked to Ella about that night?”

“Fair question, but I don’t think so.”

“You should talk to Ella,” I say.“And why didn’t you just fucking talk to me about this before?I had to corner you here, and not only that, you’ve upset our girl.”

He closes his eyes and leans back into the sofa.“Fuck, I don’t know.”

“I have a guess,” I say.“It’s because you knew I’d tell you to let go of Trina and find a new agent.”

He opens one eye and looks over at me, scowling.“You’re probably right.You’ve never liked her.”

“And you’re loyal to a fault.The woman is bad news.I don’t like how she handled things before.And if she’s filling Ella’s head with that kind of nonsense, too, well, I’m not going to allow this.”

“You might be Ella’s daddy, but you’re notmydad,” Bash says.

“The fact that you sound like a sulky teenager when you say that tells me youneedme to be your dad right now.”

“Shut the fuck up,” he says.“Seriously.I’ve got this figured out, so mind your own business.”

I hold up my hands.“Fine.Just two last things.Fix things with Ella.And yeah, ditch Trina.She’s no good for you.I don’t want her representing Ella’s interests, either, but I can talk to Ella about that.And maybe you should, too.”

“Ella can make her own choices.”

“Yeah, but she’ll look up to you as having more experience and knowledge in the industry.You remaining with Trina is tacit endorsement of Trina as an agent.”