Page 56 of Kneeling for Them

He puts his hands over his face.“Fuck, you’re right.”

I know I’m right, so I don’t rub it in.

Sebastian

I don’t waste any time.As soon as King leaves, I text Trina, asking her to meet me at an upscale pub downtown.My stomach churns with dread as Kellan drives me there.

This conversation is going to suck.And Trina has the potential to ruin me.

I don’t doubt she’ll do it, either.She can go public with this.

But after so many years dodging the past, maybe it’s time I met it?Especially if avoiding it is going to ruin things with someone like Ella.Better to tell her than live a lie.

But my god it’s going to kill me if she leaves as a result.

The pub is fairly empty because it’s in between lunch and dinner.The host informs me that they aren’t taking meal orders at this hour, only appetizers and drinks.I assure her that it won’t be a problem and sit back to wait for Trina.

I don’t think I’ve been this nervous since my first large concert.

Thankfully, I’ve only just ordered an iced tea before Trina walks into the dining room, scans the place, and spots me immediately.A little smile plays on her face as she walks over, her high-heeled boots clacking against the polished wood floor.

I stand to greet her.

“Bastian,” she says, giving me air kisses on either cheek.

“Hey,” I say.“Thanks for coming on such short notice.”

“Of course.I’d drop everything for you, you know that.”

Inwardly, I wince.She’s not going to make this easy, not with comments like that.

The server hurries over and Trina takes her time perusing the drinks and appetizers menu.She licks her lips and says to the server, “I’ll have the house salad tossed in vinaigrette, and a margarita on the rocks.No salt.”

Nodding, the server hurries away.

“You didn’t want anything?”Trina asks.

“Just an iced tea,” I say.

She nods slowly, her smile fading.With forced brightness in her voice, she says, “So, tell me, Bastian, are you here to tell me about your next big hit?”

I can’t draw this out.I just want it over with.

“I’m here to tell you that I’m going to be finding another agent.I don’t think we’re working as well together as we used to.”

Her entire body goes still, and I can see further tension in the way her hands are held, fingers slightly bent.If she had long fingernails, I’d fear for my eyes about now—she looks like a cat, waiting to strike.

“Please tell me I heard you wrong, Bastian,” she says quietly.

“I’m sorry,” I say.“I wish I could.But I think we both know it’s time for us to move on.”

“Time foryouto move on, you mean?Because I’ve been working my ass off, stoking the fires of your success, trying to keep it going while you languish in self-imposed exile.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that,” I say.

“A good agent does that kind of shit without being asked.”

I can only shrug.What the fuck else is there to say?