Page 60 of Kneeling for Them

She shakes her head in disbelief.“Sometimes we have to take advantage of the opportunities offered, because they might not come around again.”

A small voice in my head whispers,If she really thinks you’re worth it, she’ll wait.

“I have to get back to work,” I say.“Thank you for coming by.”

Her mouth opens and closes, but she finally nods.“I apologize for springing the stuff about Bastian and Alyssa on you.It could be that he’s not good news—at least, not for dating.No doubt he’s a star, of course.Anyway, give it some thought.You have my number.I’m just a phone call away.”

“I appreciate it,” I say, but the words ring hollow in the tiny office.

“Don’t wait too long,” she advises.“Your moment in the viral limelight won’t last forever.”

With that, she leaves.I take a moment to catch my breath, then stumble out of the office.

“Ella?”Natasha is at my side in an instant.“What happened?Did she hurt you?”

“No, it’s fine,” I say, straightening and forcing a smile.“I’m fine.”

Natasha gives me a skeptical look, and I remember that she’s my friend, an ally.I don’t want to tell her everything, but I also shouldn’t hide things from her.

Not like Sebastian has done to me.

“I mean,” I say, “I got some bad news, but it’s going to be okay.”

“Are you sure?You look like you’re going to fall over.Go home, I can handle your tables.”

“No, I’m not going to leave you with extra work—”

“Go.I can handle it, and Kevin can, too.”

I want to argue with her, but she’s right—there’s no way I’m going to be able to concentrate and do a good job right now.Fuck.I want to scream and cry, hit something.

Sebastian assaulted a woman?

It can’t be true.

Almost as bad, though, is the fact that he never talked to me about this.We’re dating each other exclusively.It seems like this is something he should tell me.Right?Maybe not.Maybe I’m wrong.Maybe things aren’t as serious between us as I’d thought.

With thoughts whirling like crazed bats in the caverns of my mind, I gather my things and leave the pub, accepting a to-go container of french fries from Kevin, whose expression is full of concern.The bus will be here in a minute, and I’ll get on it, go home, barricade myself in my apartment, and think through all of the shit I’ve just heard.I need time to process.My impulse is to lash out at Sebastian.Partly for what he might have done, but mostly for making me hear this from a woman who is practically a stranger.

He assaulted a woman.I don’t want to believe it.

I’m starting to feel sick.My mouth fills with saliva and sweat breaks out on my forehead.I lean forward slightly, hoping the feeling will soon pass.

The bus pulls up to the curb and I start toward it, eyes on the sidewalk.

“Ella!”someone shouts.

Looking up, I see Sebastian’s car.He’s standing right in front of it, hands jammed in his pockets, his mouth a grim line within his beard.He’s not even wearing a coat even though the night is cold, and his tattooed arms are bare to the chill.

“Ella,” he calls again.

The bus groans to a stop, a few yards away.

“Ella, come here,” Sebastian says.

Shaking my head, I hurry onto the bus.

“Ella, come here right now,” he shouts.