Page 65 of Kneeling for Them

Two days go by with no word from Sebastian.Kingston assures me that this is all right, and Sebastian’s all right, and everything’s going to be fucking all right.

But I don’t feel all right, not at all.

I text Sebastian over and over.It doesn’t seem like he’s blocked me, so I can only hope he’s reading my messages.Let’s talk.Please call me.I miss you.

Should I be telling him I miss him?Are we even still together?Would I date a guy who maybe attacked a woman?

I’m definitely considering it.And we haven’t broken up.

I also can’t get Kingston’s words out of my head—no one ever came forward and said Sebastian attacked them.

So did it happen?Should I trust Trina’s word?

Kingston doesn’t trust her.

And now I want to get to the bottom of this.I just have no idea how to do it.

During a quick break while cleaning Dorado Terraces, I text Kingston.Although he usually responds immediately, he doesn’t this time.Disappointing.But I have floors to vacuum and picture frames to dust, so I don’t dwell on it.

When my shift is over, though, he still hasn’t texted back.I frown at my phone.He usually gets back to me.I text again.Is everything okay?

No answer.

I put away my cleaning supplies and head out of the building.My phone buzzes, and it’s Kingston.I smile until I read the terse message.Everything’s fine.Just busy.

I resolve to take him at his word.If he’s busy, of course he won’t have time to engage in a long string of texts with me.

At the same time, I’m feeling something I haven’t felt in a while when I head to Bartleby’s—loneliness.Sebastian is gone.Kingston is busy.I threw Tommy out of my life.

I don’t even get to work with Natasha—she has the night off.Instead, I have to work with Nicholas-don’t-call-me-Nick, and he’s in amood.

By the end of my shift, I’m a ball of misery with aching feet and a horrible attitude.I leave the pub, wanting nothing more than to curl up between Sebastian and Kingston, but wanting to cry because I know it’s impossible.

When I step out of Bartleby’s, a dark silver car is waiting at the curb.Shiny.New.Luxurious.It’s far too fancy for this neighborhood.The passenger window lowers and Kingston’s face appears as he leans over.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he says.

“Gorgeous?”I look down at my black shirt and jeans.I’m rumpled and I reek of the pub and the lemon martini someone spilled on me minutes before my shift ended.

“Gorgeous,” he confirms.“Get in the car.”

I’m too grouchy, I don’t want to hang out, and he didn’t text me back earlier—at least, he didn’t text me enough.Maybe he’s been spoiling me, but I felt ignored.

He raises his eyebrows.“Ella.Get in the car.”

Damn, when he talks to me like that, it makes me want to get naked.

“Fine,” I say, but I keep my tone sulky.Let him hear how irritated I am.

After I settle into the passenger seat, he grabs the seatbelt and buckles me in.

I flick a glance at his face, which is so near, I could tilt my head and lick his whiskery cheek.“You and Sebastian really have a thing for buckling me up, don’t you?”

“We like taking care of you.”

I glance at the interior of the car.Leather everything, shiny everything.“Nice ride.”

“Thanks.I gave Garth the night off.It’s been a while since I drove myself anywhere, and I kind of miss it.”