Page 124 of Strings

His parents lied. They never cut him out of their will. After the truth came out about Mercer, they separated. But misery loves company, so I have no doubt they’ll be back together to try to ruin someone else’s life in no time.

They each call here once a week and beg me to talk to him on their behalf. It’s funny how the tides have turned. Now they need me. I’m not holding a grudge, I’m holding an axe. And if they ever hurt Sebastian again, I won’t be afraid to use it. I’m pretty certain he feels the same way about me.

“I have a surprise for you.”

He interrupts my thoughts. “Oh yeah?” I pull fuzzy yellow slippers out of the box and put them on my feet. “What is it?”

“Part one is on the kitchen counter.”

I jump up and run excitedly toward our kitchen. Man, that sounds nice. I love the wordour!

I gasp when I see a plant in a blue flower pot with a bow. “What’s this?” I carry the pot back toward Sebastian.

“Thisis Bruce. He has a name, you know.”

I bite my lip. “Bruce? I’m sorry, Bruce, it’s nice to meet you.” Scrunching up my face, I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “You needed another guy in the house?”

Sebastian stands and motions for me to follow him. He stops at the windowsill and points to the empty spot next to Stella. Stella is thriving. It seems being broken didn’t actually break her. It forced her to focus and grow stronger. Stella is me.

“Put him here. Stella, this is Bruce. Bruce, this is Stella.”

I snort laugh as I place them next to each other.

“Doesn’t everyone need a partner? I didn’t want her to be lonely.”

He’s so sincere, and it warms me from head to toe. Sebastian has proven to me over and over again that he would do anything for me. I continue to live each day trying to deserve his effort. Throwing my arms around his neck, I kiss his cheek. “Have I told lately how much I love you?”

“Not today. But I’ll never tire of hearing it.” He glances down at his watch. “Shit! I need to go. I have a staff meeting in an hour.” He kisses me then rushes toward the door.

“Hey. You said this was part one. What’s part two?”

“Meet me at our bench at the park on Center at three on the dot. Can you do that?”

I place my hands on my hips. “Sebastian! What’s going on?”

“Just do it, okay? Love you. Bye.”

I growl in frustration. How can I say no to him? He called the bench we sat on in the park on our first “official” date,ourbench. And, he bought Stella a boyfriend. I’ve never loved anyone more.

It’s three o’clock on the dot and no Sebastian. It’s a beautiful day, so I don’t mind waiting, but I hate it. I have zero patience, especially when I know there’s a surprise involved.

I jump when a hand stretches in front of my face with a cigar box. “Open it.”

“Hi, Talia. How are you? How was your day?” I say in a dull voice.

He rolls his eyes as he climbs over the back railing of the bench and sits next to me. “Do you want your present or niceties?”

I grin. “Present. Can I open it now?”

He motions to the box, so I quickly untie the bow and open the lid. Inside the box are at least twenty different pens. I turn and look at him. “I don’t understand.”

“Read them.”

I take one out of the box and read it out loud. “The night she said she loved me.”

I lift another. “The day we did it doggy style.” I laugh.

I read the next one. “The day we sold my building.” I read another. “When she said she’d move in with me.”