Page 118 of When We Ignite

Henry exhaled loudly, shaking his head. “Fine. Let’s go change.”

Sebastian ushered him toward the changing rooms, and I watched them leave, feeling utterly helpless.

Oliver returned, his frown still firmly in place.

“I’m so sorry, Oli. I asked him about it. I had no idea,” I said quickly.

He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it—it’s not your fault.”

I still felt awful.

Sebastian returned alone. “I’m going to drive him home. Can you take my car?” he asked Oliver, holding out the keys.

“Sure. I’ll come with you,” Oliver offered.

“You’ve got the Kenwood meeting. You can’t miss it. I’ll take him, and I’ll fill you in later, okay?” Sebastian insisted.

Oliver sighed but eventually nodded, taking the keys. “Do you need a ride?” he asked me.

“I’ll take him. Ethan’s on the way to Henry’s,” Sebastian said absently.

Oliver gave him a look but ultimately shrugged. “Go change, kid,” he said to me.

I nodded and headed off, feeling the weight of it all settle heavily in my chest.

* * *

Sebastian drove in silence, his jaw tight and his hands gripping the wheel a little too tightly. He didn’t stop to drop me off at my place or even ask about it—he just headed straight to Henry’s apartment.

When we arrived, Henry slumped onto the couch as soon as we stepped inside. Sebastian headed to the kitchen and returned with a drink, which Henry accepted gratefully, taking a small sip.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” Henry said, giving me a side glance while Sebastian left the room to take a call.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted quickly.

Henry shook his head. “You didn’t do anything wrong, E. It was that fucking suit. It was too tight,” he said, his jaw clenching as he spoke.

I frowned but nodded, knowing better than to push him.

Over the next couple of hours, Henry had a few more drinks while Sebastian and I talked to him about anything and everything, carefully avoiding the subject we all knew lingered in the background. By the time nearly a bottle of whiskey was gone, Sebastian stood, helping Henry to his feet.

“Come on, Henny. Let’s get you to bed,” he said softly, leading him to his room to sleep it off.

Left alone, I stepped out onto the terrace and took out my vape, my hands trembling. I had no idea what I’d walked into tonight, but it was clear Henry was carrying something heavier than he let on. The way he’d downplayed it unsettled me.

Sebastian joined me after a while, lighting his own cigarette. The way his hand tightened around the lighter and his stiff posture told me he was just as affected.

“Ash, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he was going to get this upset,” I said quickly.

He shook his head and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “There’s no way you could have known,” he said, dropping his arm over my shoulders.

“Trent was the guy who hurt him?” I asked, trying to piece it all together.

Sebastian nodded, his face hardening. “Yeah. That’s him.”

“We were talking and Henry told me he had a bad experience.”

“That’s usually how he phrases it,” Sebastian said, his voice tightening. One hand gripped the banister so tightly his knuckles were white, and his lips pressed into a thin, grim line.