Page 57 of When We Ignite

Nodding, I took a few more gulps.

“Thanks.”

He smiled, his eyes scanning my face. “If it makes you feel any better, you look better than you feel.”

I hid my smile behind another sip. “I’m sorry about last night.”

Sebastian shook his head. “You’ve got nothing to apologize for. I’m sorry for being in a crappy mood yesterday.”

I stepped a little closer, lowering the beer. “I think Oliver knows.”

“Yeah,” he said with a shrug. “He yelled at me after he left your room.”

“Shit.”

“I didn’t admit to anything,” he reassured me.

I nodded, relieved.

“Hey, I need to tell you something,” he added, his tone shifting slightly.

I glanced up, watching him move closer. My heart stuttered as I turned to face the counter. “What?”

Sebastian placed his hand on the countertop beside me, his fingers brushing mine. “I’m leaving tonight. There’s a late family lunch, and after that, I’m heading out with my father.”

A pang of disappointment hit me, but I nodded. “Okay. Are you leaving the city?”

“I’m flying to San Francisco for a couple of days. After that, I’ll be in DC. I might make it back next Saturday night.”

I frowned, scrunching my face without thinking.

“What?” he asked, amused by my expression.

“That kind of sucks. I’ll have to drive back with Henry,” I said, making him laugh.

“Is that the only reason it sucks?”

“No. I don’t want you to leave, obviously,” I admitted quickly.

His smile softened, and I shook my head, leaning my forehead against his shoulder for a moment.

“I really didn’t want to kick you out of my room last night, you know that, right?” he murmured.

I shrugged, and he chuckled, his breath warm against my hair. “Next time you come find me, just make sure you’re sober. Trust me, I won’t deny you anything.”

His thumb brushed my jaw, and our eyes met. My resolve wavered as I considered asking him to leave with me right then, to head upstairs where we could finally erase the space between us.

“Ash…” I began, my voice catching.

“Yeah?” he asked, his lips curving into a small smile.

Before I could say anything else, a voice called out from the terrace. “Ash!”

We both turned toward the sound. I glanced back at him, and he chuckled, shaking his head.

“Maybe this house isn’t the right place,” he said, and I nodded, the moment slipping away.

As we stepped outside, the sunlight made me squint. Without missing a beat, Sebastian pulled his sunglasses from where they hung on his shirt and handed them to me.