Page 126 of My Dark Prince
He tipped his head back, sighing as he did the math. He and I had worked on a puzzle after I interrupted Oliver’s shower yesterday. I couldn’t go to sleep without checking in on Seb. We’d finished the remaining pieces, drank some beer, and reminisced about our childhood.
Never once had I mentioned getting back my memory.
I didn’t want anything to jeopardize the great surprise I had for Ollie. Not that I thought Seb would rat me out.
It all seemed so childish now. I’d been so caught up with getting back at Oliver, I forgot that Sebastian might get hurt along the way, too.
Seb’s shoulders slumped. “So, you’ve decided to leave?”
I lowered my head, clenching the hem of my jacket in my fist. “I have my own life in LA.”
My driver’s gaze burned a hole in my back.
“Oliver said your next project is not until the summer. You’re still recovering.”
Guilt impaled my chest. He’d gotten attached, and I’d carelessly moved on without so much as a farewell. I knew better than anyone what it felt like to hold on to a memory someone else had already forgotten. The indifference stung as much as the goodbye.
I bit my lower lip until warm blood exploded on my tongue.
“I’m so sorry. There’s no excuse.” I hopped from foot to foot, struggling to find words. “I was selfish and vindictive. I … I didn’t think.”
“You didn’t even achieve shit, you know.” Seb kicked one of his front tires, his hands still shoved deep inside his pockets. “After everything Ollie did to you, these petty parlor tricks aren’t big enough revenge. Your payback’s not done.”
“Hey, lady.” The driver stuck his whole torso out his window. “Are you coming or what? I’m freezing my ass off here.”
I smiled a miserable smile, ignoring him. “The best revenge is to heal, and I think I’m getting there. Breaking him won’t help me fix myself.”
Seb gritted his teeth. “You need the closure.”
His anger surged to life. It looped around us, thick and palpable. Desperate. He’d finally found someone else to speak to other than Oliver, and he didn’t want me gone. Even if it meant tossing his brother under the bus.
I doubted it had anything to do with me or our past friendship. He must’ve been sick of having his guilt-ridden brother as his only companion.
“You have an opportunity to change him.” Seb paused. “To changeme.”
I felt myself swaying. Literally. Tilting toward him, hoping he’d take the choice out of my hands and make the decision for me. Maybe even snatch me up and dump me on Ollie’s doorsteps.
The von Bismarck brothers didn’t even a share one whole heart between them. Somewhere in the past twelve years, they’d shattered theirs. I would’ve happily picked up the pieces, but I couldn’t overlook the fact that Oliver cheated on me.
I wasn’t stupid. The timeline of Ollie ghosting me matched with Seb’s accident. But the cheating? It happenedbefore. He’d even left apubliccomment on her Instagram the morning he took my virginity, inviting her to strip for him on FaceTime.
“Ma’am.”The driver tore open his door and stomped behind me, rapping the roof of his car. “You’re burning my time. I’ve got kids to feed.”
Sebastian clutched the back of his neck, tilting his head down so I couldn’t even see his mask. “I’ve been alone for so long, I don’t remember what it feels like to look forward to anything. In the few days you were here, you made me feel … well, normal. I’ve missed normal.”
“Ma’am.” The driver slipped back into his seat, hammering his horn a few times to get my attention. “Are you coming or what?”
“Your brother wouldn’t want me there,” I said to Sebastian, already considering the absurd idea.
It would just be for a few months. Until I moved on to my next job. It made sense. I didn’t even have an apartment or car to return to. My student loans needed paying off, along with some of the debts my parents had saddled me with. I could save up by squatting at Oliver’s. Look for something nice. Maybe chill for a few weeks.
I’d worked my ass off since I’d turned eighteen. No vacations. Not even paid leave. Even between projects, I gave back-to-back private lessons to aspiring actors who struggled with on-screen intimacy. My friends called me the Thong Whisperer.
In the words of Eliza and Angelica Hamilton, maybe it was time totake a break.
“That would make it so much sweeter.” Sebastian already had his keys in his hands, swinging them by the loop around his finger. He knew I would agree to stay. “You’ll drive him nuts, but he won’t have the guts to get rid of you.”
“Where will I sleep?” I rubbed my forehead, stunned that I actually wanted to go back.
