Page 60 of Chasing the Sun

She’d just set down the glass when her phone buzzed in her purse. Thinking it might be Elle, she pulled it out to check and was shocked to see the name on the display.

Seb was still at the bar, waiting on their drinks, so she quickly opened the text message.

Come home.

That’s all it said. She stared at the phone as if it would magically give her some more information. She felt a flash of annoyance followed by a flicker of hope, and she typed out her reply.

Why?

We need to talk.

She sighed and shook her head. Not this again. Talking was getting them nowhere and was bound to leave her frustrated and alone. She was considering ignoring his plea when her phone pinged again.

Please.

She smiled because he insisted on politeness even when they were irritated with each other. She tapped her fingernails on the table while deciding how to respond. She didn’t want to seem overeager and willing to jump at his beck and call, though he’d made her curious, which he’d probably been counting on.

Realizing she might be testing the limits, she typed: I’m kind of busy.

Where are you?

She hesitated to tell him because she didn’t want him coming there and causing a scene, though he wasn’t really the type to do that. He was too refined and dignified for such a demonstrative display.

She replied: At a bar. She considered adding with Seb, but she couldn’t make herself do it.

I’ll pour you a glass of wine. Come home.

She glanced up at the bar again and saw the bartender handing Seb two drinks. She hated to do this to him, but she was dying of curiosity. She quickly tapped out Soon and then slid the phone back into her purse.

When Seb came back to the table, he was all smiles, and she felt even guiltier. Holding up his beer glass, he said, “To a beautiful night with a beautiful woman.”

After they clinked glasses, she took a long drink.

“So, who were you texting with?” he asked with a neutral expression.

Caught! “Um…”

“It was my brother, wasn’t it?”

“How…how did you know?”

He took a long pull on his beer and then leaned over the table. “You’re both so obvious.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not you too!”

“What? You lost me.”

He sat back in his chair, looking amused. “You’re both doing it.”

“Doing what?”

“Pretending that you’re not into each other when it’s obvious you are.”

Flabbergasted, she averted her eyes, picked up her glass, and took a long swallow.

“What was he doing? Checking up on you?”