Episode 186
EPISODE 186
LIVING MY BEST LIFE
Sebastian
Emily looks beautiful, as usual, but she’s glaring at me as if she wants to shoot me down. I stride past her onto the deck.
Heather and June are giggling together.
The nightmare I had while lying on the beach plays back in my mind. Why were Heather and June trying to kill me? A therapist would probably say the dream meant I was feeling some kind of guilt about my past. That I felt I deserved to be harmed.
I don’t believe in that psychoanalytic mumbo-jumbo, though.
Heather’s laughter rings out. She throws her head back, shaking her black hair like she doesn’t have a care in the world.
And then I notice her.
Someone new. A gorgeous creature with blond hair and striking green eyes.
“Sebastian!” June calls. “Come meet Darby.”
Darby ?
Don’t mind if I do.
I stride over and hold out my hand. “Sebastian Tate,” I say.
Her cheeks turn a spicy red and she takes my hand. “Oh my God. I’m a huge fan, Mr. Tate.”
“Please. Sebastian. And you’re Darby?”
“Doctor Darby Sullivan,” Evie pipes in. “She’s the physician I sent for.”
Right. We insisted that a medic be brought in to handle any emergencies.
What a great idea that was. We didn’t specify a hot doctor, but who am I to complain?
“Darby will be staying in Rachel’s suite,” Evie says.
I’m still holding her hand, and Darby is trembling a little. I bring her hand to my lips and brush them over the back. “It’s always great to meet a fan.”
“I understand you’ll be performing one night,” Darby says.
“Yes, yes,” Evie cuts in. “Our schedule is a complete mess. I’m afraid we’re going to postpone your concert once again, Sebastian, because of the wedding tomorrow. I’ve got deliveries coming all day today and tomorrow morning. We’ll have our hands full.”
“Wedding?” I cock my head. “Ariel and Alex are getting married already?”
“Of course!” Evie rubs her forehead. “Everyone will want to know that one of the billionaires is off the market. Publicity will?—”
I drop Darby’s hand. “Wait a minute. We don’t want any paparazzi here. This is a private event. A private island.”
“I understand the rules,” Evie says. “But I will have a photographer here, of course. And a videographer. Ariel and Alex will want mementos of their special day.”
“Christ, Evie. Who did you hire? Because the rags will pay top dollar for those photos.”
“Alex is already paying top dollar for the photos.” Evangeline sighs. “Give me some credit, will you?”
I suppose I’m being hard on her, but damn. So many things have already gone wrong.
Darby reaches out. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”
Like she’d know. She just got here. But something in her voice soothes me.
“Who’s up for a swim?” Heather rises. “Darby, we should show you the beach.”
“I’m more of a pool person,” Darby says. “I don’t like getting sand everywhere.”
Fuck. Good choice, Evie. But at least she’s hot.
I take her arm. “Then let me show you the pool.”
“I’d love that.” She gives me an awesome smile. “But I should get settled in my suite first and change. How about in a little while?”
“Whenever you’d like.”
Darby smiles again. “Great! Just give me about a half an hour, okay?” She looks around. “It was wonderful to meet all of you. I’m so glad to be here!”
Once Darby is gone, Heather and June flank me on either side. “Oh, Sebastian,” June taunts. “I’m such a big fan.”
“Please show me the pool, Mr. Tate.” From Heather with a giggle.
Normally I’m in my element with two beautiful women hanging on me, but I feel a strange sense of unease.
It was just a dream. Heather and June don’t really want to kill me. I’ve fucked them both. Heather is a goddess in bed. And I certainly enjoyed myself with June as well, even though her moves seem calculated and practiced, as if rehearsed from a play. Yet the vivid images of the nightmare persist—their laughter echoing in my ears even now, their smiles turned into masks of malice.
“Cut it out, you.” I turn to Heather. “Seems you told me you were a huge fan. Wasn’t it you who followed me around Europe?”
She gives me a good-natured smack on my arm. “I did, and I still am a fan. Especially now that I know your talent isn’t just reserved for the stage.” She winks.
I chuckle at her innuendo.
“And what about you, June?” I question. “Do I meet your fangirl criteria?”
“Only in certain areas,” she teases, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Teasing me again.
I made her pay for that the last time.
But at this moment, I’m not overly interested in her or Heather.
I honestly thought Heather and I might have something.
Maybe we still do.
It was only a fucking dream, after all.
Emily approaches us then, and my cock tightens. What is it about that English rose? I loved our fuck last night, but then she was done and unceremoniously kicked me out.
“Easy, Sebastian,” she says. “You may find yourself with too many women to handle.”
“Never too many for a man like me, Emily,” I retort. “I thought you’d know that by now.”
“Oh, how naive of me!” She feigns embarrassment. “ Sebastian Tate, the man who can handle any number of women at any time.”
The sarcasm dripping from her tone doesn’t escape me. Still, I shoot her my most charming smile and shrug. “Just living my best life.”
Brett and Sienna are engrossed in each other on the other side of the deck.
And River...
River is gone.
Gone again. Just like he left with Jake that day.
And River was the last one to see Jake alive.
Just living my best life.
That’s what we all learned to tell each other after Jake died. Once we turned eighteen, we were able to use our stolen money to begin making our fortunes.
We told ourselves it was in honor of Jake.
We told ourselves a lot of things.