SEBASTIAN
SEBASTIAN
“Oh, crap! Bas just walked in!”
I’ve trailed Brianna barely three steps through the double doors into the Red Bull Inn when those words, spoken in a voice I hear way too much of to ever mistake, pull me up short. My gaze whips across the bar room. This early Saturday evening, there’s little enough going on here that it isn’t difficult to pinpoint the location of the startled shout.
But, in place of who I expected, it’s Derek that I see.
Holding court at a small table to the right of the empty stage, ever the king of his surroundings, the Desperate For Aces drummer lifts his tattooed hand in a lazy wave as he catches my eye. The two girls sitting to either side of him are staring at me, and I recognise them both. The cute blond I know to be the drummer’s cousin, Lyndsay, and the other is Ashleigh’s irrepressible partner-in-crime, Steph. Between them, on the table, I count four drinks.
I narrow my suspicious eyes on the trio until Lyndsay drops her head. Then, an impatient tug on my hand snaps my attention away.
“They’re over there,” Brianna half-whispers close to my ear as if concerned for our safety should anyone overhear. A stab of her finger redirects me to the game machines along the back wall where the two friends of hers we’re here to meet are standing. If she picked up on my distraction, she’s too antsy to comment. “Come on. The sooner we get out of this dive, the happier I’ll be.”
This place is a dive, that’s for sure. It’s not a place either one of us would choose to spend our time, and the bold dress and heels my girlfriend’s wearing tonight only make her discomfort all the more glaring. I can understand how she feels, her spirit craving the fresh buzz of the open outdoors as much as mine does. I know why she’s clinging to me, too, unaccustomed to the few extra inches of height.
But it’s a little hard to sympathise with her right now when it’s entirely her fault our evening has taken such a turn. I’d thought the plan was to hang out at the stables, as we most often do until she insisted I change my clothes into something more presentable. Ignoring my immediate instinct to bow out there and then had been no small feat. And, honestly, there’s plenty else I’d be better served doing over celebrating the birthday of some guy I’ve briefly met twice.
So, when I wheedle my hand free of her vice-grip and step away, I don’t feel especially bad about it. “I’ll be two minutes.”
“Sebastian!”
Before she can compose herself to argue, I’m crossing the room. “Go join your friends, Bree. This won’t take long.”
Derek straightens from his slouch as I approach. He’s looking even more colourful than the last time I saw him—several months ago. Fresh ink has been added to the winged skull across his collarbone. “I wondered if you were going to come and say hello.”
“Still bribing minors with drinks for company, I see, Derek.”
“Ah, and you’re still totally nailing those pleasantries,” he counters, a grin I fully don’t trust lighting his face.
And there, unsurprisingly, peeking above the back of his chair, I spot the top of a pastel-haired head. “Ash, is there a reason why you’re hiding from me?”
Steph sniggers. “Oh, damn!”
Even called out, Ashleigh holds her ground on me for a solid thirty seconds or so before caving, rising to show herself. “I’m only drinking coke.”
“Good for you,” I frown at her. “But I fail to see how that answers my question.”
“So, you approve of me being here?”
Hell no. But “When have I ever said anything about anything you’ve chosen to do?”
“You don’t need to. It’s all in your face.”
“My face?”
“Yeah. All over it.”
I frown at her some more as she flutters a hand at me, scrunching up her nose. Derek guffaws and Steph is quick to join in. Irritation tenses my shoulders.
The only one showing any restraint on her amusement is Lyndsay, her freckles highlighted by her soft blush. “We were just—”
“We were just,” Steph drowns her out, “brainstorming a way of revenge that won’t get us arrested.”
“S’cuse me?”
“You’re excused,” Derek quips. “Or you could join us? You may have some fresh ideas to present to the table.”
That doesn’t even warrant him a glance. “Ash?”
Her eye roll strikes me as exceedingly unnecessary. “Notch it down, Bas, please? Like, all the way down,” she says, and if I had the slightest clue what the hell she’s on about, I’d perhaps consider it. Instead, I hold my tongue and my stare until she continues. “It’s just, some stuff has happened that you don’t know and wouldn’t care about. But, seriously, I’m only here because I’m a good and supportive friend, okay?”
“And it’s appreciated,” Lyndsay smiles across at her, although I notice she’s looking ever more uneasy with the situation.
“Oh. Kay. Revenge plots. Super.”
Steph pulls out the empty chair between us and gives its seat a pat. “Rest your pegs, sweet cheeks,” she coaxes. “I’ll fill you in.”
Ashleigh and Lyndsay exchange another glance, implying far less enthusiasm for my invitation, and I shake my head. Whatever this latest teen drama of theirs is—whichever way Derek’s involved himself in it—there’s a substantial likelihood that it’s in my best interest to remain ignorant.
Damnit if I’m not a niggling bit curious, though. “This something to do with a certain entitled drunkard?”
“What?” Ashleigh responds quickly. “No.” Her denial sounds indignant enough to smart like a slap. “Why would you think it has anything to do with Craig?”
The assumption doesn’t seem so crazy to my mind. I’m not wholly convinced I’m wrong, either. But, at the quizzical arch of Steph’s eyebrow, I only shrug, hating that I can feel my frown deepen.
“You could stand to be a little more trusting.” Derek leans forward, and his dark eyes flick past me. “Honestly, Davis, don’t worry about us,” he says, raising his pint as if in a toast. “No need to keep your fair lady waiting.”
Despite myself, I turn to track his line of sight.
Brianna’s stalking her way over, her arms crossed tight to shield her cleavage. I asked her for two minutes, and she allowed two minutes precisely.
Her two friends are already by the doors, watching. I couldn’t guess their names. From here, we’re getting a bus into Exeter and joining up with others I hardly know for an evening of Open Mic entertainment. It’s an evening Brianna suddenly decided we should go to after weeks of refusing the invitation. She’s claiming the change might be fun for us; I’m speculating my role will be her excuse to leave early when she realises it’s not.
“Whatever.” I level Derek with one final look before shifting my gaze back to Ashleigh. “Forget I asked.”