chapter 21
Remi
IT’S MONDAY. AND THIS WEEKEND, I felt like this day would never come. Every hour at the club dragged by, and I tossed and turned for the last two nights, caught up in dreams of Sebastian and then waking moments where I yearned for him so badly that it made my muscles ache.
But when I wake up in the early afternoon, having gotten home sometime around five a.m. from Caliber, I realize what day it is and immediately smile. And that smile just gets bigger when I grab my phone from my bedside table and see a new text from him.
Six and a half hours until I see you.
He sends a little countdown into our text thread, and for a moment, I watch the seconds tick away, wishing they’d move faster.
Until I remember how much I need to get done before I pick him up from the airport.
That gets my ass out of bed.
I shove my bare feet into a pair of slippers, pull my hair into a messy ponytail, and then shuffle into the kitchen for coffee. As it brews, I type a message to him.
I was thinking I could cook for you tonight. Any requests?
Three dots appear under my message, and when his response comes in, it gives me a tingling of heat between my legs.
Are you on the menu?
Smiling, I respond quickly.
I’m dessert.
While waiting for him to reply, I pour my cup of coffee and add oat milk and a pump of vanilla, then froth it. I’ve just taken my first sip when my phone chimes.
Then I’ll eat literally anything for dinner just to get to you.
I smile again before realizing I pretty much just invited him over to my condo. Now I look at everything through fresh eyes. I need to vacuum, clean the stovetop, wash my—
Wash my sheets.
Because Seb might actually be in them tonight. And since I bought this condo, I’ve never let a man come over here; we always either hook up at his place or at a hotel. My condo is my sacred space.
Yet I feel okay with inviting him into it. And I don’t want to read too deep into what that means.
My stomach twirls with butterflies, and I look at the clock. Five and a half hours before I need to leave to pick him up. Suddenly, it doesn’t feel like nearly enough time.
I finish my coffee, then launch into cleaning mode, not even bothering to change out of my pajamas. I scrub every surface in the kitchen, vacuum, clean the bathroom until I could eat off the floor, and then step into my bedroom.
My bed is unmade, and I have half a hamper of laundry to do. My curtains are still closed, and I cross the carpeted floor and yank them open so I can see what I need to do in the light of day.
With determination, I crank up my playlist, then dive into cleaning my bedroom. And I’m just about to put my sheets into the washing machine when my phone rings. I scurry into the living room and snatch it off the couch.
It’s a FaceTime from Riley.
I swipe my thumb across the screen, and she appears, staring back at me while eating what looks like a cup of blueberry yogurt.
“Hey,” I say, starting back toward my washing machine.
Riley tips her head. “What are you doing?”
“Cleaning my condo.” I prop the phone on the shelf, then shove my sheets into the washing machine and start a cycle. “Why?”
“I don’t have to work tonight. Do you wanna go to the gym and then hang out? Maybe get takeout and watch that new serial killer doc? It looks super creepy.”
I try not to let any emotion cross my face as I say, “Sorry, Ri, I can’t. I’ve got plans tonight.”
Immediately, her blue eyes narrow. “Are you working?”
I shake my head.
“Are you hanging out with someone?”
I shrug. “Kinda.”
Riley gasps. “Are you going on a date?”
Fuck.
With a sigh, I walk into my living room and collapse onto the couch. “Yes. No.” I scrub a hand down my face. “I don’t know if it’s a date. Maybe. It’s not a big deal.”
Riley stares at me through narrowed eyes, and I can see that big brain of hers working.
“You never hang out with anyone, you rarely go on dates, and it looks like you’ve been cleaning all morning.” She shifts, holding the phone closer now. “This is a big deal, isn’t it? And don’t lie to me. You know I hate that.”
“I never lie to you, Ri.”
“No, but Mom does, and it pisses me off. So just tell me the truth. I’m eighteen. I’m old enough to talk to you about this stuff now.”
My chest rises and falls with a big sigh. Truthfully, I’ve really wanted to talk to her about Sebastian, but I’ve been too afraid to get her hopes up—to get my hopes up. But now, with her staring at me like this, I find the truth slipping from my lips.
“I met him at work.”
One of Riley’s brows arches up. “I thought you never dated guys from the club.”
“I don’t. But he’s . . . different.”
He’s so different—not just from guys at Caliber, but from anyone I’ve ever met.
“Is he a local?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No. He lives in California.”
Riley’s blue eyes go twinkly. “Cali? So, is he, like, a celebrity or something?”
When I don’t answer, she gasps.
“Oh my god, Remi! Who is he? Come on, you know I’m not going to tell anyone. I won’t even tell Mom and Dad. I swear on my life.”
“Don’t swear on your life,” I grumble as I grab one of the couch pillows and hold it to my chest. “And I’m not afraid of anyone knowing. It just feels . . . breakable right now, you know?”
Her face falls a little, and she nods. “I know.”
A stretch of silence passes between us. My AC kicks on, humming pleasantly in the background. Then I finally say, “He’s in Loaded God Complex.”
I’m pretty sure my sister almost falls off the kitchen stool. She’s been obsessed with LGC since she was in middle school, and right now, it looks like all her preteen dreams are coming to life.
“No. Fucking. Way. Which one?” She’s talking so fast that she doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “Not Dex, because he’s getting married to that violinist. And Lucas and Michael are in relationships, I think, so that leaves . . .” Her eyes go wide. “The drummer. Sebastian.”
My stomach flip-flops when she says his name, and I hesitate, feeling nervous to confirm this thing into existence, like it’s a wish on a star that’s never supposed to be spoken aloud. But I’m sure Riley can see it written all over my face, so I nod once.
“Oh my god. Oh my god. You’re dating a real-life rock star. I can’t believe it. I—”
“Can’t believe what?” Mom asks from somewhere off the camera.
Riley jerks around to face her. “Nothing, Mom.” Then she grabs her yogurt cup, and I hear her feet pounding up the stairs as she hurries to her room, where she closes the door and flings herself onto her bed. Looking into the phone, she says, “I won’t tell her. Your secret is safe with me.”
I smile. “I know it is. But I’ve got to get ready, okay?”
She nods excitedly. “Okay. Will you call me tomorrow?”
“Of course. Tell everyone hi for me.”
“I will. Bye, Rem. Love you.”
“Love you.” I blow her a kiss, and then she disconnects from the video call.
Sitting on the couch, I check the time. I’ve got two hours before I have to leave to pick Sebastian up, and there’s still so much to do.
So I push myself up from the couch and get back to work.