Sebastian
Chapter three
She practically inhales the food I set in front of her, and I hold back the smirk that wants to break free at how much she’s clearly enjoying my cooking, instead focusing on my own food.
“Thanks for dinner,” she says a few minutes later, standing and grabbing her plate.
“I got it, love. You sit.”
“You cooked. I’ll clean up, or at least load the dishwasher.” She reaches for my empty plate.
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to. You were nice enough to take me in tonight and cook me dinner. It’s the least I can do.”
I study her for a few beats, noting the look of determination on her face. She’s not going to take no for an answer.
“Fine,” I finally say, even though I would rather she sit down and let me take care of it.
She carries our plates to the sink where she makes quick work of rinsing them and loading the dishwasher before she grabs the frying pan and begins scrubbing it.
I narrow my eyes even though she’s not facing me. “That’s more than rinsing the dishes.”
She shrugs. “I’m pregnant, not an invalid. I can do a couple of dishes.”
“I didn’t say you were an invalid, but you’re my guest, and—”
She cuts me off. “And I told you, you’re helping me out, and you fed me, so the least I can do is the dishes.”
I run a hand through my hair. My mother would ask me if want to die on this hill, and no, I don’t really want to.
“If you insist.”
“I do.”
Never in a million years did I think I’d finally have Sutton St. James in my house. The literal woman of my dreams. The woman I do dream about. The one who told me in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t interested in dating me last year when I asked her for probably the twentieth time.
I know I should have taken no for an answer the first time, but she never told me why, and I thought maybe she was playing hard to get and I could convince her to give me a shot.
But eventually I had to take the hint, especially when she looked me in the eyes and told me she didn’t want to date someone on the team.
I still don’t know why me being on the team matters.
There isn’t a no fraternization policy. I checked.
One of these days, I’m going to ask her why she won’t date me. Just not tonight.
The rejection stung, but I think I handled it well.
I’ve tried to be her friend, which is exactly why she’s here tonight, because as her friend I couldn’t leave her crying and distraught in her office, nor could I let her spend her money on a hotel when I have a perfectly good bed she can sleep in.
For free. Plus, I can make sure she’s safe.
“So, about the sleeping arrangements,” she says, turning off the water.
“You’re sleeping in my bed. I’m taking the couch. Tomorrow, I’m ordering a bed for the guest room and whatever else you think I should get.” She opens her mouth, likely to protest, but I keep talking. “For the next time I have guests,” I amend, even though I’m hoping she agrees to stay longer.
She finishes drying her hands on the towel before setting it down and crossing her arms. “And I said I’m not letting you sleep on the couch. You’d never be comfortable.”
“How do you know it doesn’t have a pullout bed?”
“You’d have offered it to me, and you wouldn’t need to buy a bed for the guest room.”
I tilt my head, studying her. “Why are you being so stubborn?”
She lets her arms fall to her sides. “I’m not being stubborn. I just don’t think this”—she gestures between us—“is such a good idea.”
I crinkle my forehead. “Why not?”
“Because I’m pregnant.”
“So?”
She fiddles with one of her rings, and I zero in on it. I’ve noticed she does that when she’s nervous or anxious. I hate that she feels that way around me.
“I’m going to eventually be very hormonal. Actually, I’d say I already am. Plus, I’ll cramp your style.”
I purse my lips. “And what style exactly do you think you’ll cramp?”
She waves a hand around. “I’m not stupid. You’re single, good looking. I’m sure you bring women back here, or men, or both. Whatever. I’m not judging. I’m just saying …”
I shake my head. “Sutton, you’re not going to cramp my style.
I don’t have anyone over except the guys and their significant others.
” I shrug. “I’m offering my place as somewhere for you to stay for as long as you need.
Plus, I’ll be gone a lot, which you know, so you’ll have the condo to yourself quite a bit.
The cleaning company comes once a week. I can even give my chef a call and ask her to make meals for you so you won’t have to cook. ”
“I …”
“I have two younger sisters. You being hormonal doesn’t bother me. Why would it? You’re growing a human. Of course that’s going to be rough on you.”
“Sebastian—”
“Do you want to talk to one of them?” I pull out my phone, doing the math to figure out what time it is at home. It’s late, after one in the morning there. “On second thought, they’re probably both asleep. I’ll call them tomorrow if you want.”
She steps closer to me, putting her hand on my arm, and where she’s touching me feels as if it’s on fire. “I appreciate it, but I need to do this on my own.”
“Why?” My voice is barely above a whisper. “Why do you have to do this alone? Why won’t you let me help you?”
She searches my face. I’m not sure what for, but eventually she sighs. “How about we see how a few nights go first. You might be sick of me and or the cats by then. Plus, my landlord is trying to find me temporary housing. He could call tomorrow with a place.”
I don’t like her answer, but I’ll take what I can get.
“We can see how it goes and decide if we need to reassess.” We won’t.
I mean, unless she really doesn’t want to stay with me because I’d never force her to, but I know I won’t want her to leave.
But I’ll go along with whatever she wants, even if it means talking about it again in a few days.
Although, again, I won’t change my mind.
She nods, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
“I’m gonna take a shower, then the bedroom is all yours.” I hook a thumb over my shoulder. “Make yourself at home. I’ve got pretty much every streaming service you can imagine.”
“Thanks,” she mumbles.
I walk into my room, closing the door behind me, and make quick work of taking a shower. My cleaners were here this morning, so I know the sheets are fresh and the bathroom is clean.
Done in the shower, I get dressed quickly before grabbing what I’ll need for the night.
I walk out to the living room where I find Sutton curled up on one end of the couch watching some sort of reality show.
I dump my pillow and phone charger on the empty side of the couch and take my toothbrush and toothpaste into the guest bathroom.
“What are we watching?” I ask, taking a seat next to her. Should I move my stuff and put more room between us? Probably, but I don’t. I’ll take any opportunity to be as close to her as I possibly can.
“A reality show about charter cruises in the Med. I just started the first episode, and it’s already a train wreck, but I can’t stop watching.” She pauses the show, peeking over at me as she shifts, causing her thigh to brush against mine. “Do you want me to restart it?”
“Nah, it’s fine,” I tell her, too focused on where her skin is touching mine.
She nods, starting the show back up. At first, I barely pay attention, but after five minutes, I’m hooked. She wasn’t kidding about how much of a train wreck it is, but I also can’t stop watching. She yawns after the third episode ends.
“I want to keep watching, but I’m beat.” She stretches her arms over her head, and I can’t help staring at the bit of skin that peeks out from under her shirt. I shift in my seat, wondering if it’s as soft as it appears.
“Me too.” I tear my eyes away from her and check the time on my phone. “Shit, it’s after ten. Let me show you to my room.”
I lead her down the hall to my bedroom where I point out where she can plug her phone in and where the light switches are.
“What time do you usually get to work?” I lean against the doorframe.
“Around nine or nine-thirty unless I have an early meeting, which I don’t.”
“Alright, we’ll plan to leave here around eight forty-five. Or would you rather leave by eight-thirty?”
She glances up from where she was plugging her phone in. “I can get a rideshare. No reason for you to drive me to the arena to just turn around and come back here for a few hours then drive thirty minutes back to the arena for practice later.”
I level her a look. “I don’t mind.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep. Do I need to do anything for the cats?” I ask, turning on my heel.
“No, they have water and food. If you could leave the door to the guest bathroom open if you don’t mind, so they can get to their litter.”
“Night, Sutton.”
“Good night.”
I close the door to my bedroom behind me and make my way into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
I peel my shirt off before stretching out on the couch. As I’m attempting to get comfortable, I hear the unmistakable creak of my bedroom door opening, and Sutton comes padding down the hall.
“You alright, love?” I lift my head when she comes to a halt in front of me.
She shakes her head. My heart rate kicks up.
“What’s wrong?”
“This is ridiculous.”
I furrow my brows. “What’s ridiculous?”
“You sleeping on the couch. Look at you.” She flaps her hand around. “Your bed is big enough for the two of us. We’re adults. We can share a bed and just sleep.”
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
She crosses her arms. “Right now, what’s making me uncomfortable is knowing you’re trying to sleep on this couch, which is too small for you.”
I stare at her for a few seconds. She’s not wrong.
It isn’t big enough. There’s no way I’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight.
But what choice did I have? There’s no way I was going to make her sleep on it.
She’s my guest, not to mention she’s pregnant, so I took the couch.
But now she’s offering me another option, and since she’s the one suggesting we share my bed, can I really turn her down? Do I want to?
“Point taken.” I stand, grabbing my pillow, and follow her into my bedroom. I snort when I see the pillow barrier she’s built down the middle of the bed. She climbs into the side she’s claimed and pats the other side.
“Time for bed.”
I do what she asks, because who am I to deny her what she wants?