35. CHAPTER 35
ARIA
T he smell of bacon floated up the stairs, and I held tightly to Sebastian’s hand as we reached the bottom.
I paused, causing him to stop and look back.
I couldn’t help but smile at him; we were finally together after all these years. I guessed fate had plans for us, after all.
I just wished I hadn’t gone through what I had to get here.
I grabbed his T-shirt, pulled him in, and kissed him.
He gently rubbed his hands up and down my arms. “Are you ok?”
“Yes. I promise.”
He smiled at me, took hold of my hand, and led me through the hall.
Serfina was slumped on the kitchen island, letting out little mumbles as Hayden stood at the stove, cooking.
“Good morning, lovebirds,” he teased.
Serfina jolted her head up, looking over at us and playfully pointing. “Oh, look at you two, all cosy and that. How cute.”
I could feel my cheeks burning slightly, but I couldn’t help but smile, because for once, I was happy.
“Stop it, you two. Anyone would think you’d never seen a couple before.” Sebastian squeezed my hand gently.
“It’s like Romeo and Juliet—two star-crossed lovers,” Hayden joked.
Sebastian playfully hit Hayden’s arm. “You do realise they die in the end, right?”
Hayden grabbed hold of him as they started to play-fight with each other.
“Can you two not act like children for once?” Serfina said, rolling her eyes. “My head hurts.”
Hayden pushed Sebastian, and Sebastian playfully hit him one more time before they stopped, looking sheepish.
“Your head wouldn’t be hurting if you hadn’t drunk so much,” Hayden helpfully pointed out.
She shot daggers at him and then laid her head back on the table.
“Just be quiet and make me breakfast.”
Sebastian made a “whipped” motion with his hand, grinning at him. In response, Hayden gave him one final hit.
Sebastian joined him in cooking breakfast, and I sat next to Serfina—who looked like she was dying—and handed her a glass of water and some tablets. She lifted her head to take them, grinning at me.
“So, you and Sebastian,” she whispered, raising her brows. “Tell me all. Are you officially together now?"
My eyes flickered to Sebastian and back to her. We were together, weren’t we? He said we were a couple.
“I think so.”
“Stop gossiping, you two. Breakfast is ready,” Hayden said, turning to face us.
I was about to sit at the dining table when Sebastian grabbed my hand, pulling me to sit on his lap instead, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Get a room, you two,” Hayden joked as he joined us.
“I think it’s cute.” Serfina shrugged, grabbing some bacon.
I did the same, placing it in a roll with some mayonnaise. I lifted it, and Sebastian took it out of my hands and bit into it.
“I will never understand this, or how I weirdly like it,” he said, with a mouthful.
“Is there something wrong with you?” I asked, swatting at him. “Who eats bacon with anything else?”
“There are many things wrong with him,” Hayden chimed in.
Sebastian threw a roll at him—it promptly hit his head and bounced off, and we all burst out laughing.
Serfina and Hayden had become like family to me. And Sebastian? Well, he had become everything I’d ever wanted and more.
A few hours later, Serfina and Hayden had already left to head back to London, and we were finishing packing up to do the same.
“Sebastian, did you mean what you said?” I asked, turning to face him.
He walked over, placing his hands around my waist. “What did I say?”
I hesitated before asking. “That we were a couple.”
He smiled at me, kissing my lips gently. “Every word.” His voice was lower than a whisper. He stroked my cheek. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not going anywhere, Nyx.”
I looked into his eyes, and I knew he meant every word.