Aria
Iwas glad today was over.
Our first day back to work, and it was full of tension and testosterone flying around Sebastian’s office. If you were looking from the outside, you’d think he and Caspian were rival families going at each other.
I left them to it unless I was called upon. There was no way I was getting involved in that disaster, so I just got on with my work and prayed punches weren’t thrown.
Luckily, they weren’t.
Sebastian knew where I was, and if he needed anything, he wasn’t shy to ask for it. Neither was Caspian, it seemed—a trait they seemed to share.
To think I was in Italy yesterday, enjoying the time with Serfina and Hayden, and now I was dealing with the office. It was something of a 180, that was for sure.
The doorbell rang, and I rushed to open it for the delivery driver. I thanked him and headed to the kitchen to plate up the food. I was starving and couldn’t wait to dig in. Sebastian had made good on his promise to have the Moroccan restaurant deliver to us.
The aroma of spices hit me, and my mouth started watering as I served it up for us. An array of meat and vegetable tagines, couscous, slow-cooked lamb, and cold starters filled our plates. He always managed to order what I wanted without asking.
Sebastian’s arms wrapped around my waist from behind, and he kissed my neck. His citrus scent filled my senses. I mean, I already smelled like him; I had a thing for stealing his T-shirts and wearing them around the house when we were alone.
“Almost smells as good as you,” he said.
I looked up and kissed his lips. “I love you, but right now, this food is calling my name.”
He let out a silent laugh through his nose. “Wouldn’t dare get between you and your food.”
We sat at the dining table, and Sebastian poured me a glass of wine.
He had his usual whisky. It was rare that I’d ever see him drinking any other type of alcohol, even when we were younger.
I used to drink anything I could get my hands on like most people of that age, and poor Sebastian was the one who had to deal with the fallout.
Taking a mouthful of food, I contemplated asking him again how it had gone with Caspian on the fund proposal.
He’d been so quiet on the journey home, I hadn’t wanted to bother him then.
He’d looked deep in thought, probably trying to wrap his head around having to work with someone under him instead of doing it all himself.
If he actually thought about it, it would take some of the workload off him, but I knew Sebastian, and he wasn’t one to allow someone to take over what was his.
My eyes roamed over to Sebastian, who was texting on his phone. He hadn’t touched his food yet. He’d normally be stealing mine by now.
“So, I was thinking we could go out this weekend with Serfina and Hayden.”
The sound of the keyboard clicking continued.
“Sebastian?” I touched his arm.
His eyes moved from his phone and met mine. “Sorry, Nyx, I’m trying to sort something out for work.” Then they flicked back to the screen.
“It’s fine. I thought we could do something to celebrate them getting engaged. What do you think?”
Nothing, again.
I narrowed my eyes, and a burning started to ignite in my stomach.
“Fine.”
“What, Nyx?”
“Nothing. Carry on with your work.” I tossed the couscous around on my plate. “I’ll just talk to myself,” I muttered under my breath.
He was back on his phone, and I let out a silent sigh. Maybe he needed a bit of time to get on top of it all. He was probably trying to make sure he’d done everything before Caspian got to it tomorrow.
We spent the rest of the meal in silence—something we rarely did. Sebastian was on and off his phone the entire time, and now we were watching The Princess Bride.
He stroked my hair as I rested my head in his lap. I don’t think he really paid much attention to the screen. Every time my eyes looked up to him, he looked like he was deep in thought. He didn’t even laugh at the funny bits.
“Are you ok?”
He tilted his head, his eyes widening slightly as if I’d pulled him out of his thoughts.
“I’m fine.”
I brushed the loose bits of his hair back. “You don’t seem fine.”
He let out a heavy breath. “It’s just the office.”
“It’ll settle down soon. It’s all new, that’s all.”
He hummed.
His phone started vibrating in his pocket, and he shifted to pull it out. His brows furrowed as he looked at the screen, then his eyes flicked to mine, hesitant for a moment.
“I need to take this.”
I gave him a weak smile, and he hurried out of the living room.
I suppose having Caspian around affected him more than I’d realised.
I was sure it would all settle down eventually, and he’d be back to his usual self.