Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
“We got along well enough that night we slept together.”
She groaned and let her head loll to the side. “We were? drunk . I get along with everybody when I’m wasted.”
“Stay drunk and everything will be fine.” He rolled his eyes in response to Taliana’s gasp. “Jesus, I was kidding. Just act like you adore me and I’m sure everything will go fine.”
The ma?tre d’ came to a halt in front of an archway that led to one of the lavish private rooms and bowed slightly before scurrying back to his post. Sebastian and Taliana lingered outside the doorway where at least twenty people were talking and laughing inside, and he took the opportunity to point out the important people already seated.
“Those are all four of my grandparents,” he said, pointing to the head of the table. “Nana and Papa Phillips are the ones knocking back more glasses of wine than I can count. Grandma and Grandpa Stanton are the ones with their noses up in the air. The Stantons are my mother’s parents, and I can’t stand them.”
“Why not?” Taliana asked as she glanced up at him.
He scowled. “I used to stay with them every summer up in the Hamptons, but when they caught me with the next-door neighbor’s daughter, they didn’t let me come back again. They like me enough, but they absolutely adore William.”
Taliana nodded and scanned the room once more for said brother. “Where is William anyway? Is he coming?”
Sebastian shot her a dark look. “Unfortunately. He’s not here yet though.” He looked relieved about that, but it was quick to disappear, replaced with an unreadable expression. “All right, put on your best I’m-so-in-love look, and let’s get this over with.”
Taliana plastered on a smile and looked up at him fake-lovingly. “Will this work, darling?” she asked as sickeningly sweet as she could manage.
The blinding grin was back on his face, the same one he had greeted her with at her front door. “Absolutely perfect, babe.”
With those last comments to each other, they strolled into the room.
Nana Phillips was the first to notice their entrance, and a smile lit her face. “Sebastian! There you are!”
The man sitting beside her, Papa Phillips, shot her a confused look. “What are you talking about, woman? I’ve been right here the whole time.”
Nana rolled her eyes and slapped her husband lightly on the chest. “No, you old fool. The other Sebastian.”
“Who, me?” Sebastian’s father questioned, looking at his mother.
“No, not you, Sebastian!” she exclaimed exasperatedly. “Sebastian .”
It was then Taliana realized that Papa Phillips, Sebastian’s dad, and Sebastian himself were all named Sebastian. She could only imagine what it was like every time the whole family got together.
“Which Sebastian?” both Sebastians demanded.
“That one!” Nana pointed to the Sebastian standing next to Taliana, who groaned.
“This is why I hate getting together with my family,” he mumbled in Taliana’s ear. “There are too many Sebastians.”
Taliana laughed softly. “Which one are you again?”
“The third.”
“I hope whoever bears your spawn doesn’t let you name any of your sons Sebastian. Three is more than enough.”
At the table, Papa Phillips grinned as he looked at Taliana, a smile that he, his son, and his grandson all shared. “And who’s your lovely date?”
Sebastian’s arm slipped around Taliana’s waist. By now the room was practically silent, and the eyes of the people who already knew Taliana widened.
“This is my girlfriend,” he announced, glancing down at her with a small smile before looking back to his family. “Taliana Avilla.”
The shocked gasps that followed didn’t surprise Taliana, but the laughter sure did.
“Oh, that’s a good one, Seb,” his father chuckled, rolling his eyes. “You can drop the act now.”
Sebastian frowned and tugged Taliana closer. “I’m not kidding. We’re really together.”
Stunned silence followed his declaration, and at that moment, Taliana realized this was going to be one hard group to convince.
Just her luck.
17
Sibling Rivalry
“Isn’t she the girl who-“
“Yes.”
“But how come you’re-“
“We got over our differences.”
“Didn’t she-“
“Yes, she did. But I’m over that.”
“But didn’t you-“
“Yes, but that black eye healed long ago, and her heart did the same.”
“But what about-“
“Yes, my face is better now. She feels quite bad about that one.”