Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
“Because you love her.”
It was such a simple answer, but it was one that held so much more weight than he cared for. And he hated her for it. He hated her for recognizing the one thing he still couldn’t say, hated her for knowing him so damn well. Years ago, he’d seen it as a good thing. Their silent understanding of each other was the glue that held them together, but over time it had become clear that she knew him much better than he would ever know her.
“I don’t love her.”
Blair shook her head, unconvinced by his words. “That’s a lie and you know it.”
Of course he knew it, but it wasn’t as if he was about to come clean. And how could he? Saying the words out loud only would’ve hurt more. They would’ve forced him out of the numb haze of denial, the only thing that was successfully keeping him together for now.
“Does it even matter anymore?” he sighed, dropping his aching head into his hands. “She made it clear she doesn’t feel the same and never will. She and I are finished. That’s why I came to you.”
“Don’t tell me you actually believe that,” Blair scoffed, grabbing a silk robe off the chair in front of her vanity. “Do you really think she would’ve stood by you through all this if she didn’t?”
He didn’t answer, and chose instead to silently slip out of bed, no longer able to tolerate the scent of her perfume on the sheets. It was only a reminder of a night he wished he could forget. He could feel Blair’s eyes on him as he grabbed his boxers from the floor and pulled them on but still refused to acknowledge her claim.
“You need to go to her.”
Sebastian bit back a bitter snort, unable to believe Blair had the nerve to suggest such a thing. After everything the three of them had been through in the past few weeks, and especially after everything that had happened last night, how could she dare? While his downfall wasn’t all her doing, she’d played a role in it. Now there he was, standing in the middle of her room, wondering if it were possible to loathe someone as much as he did her.
He’d been right since the beginning. This was all one big fucking mistake.
“You do all of this to get me back, and then when you finally succeed, you tell me to go back to her,” he said, repulsed. “You’re sick, Blair. I’m tired of your games.”
She shrugged, seemingly unfazed, and calmly knotted the belt of her robe. “Say what you want about me, but it doesn’t change what you have to do.” He found himself unable to move as she padded toward him, and he was positive his heart ceased to beat when her hand came to rest on his arm. “Go to her.”
He cast his gaze to the floor where the remnants of their clothing lay tangled together in a depressing heap. “I think it’s too late for that.”
“It’s not,” she said with enough conviction to make him glance up again. “But if you keep putting this off, you’ll lose her for good.”
“Haven’t I already?” he mumbled, pushing her hand away. “Didn’t coming here cement my fate?”
Blair shook her head. “She broke up with you. That’s on her. And yet, despite that, you still turned me down in the end.”
“Just because we didn’t actually have sex doesn’t mean I didn’t do anything wrong,” he pointed out as he dragged an annoyed hand through his hair. “I still came here. I still kissed you. I still ended up in your bed.”
“And you cried on my shoulder instead,” she snapped, obviously running out of pity and patience. “Be glad you didn’t fuck me. If that had been the case, I wouldn’t be standing here telling you to go back to her. I’m not a masochist, you know.”
Sebastian sighed and took a seat on the edge of the bed, suddenly exhausted. “Why are you even doing this, Blair?” he questioned softly as he pinched the bridge of his nose, an attempt to ward off the headache slowly forming behind his eyes. “You can’t stand Taliana, and you’ve just spent months trying to get me back. This sudden change of heart makes no sense.”
The mattress dipped slightly when she sat next to him, but he refused to look at her. “I know you don’t want to be with me,” she said. “You’re in love with her. But do you know how much it stings when the person you care about most pushes you away? Oh, wait, I suppose you do.”
He pursed his lips, not amused in the slightest by her sarcasm, but he was finally starting to catch on to her point. “Where are you going with this, Blair?”
“I’m giving you an opportunity to get out of this,” she said bluntly. “To give up this act and go back to the person you actually love. Everyone knows that’s not me. Even I can admit that now.”
“So you’ve finally gotten it through your head then.”
Though it was only slight, her flinch told him that he’d hit home. It was sick how much that pleased him.
“You’re cruel, you know that?” she chuckled, recovering quickly.
“I learned from the best.”
The smile that slid across her face was a perfect reflection of his own. “I suppose you did.” Silence returned as she stood and went to stand in front of the window once more, this time pushing the curtains out of the way to let in more light. “So what’s it going to be, Sebastian?”
He wanted to ask what she would do about her father. He wanted to be concerned about her wellbeing, wanted to be the guy who’d been willing to overlook their past differences to help an old friend. But after all of this, he couldn’t.
And so he said nothing as he finished dressing, knowing it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. When he finally stood, he somehow came to be directly halfway between Blair and the door. Two separate fates were in front of him, one familiar and the other a risk, but when he stepped toward it, he knew there was no turning back.
44
Break/Broken
Taliana couldn’t breathe.
It had been hours, and she still couldn’t. Not even Michael’s soothing hand on her back could coax her into drawing in a breath that would completely fill her lungs. Between the sobs and shuddering exhales, it was a mystery she still had anything left to give.
“Whatever this is about,” he said, his voice just a distant whisper, “it’s going to get better. I promise you it will, sugartits. I know it.”
But his words only made it worse.
Taliana wasn’t even sure why he was there. She could remember fumbling for her phone a while after Sebastian had left, barely able to think due to everything swimming in her head. Jude was number five on her speed dial list and the one she’d expected to show up on her doorstep after receiving her tearful request for company. Imagine her surprise when she opened the door to find a sleepy-eyed Michael instead-her speed dial number six. Apparently, she hadn’t been paying attention to who was on the other line.
But she hadn’t complained. She was just grateful to have someone. Anyone.
Had this been any other time, she would’ve shuddered in disgust at the thought of having his hands on her, but today his touch was welcome. She was seated on the floor in front of the couch, her shoulders hunched, and her fingers buried in her hair. Michael was beside her, his touch alternating between her back and her damp cheeks, either encouraging her to breathe or wiping away stray tears.
“Whatever this is about,” Michael repeated, “I’m sure it’s not worth crying over.”
He was right. Taliana pulled away and nodded, using the hem of her shirt to wipe her face.
“There we go.” A glance to her left saw a hint of a smile back on Michael’s lips. “I knew you’d surface eventually. And it only took you…” He glanced at his watch. “Wow, only an hour. Last time I had to comfort a girl, it took three days. Then again, I had to do a lot more than just wipe away tears and snot. Let’s just say it was more of a? hands on job.”
“I don’t want to know,” Taliana snorted, particularly glad for his company now. Maybe crude jokes and stories of his past escapades were what she needed. “Thanks, Michael.”
He nodded and leaned back against the couch. “Now, are you going to tell me what this is about? It’s not every day I get a phone call from you of all people at four in the morning, begging me to come over. You’re lucky you’re dating my best friend because I wouldn’t do this for most girls.”