Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
Taliana let out a watery scoff but didn’t pull away from him. Instead, she rested her cheek on his chest again. “You’re just saying that because you want me to stop crying.”
His chest vibrated gently as he laughed. “Maybe I am, but forgive me anyway?”
After drawing in a shaky breath and mulling it over for a moment, Taliana nodded. “Fine,” she mumbled, pulling back once again. “But don’t you ever say anything like that to me again. Got it?”
“Got it.” He laughed softly as he once again brought his hand up to her cheek to thumb away her remaining tears. “You look like a drowned panda right now.”
Taliana snickered and batted his hand away, finally managing to pull out of his arms. “Fuck off,” she responded good-naturedly. “It’s not like I was expecting to cry.” She let out an embarrassed groan as she rubbed her face, which was more than likely red and blotchy and covered in mascara.
“Hell, I wasn’t expecting it either,” Sebastian added. “You’re not the kind of person who breaks down in tears when someone says something mean to her.”
“I’m not,” she agreed, dropping her hands from her face. She bit her lip gently as she locked her eyes on him, her nose crinkling slightly. “I think Jude might be right. I’m either pregnant-” the word had come out as if it were something dirty “-or suffering from some extreme PMS.”
“I’m hoping it’s PMS.” He brushed past her and began walking down the sidewalk. “Come on, Michael’s been watching us from the doorway for the past five minutes. I think he was more terrified of seeing you cry than I was.”
It was then Taliana noticed they had reached their destination, a house that could have been torn straight out of
Better
Homes and Gardens magazine. It was easy to tell this three-story monstrosity had been around for many, many years, one of those homes that had been in an old-money family for countless generations. And Michael Richardson was obviously from one of those families.
Taliana followed Sebastian up the paved pathway to the front entrance where Michael was indeed standing behind the glass storm door, eyeing her warily. He slowly pushed open the door and took a step back to let her and Sebastian in, but that look lingered.
“Don’t worry,” she told him. “I think I’ve finished crying.”
His fear seemed to ease slightly, but he still looked unsure. Taliana didn’t blame him; if she could cry once, she definitely had the ability to cry again.
“Keep her away from me,” he said to Sebastian, even though his hazel eyes were still focused on Taliana. “I don’t want her getting snot and tears on my shirt. Dolce and Gabbana didn’t intend for this to be used as a tissue.” His eyes scanned her face once more, and she had a feeling he was admiring her smeared makeup. “Maybe I should go put on something cheaper. I don’t want to take any chances with you.”
“I was expecting a simple ‘hi,’ but I suppose that works,” Taliana replied, rolling her eyes and swiping her cheeks with the backs of her hands. She glanced down at them and noted the long, black mascara streaks. Yikes.
He snorted and began edging toward the stairs, glancing at Sebastian again. “Marcus just called and told me he’s on his way, and Jacob should be here any minute. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He turned sharply on his heel and bounded up the stairs, quickly vanishing from sight.
After he was gone, Taliana turned to Sebastian. “Well, he clearly doesn’t like me.”
“He’s like that with everyone at first,” he laughed, gently nudging her toward an archway a few feet in front of them that led to a vast living room. “But get used to it, because you’re going to be seeing a lot more of Michael, Marcus, and Jacob for the next few months.” He nudged Taliana onto one of the plush, white couches and took a seat on the edge of the coffee table in front of it. “Since you’re dating me, the other three kind of come as a package deal. Meaning, my friends are now your friends.”
Taliana’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, and she shook her head. “That’s not what I signed up for.”
“Actually, it is,” he countered. “You have to remember that Blair and I were best friends before we ever became anything more. All five of us were close.”
Frowning, Taliana crossed her arms leaned back slightly. “I have a feeling that the others and I aren’t going to get along too well. I can handle hanging out with just you, but not them too.”
He shook his head and waved a hand as if what she was saying was nonsense. “Don’t worry about it. Jacob doesn’t give a shit about anything, and Marcus has a high tolerance for insanity. You’ll get along fine.”
“What about Michael?” she questioned, since he’d left that key person out.
“Well…” Sebastian didn’t finish that thought, seeing as Michael had just sauntered into the living room, looking slightly more dressed down than he had before. Actually, it was more than just slightly.
“I knew this tracksuit would come in handy one day,” he announced as he spread his arms wide, a grin lighting up his face. “Bring on the tears, baby.”
19
In Vino Veritas
“Are you telling me I put on this cheap-ass Juicy Couture shit for? nothing?”
Sebastian nodded as he leaned against the counter, taking in the hideous velour tracksuit. They were standing in the Richardsons’ massive kitchen with several bottles of wine on the counter, raided from Michael’s parents’ extremely well stocked cellar. They had immediately decided that drinks were in order after an awkward pause had spread between them and Taliana, who had quickly stopped crying and didn’t look like she was about to start again, much to Michael’s dismay.
“I should have never changed,” he grumbled as he turned away from Sebastian and picked up the uncorked wine bottle. “I had a feeling she wasn’t going to cry again.”
“I don’t get why you want her to cry,” Sebastian said as he took one of the glasses. “I was scared shitless when she started.”
Michael shrugged. “I bet Stick Girl likes you ten times more now that you comforted her. You should consider it a win.”
Sebastian scoffed and shook his head. “I made a complete fool out of myself, so if anything made her feel better it was probably me looking like an ass.”
“Nothing new there.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes before slipping past Michael and stepping into the living room where Marcus and Stick Girl were chatting idly by the coffee table. Marcus had clearly just arrived, seeing as his overnight bag was still slung over his shoulder, so the pair hadn’t been stuck alone with each other for very long. He could only imagine the damage Taliana could do to Marcus if he pissed her off by accident, but it looked like they were getting along so far. He just wondered how long that would last.
Marcus was the first to notice his entrance and greeted him with a nod, which Sebastian returned, but Marcus’s eyes widened when he saw Michael.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Marcus questioned incredulously as he slowly looked Michael over. “Is that your mother’s?”
“In fact, it is.” Michael hitched up his chin. “Do you have a problem?”
Sebastian rolled his eyes and made his way to where Taliana had taken a seat on the couch, already knowing where this conversation was headed, lowering himself beside her.
“I think the tracksuit is very flattering, Michael,” Taliana intervened before Marcus could answer. “Plays up all your best features.”
It was then that Jude strolled into the room, and Sebastian grinned as he waited for his cousin to give his opinion.
“Talia, we totally need to talk,” Jude began, but before he could finish his thought, his eyes landed on Michael. “Jesus Christ, what are you? wearing? Is that a tracksuit?”
A snort from beside him caused Sebastian to glance at Taliana, who was biting her lip to keep from bursting out in laughter. She then leaned in closer and put her lips near his ear as she spoke.