Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
“Swear to me you won’t buy whatever magazine I end up in this time,” she had growled, shoving a threatening finger into his chest. “Do you understand?”
Oh, he understood. That was why he sent his mother to pick up copies of
Vogue and
W Magazine as soon as they hit newsstands.
In the week she’d been gone this time, choosing to spend spring break in New York with her mother, Sebastian had finally come to realize just how much she meant to him. He’d never been convinced that absence made the heart grow fonder, but this had made him a believer. Luckily, in a couple days she would be back in DC where she belonged.
It may not have been love, but it was damn close.
After flipping through the impressively shot editorial once more, the need to hear her voice overcame him. It had been a few days since he’d last called her, and even then, their conversation had been short. A few pleasantries had been exchanged, an insult or two, and a simple
I miss you before the line went dead. They’d only texted a few times since, though his fingers had repeatedly itched to pick up the phone.
But today he didn’t bother to fight it and had his phone pressed to his ear in a second.
“It’s about time you called, Cry Baby,” Taliana greeted. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about me.”
Like that would ever happen, he thought wryly, though he smiled down at the magazine still open on his lap.
“I almost did,” he joked. “Too preoccupied with my other girlfriends, you know? They’re so demanding.”
“Bastard. I can’t turn my back for one second.” He could hear her attempting to stifle her giggles, getting them under control a moment later. “How are you?”
“Good, good,” he answered dismissively, not really caring to talk about himself. “When are you coming home?”
“Why?” she asked slyly. “Do you miss me?”
“You’d have to be stupid to think I didn’t.”
“I’ve only been gone a week.”
“So?” he challenged, running a hand through his hair. “It’s boring without you here to threaten me bodily harm.”
Taliana snorted, a completely unflattering but undeniably endearing sound. “I’m glad that’s the thing you miss the most.”
“There are other things, trust me. But really, when are you coming home?”
“I’ve been home since last night,” she revealed. “My mom let me leave right after the last shoot ended.”
Sebastian frowned and sat up. “Why didn’t you call when you got in?”
“Because it was late, I was exhausted, and I thought you might assume I was too clingy if I did. I was tempted though.”
“Talia, you couldn’t be clingy if you tried,” he teased, relaxing again. “How were the shoots?”
She made a sound of disgust, and Sebastian already knew she’d absolutely despised the entire thing. “I’m so sick of skeevy photographers and people telling me what I can and can’t eat. This is the last time I do a favor for my mother. I know I said that all the other times she managed to suck me into doing shoots and shows, but really, this is the last time. I’ve had enough of the fashion world. Everyone is such an asshole.”
“I guess you fit right in with them.”
“Oh, screw you.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “I’d happily let you. You should come over.”
“I wish I could.” She sighed, and the sound of voices in the background suddenly grew louder. “But Katherine’s parents are in town, and I’m not allowed to leave. Maybe tomorrow?”
“I guess I can wait until then. You know what tomorrow is, right?”
There was a pause where he assumed she was thinking, or at least searching the calendar. “Don’t say it’s, like, our five-month anniversary or something. I’m crap with dates, you know that.”
“No, it’s not that.” At least, he didn’t think so. “Tomorrow’s the Ides of March.”
Taliana let out a bark of laughter. “You act like it’s a holiday or something.”
“Funny,” he said dryly, rolling his eyes. “But there’s going to be a party tomorrow. A toga party, mind you. You want to go? It’s a Trinity tradition, so everyone’s going to be there.”
“Who’s throwing it?”
Sebastian grimaced, knowing she wasn’t going to like his answer. “Blair.”
He could hear the apprehension in her silence. In the past couple months, Blair had barely shown her face. Sure, they’d seen her at school almost every day, but the Queen Bitch hardly even looked in their direction anymore, let alone tried to break them apart again. It was almost as if she’d lost interest in them, but Sebastian knew better than to think that.
No, she was just lying in wait, too busy concocting her next scheme to bother them for the time being.
At least, that was what he thought. Then again, maybe she really had given up on trying to get him back. Maybe she’d actually changed. He doubted that was even possible, but that didn’t stop a little part of his brain from telling him he was wrong, that she’d actually admitted defeat.
Taliana’s silence lingered a few more seconds before a sigh passed over the line. “Guess I need to go raid the linen closet for a white sheet.”
He would have smiled if he hadn’t heard the tension in her voice. Instead, the heavy feeling in his chest only grew. “Are you sure about this? We don’t have to go.”
“I’m sure,” she said lightly. “If Blair just continues to ignore us, it’ll be fine. Hell, it might even be fun.”
“Well, if that’s what you want…”
“Yes, Cry Baby, that’s what I want.” The teasing note was back in her voice, allowing him to relax some. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”