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Twenty Eight

"You." I hear Kayla say in the hallway outside the door. He must be here.

I tried to talk to her, tell her I'm the real problem this time, but she wouldn't listen. I messed it all up. Sebastian was just trying to help and I pushed him away over something insignificant. Our Alexia problem literally solved itself and yet, I couldn't just let it go. I couldn't just leave good enough alone and let myself be happy.

I remember doing this with Nathan years ago.

Things had been so good for so long, until a measly, unimportant argument and I bailed on him.

Now, here I am years later, sitting on the floor against this bed wondering why I sabotage everything good in my life.

"Madelaine?" I hear Sebastian's voice as the door slowly opens.

I turn my head and look up at him.

He still hasn't shaved, but he looks like he at least showered. His hair is still damp.

"Hi." I say quietly, offering him a small smile.

"They said you walked here." He says as he moves closer, sitting next me in the floor.

"Yeah, I wanted some time to think." I tell him.

I had felt as if I would lose my mind if I talked to anyone. I didn't want to show up to Kayla and Mackie's in the state I was in. I didn't want to end up being anymore of a burden to them. I'm grateful that they opened their home to me, but at the same time, I feel like it may have been better to have just let me go.

"I brought you this." Sebastian says as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the bracelet I had left behind. "It must have fallen off." He says with a light laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

"No," I sigh, "I took it off. It didn't feel right to keep it."

"Why? It was a gift specifically made for you." He tells me, his eyes roaming from my face down to my wrist where the bracelet used to hang.

"Sebastian, why are you here?" I ask, dodging his question since I don't have a real answer for him. I don't know why I took it off. I just felt like I needed to.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He says, his mind seeming to drift off. "And, I know I was drunk out of my mind. Not my most proud moment."

I laugh a bit, looking over at him. "I poured out the rest of your alcohol, too."

"What?" He asks in a surprised tone, that makes me laugh a bit more. "Even my favorite wine? I'm insulted." His hand holds his chest in a feigned hurt.

"Yeah, well you weren't looking too hot the last time I saw you." I joke back before we both fall quiet again.

We sit there in silence, trying to figure out what to say next. I want to tell him to go home, but I also want to tell him I'm going with him. So, I keep my mouth shut. I've done enough damage already. This wonderful man sitting next to me has been the most amazing person in my life. I wish I had just taken a breather instead of choosing to fight.

"I talked to Alexia." Sebastian says and I whip my head in his direction.

"What? Why?" I ask, turning my body towards him.

"Hang on, let me talk." He says, turning so that he can face me. "I talked to her earlier. I wanted to know if what she had said was real or just another trick to get under our skin. I think this time, she's serious. She seemed different. Other than the obvious damage you did."

The last bit makes me roll my eyes.

"So, what does that mean?" I ask, glancing up at him.

"That means we can go home." He tells me, pushing a strand of hair from my face.