The Tattooed Prince| New Edition

22.

"Then why does it feel like you do?" I muttered under my breathe. I quickly took my hand away from his and shook my head. "don't answer that. It was a thought not a question,"

"You think you are in the way of Madison and I, however, you are wrong," he responded. "I feel this way because—I am heartbroken," his face scrunched up in pain.

"And I can't fix that,"

He shook his head, "I appreciate it you want to, but no, it's simply a feeling I have to let it heal with time,"

I bit down on my lip, "I am sorry,"

"For what? Trying to cheer me up?" He smirked. "It's working, it wasn't good for me to lock myself in my office,"

"Yeah?" I found myself smiling.

He nodded, "I don't make time to go out to eat in small restaurants or talk about my feelings,"

"Prince things?" I chuckled.

"You know it," he chuckled. "Seriously, don't take responsibility for my break up. I am starting to realize the feelings Madison and I had were dying way before she denied my proposal,"

"I want to ask why, but it seems personal," I told him, taking a sip of my water.

"After you date someone for so long, I don't think it's the feelings that keep you together. It's the routine you built. I was used to having her and the thought of marrying her was normal for me. I didn't see our relationship was crashing until it did," he shrugged. "Now, I am angry I didn't see it sooner,"

"Do you not love her anymore?"

"Not like I used too,"

I could sit here and ask millions of questions, trying to understand what Sebastian is feeling but I can't relate. I want to wrap my head around the idea you can go years dating someone without realizing your relationships was burning.

Sebastian cleared his throat, "look, I don't mind talking about my feeling. Even as weird as it feels. What I do mind is bringing Madison up in all our conversations. She is part of my past and truthfully, that is where I want to keep her,"

"Okay," I smiled. "To a new chapter?" I raised my cup.

"A better one," he said, tapping his cup with mine.

After dinner, Sebastian and I decided to walk around the plaza. A part of me felt proud for getting Sebastian to open up to me. His whole mood changed after our talk. He was talkative and smiling—it was a different side of him.

"We need to go eat there more frequently," he sighed out, obviously full from the food. We had finished the paella and ordered a chocolate cake for dessert.

"We sure do," I responded. "I can never get tired of the food,"

Sebastian stopped walking and I turned to look at him confused, "everything alright?"

He grinned widely, "I am happy you are eating. If keeping you healthy means taking you to restaurants that make you happy, tell me. I will take you wherever," he walked towards me and placed the hood of my jacket on my head.

"I don't want you to get sick,"

"I will eat more at the palace," I promised him. "I need time to get used to living there. You don't have to take me out to eat everyday," I chuckled, pushing him softly away from me.

He rolled his eyes, "whenever you want to eat out just tell me, okay?"

I nodded, "got it, Bash,"

"I don't like that nickname,"

I shrugged, "too bad I do,"

He licked his lips laughing, "fine,"

It wasn't like me to give people nicknames, but Sebastian needed one. Was it the best nickname? Probably not, but it felt right to me.

"You ready to go home?" Sebastian asked.

"Yeah, I am tired,"

"Me too," he exhaled. "Come on," he extended his hand out for me to hold onto it. Without much thought I reached out and grabbed his hand. The whole way to the parking garage, we held hands neither of us saying a word. I wanted to say I was freaking out about being this comfortable with Sebastian, but like anything else, it felt normal to do.

I wonder why everything with Sebastian feels—right. His fingertips loosely touching the back of my hand brought a bolt of fire through my arm. I have never felt something like this before. I looked up at him and saw the distant look on his face. He was as lost as I was in his thoughts. Had he even notice we were holding hands or did this feel normal for him too?

He turned his head to the side locking eyes with me. I quickly looked away. I made this awkward. I expected for him to let go of my hand, instead, he held onto it tighter. Almost as if he was reassuring it was okay to feel this way.

Sebastian touch put me in a euphoric high and I couldn't make myself come out of it. My finger tips touched the back of my hand as I remembered how his warm hand felt in mine.

"Are you okay?" Sophia asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I turned to look at her confused, "what?"

"I said, are you okay? You have been quiet all morning,"

"Oh..." I muttered. "Last night, Sebastian and I went out to have dinner and we held hands. And for some reason I can't get the warmth of his hand on mine out of my system,"

A small giggle escaped her lips, "seems like someone is getting a crush," she teased.

"What! Me?" I shook my head. "Of course not, I don't do crushes, relationships, or love,"

I have enough parent issue to succumb into a relationship. Even if Sebastian touch does bring butterflies to my stomach. I don't think I'm ready to date anyone, real or fake.

"You're going to have to let someone in eventually,"

"...just not Sebastian," I shot back. "For all I know I can be getting stockholm syndrome,"

Sophia started laughing, "you are dramatic," she rolled her eyes. "Look at it this way. You don't notice someone until you get presented to them. All of a sudden you see them everywhere, when in reality they have always been there,"

I shrugged, "maybe. Or you can see it as when you push two people to be together, they are bound to fall for each other,"

My words kept her quiet, I could see her trying to brainstorm words to contradict me. "...then you wonder if the feelings you have are real or forced on you,"

The car stopped in front of the of the schools and I sighed out. "Regardless, I'm out of the high I was in,"

"I wasn't..." I got out of the car and shook my head at her.

"...don't worry about it Sophia. Honestly, no one forced me to do anything. Sebastian did me a favor getting me out of my house. He needs me and I want to repay him for his kindness,"

Sophia nodded, "you have a good day, Ms. Adalyn,"

"You too, Ms.Sophia," I said and closed the door.

As I walked towards the school, Sebastian was a couple of feet away to my right. He had his AirPods on, ignoring everyone around him. I looked away and continued my way to the inside. Sebastian is kind. Which makes me wonder, why does he make himself always seem as the bad guy.