Bound by Christmas

Chapter Eleven: Funk

I looked like a hot mess, but I couldn't find the energy to care. I'd spent my entire weekend crying my heart out over Sebastián. I didn't want to be so broken-hearted, but I couldn't help it. I had so much hope for us but I had been living in a fool's paradise, refusing to accept the truth. And the truth was that Sebastián was never going to offer me more.

As I looked at myself in the mirror, I regretted the Bloody Marys I had used as my only form of sustenance for the past two days. I wanted to wring Sebastián's thick, masculine, beautiful neck for tossing me deep into a funk I couldn't find my way out of. But, deep down, I knew I was partially to blame for yearning for more than what I was promised.

Cursing myself, I grabbed my purse and rushed out of my apartment, bumping directly into Felix. "What on Earth?" I muttered. "What are you doing here?"

Felix straightened his clothes and cleared his throat. "Good morning, Ms. Holladay. We're here to give you a ride to work."

I furrowed my brows at him with suspicion. "We? Who's we?"

"Oh, well, umm..." He looked around nervously like he was waiting for someone to come to his rescue. "Well, me, of course...and Mr. Islas."

"Sebastián is here?" I questioned, struggling to believe he would have the nerve to show up to my place again, especially after he ran out of my apartment on Friday like a poltergeist was chasing him. I knew that he would back off if I used our safe word, but I wasn't expecting such a strong reaction.

Over the weekend, Sebastián hadn't bothered to try to visit me, but he had sent me numerous text messages.

Sebastián: Jenna, how are you feeling? I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I never would have wanted to push you to that point.

Sebastián: Jenna, I understand if you do not want to speak to me but could you please let me know if you're okay?

Sebastián: Mi alma, por favor, at least send me a thumbs up if you're okay.

I hadn't wanted to respond to any of his messages, but after his last one I was too tempted not to reply. So, I had sent him a middle-finger emoji. As expected, I didn't receive any more messages after that. But now, he assumed I would just casually accept a car ride from him?

I looked at Felix as he nodded at my question.

"No, thank you," I said, shaking my head and walking toward the elevator.

"Please, Ms. Holladay," Felix implored as he rushed after me. "He's a complete mess. Please, it's only a ten-minute drive. Surely, you can spare ten minutes for him."

"If he's so desperate to see me, why isn't he here himself, making this unappealing offer?"

"Because he wanted to give you the option to refuse to see him. He didn't want to force your hand."

"Oh, how noble of him," I scoffed but, unfortunately, I found myself wanting to give in. I didn't know whether to blame it on my lack of nourishment or my curiosity. Why did I have the overwhelming urge to know what more he could say to me? Wasn't the saying, curiosity killed the cat? Well, it looked like my curious nature was going to lead to my destruction.

As Felix and I entered the elevator, I found myself pressing the button for the ground floor instead of the parking garage. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Felix's relieved smile but I ignored him. Once the elevator reached a stop, I followed Felix out and walked toward Sebastián's SUV. Making my way inside the backseat, I froze at Sebastián's disheveled appearance. Wow! He really did look like shit. Good!

"Good morning, Jenna." Sebastián greeted, looking me over from top to bottom.

Turning away from him, I put on my seatbelt and didn't respond.