Secrets & Lies

Try again| 40

(Brandon up top.)

(Sebastian's POV)

I watched Lourdes hook up the rest of the security system patiently from a distance. "You tell her about this?" He asked. "Nope."

"Are you going to tell her?"

"Eventually. I just want to make sure she's safe." I sighed. My good friend and tattooist Lourdes's family sells home security systems, so I took it upon myself to ask him to set one up in Nyla's apartment. It would have motion sensors and all the standard alarm tools, but I didn't get any cameras.

It was bad enough that I was getting the security system without her permission as it is. However, I wanted to make sure she was safe. Surely I'd tell her about it when she gets back. "It's That good huh?" Lourdes asked.

"Is What that good?"

"Whatever she's giving or doing to you." He clarified. "Surprisingly shes doing neither." I scoffed.

"So why do you seem so smitten. Every time you say her name you get this weird expression. It's creepy and it makes me spittle in my mouth a bit." He chuckled. "Fuck you."

He only laughed harder as he put the finishing touches on the sensor. "Seriously though. You two together?"

"No. If we were you'd know." I assured him. "Clearly you have feelings for her. What's the holdup."

"Well I tried to tell her how I felt at Andres' wedding, and I don't-I don't really know what happened. I got a little caught up in the moment and I guess she noticed because next thing I know she's practically running away from me." I sighed. "Damn that's tough...try again." He advised.

"What do you mean try again. I don't think she feels the same."

"Just think of all that she's been doing for you. She's letting you stay in her house for Christ's sake. Just try again. Make her dinner, I don't know, make a grand gesture or something." He shrugged.

The sound of the front door opening and closing alerted me and I turned to greet Nyla. "Nyla welcome home!"

(Nyla's POV)

I eyed Sebastian suspiciously as I walked into the living room. "Hey," I replied cautiously. My eyes flickered from him to the other guy standing by the tv.

"You must be his tattooist friend, I'm Nyla."

I advanced toward his friend and he met me halfway with an outstretched hand. "Lourdes." He introduced with a kind smile.

"Did you do all of Sebastian's tattoos?" I asked. "Majority. A couple of them I think he did himself which is why a couple lacks intricate skill." He joked. I chuckled and crossed my arms over my chest. "Do you have business cards with you?"

"Absolutely."

He reached into his jacket pocket and handed me two business cards. "Thanks...well I'm gonna go get dinner ready—"

"Oh no, I got it," Sebastian interjected. "You cook?"

"Yes."

I giggled a little assuming he was joking. Sometimes I thought he couldn't tie his own shoes. "Very funny, I'm kind of in the mood for stuffed chicken." I mused as I walked towards the kitchen.

"Oh! Will you be joining us for dinner, Lourdes." I asked as I turned on my heel. "Um, no thank you. I actually have to get going. My wife's expecting me soon."

"Alright, it was nice meeting you!"

"Likewise."

I exited the room still laughing slightly about how Sebastian had offered to cook. I heard the front door close as I pulled food out from the fridge and Sebastian appeared by the island. "Your friend is nice."

"He tries to be." He sighed. I glanced over at him and took notice of how he sat at the island. He was slouching a bit, with a deep frown set on his face and his eyebrows furrowed. "You Alright?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm just...just thinking."

I nodded slightly as I seasoned the chicken. Once I got the food in the oven I cleaned up and moved on to prepping the sides. I sat on the counter after getting that out of the way and downed a bottle of water. "Have you made any headway with your ex?" I asked.

"No, not really. As far as my resources go, she's dead."

"Well that's great—I mean that should give you some peace of mind." I grimaced a bit at how that almost sounded. He offered me an amused expression and smiled a little. "It should but I can't let it go. They could be wrong and if they are she could have an agenda. If she does—"

"Those are big Ifs. Try not to think too much about it. I'm sure everything will be fine."

He sighed with a head nod and I turned to tend to my ringing phone. "Watch the food for me," I instructed as I walked out of the kitchen with my thumb hovering over the answer button.

It was an unknown caller and usually, I don't answer those but I was curious. "Hello?"

"I hope my jacket has continued to keep you warm." The person said. I furrowed my eyebrows as my brain resonated with the caller's familiar voice. "Ambrose?"

"The one and only." He chuckled. "It's nice to hear from you, how'd you get my number?"

"Asked around a bit. My sisters just getting back to me with it."

"You gotta love having siblings sometimes." I smiled. "Listen, so I'm gonna be in New York this weekend, how about I take you out for a drink." He offered. "I um okay. That sounds good."

"Great! We can sort out all the details later."

"Perfect. I'll be sure to bring your jacket." I noted. "I'm looking forward to it."