Secrets & Lies

Morning After| 53

Sebastian and I laid together tangled in the sheets. I was laying on his chest and he rubbed soothing circles on my back. "Where are we going after this?" I asked.

"Italy for a beat. We'll be on the plane this evening. I plan on going to Japan a little while later into this month so prepare for that." He said quietly. I nodded silently and traced his tattoos. "How many tattoos do you have?"

"I've lost count." He chuckled. "Why do you get them?"

"I enjoy art. But I also enjoy defiance. I got my first tattoo after my mother told me I couldn't from there I just kept getting them. I knew people would relate terrible connotations to them but I kept getting them anyway."

"You don't care much of what people think do you?" I asked curiously. "I care about what you think and what my mother thinks. Occasionally my father. No one else's opinion matters to me."

I hummed in understanding and we stayed silent for a second before I remembered the watch. "Oh, I got you something."

I said up rather quickly and reached over the edge of the bed to grab the box. "It's almost your birthday and you're giving me gifts?" He asked with a smile as he sat up.

"It's never a bad time for gifts."

He eyed me suspiciously with a small smile on his face as he unwrapped the box. I'd gotten the cashier to wrap it after deciding that Sebastian could choose which picture to put inside. I watched anxiously as he opened the box. I was half expecting him to be unimpressed but I knew he'd appreciate the thought.

"Darling you really, really shouldn't have." He said. I could practically taste the seriousness. I laughed at him as he opened it with a slightly pained expression. "I saw you admiring it. Plus I love it, so I wanted you to have something from me that you could carry around easily. Something to have to remember me with."

"In that case, I love it. I assume I can put a photo in here?" He asked. "Yup. I know it's not exactly your style but despite you calling it old I thought you'd like to have it." I smiled.

"I really do like it. I just shied away from it because my grandfather used to have one just like it, he left it for me when he died, and I lost it not long after. I don't really trust myself with such a valuable antiquities. But this...I'll be sure to keep track off."

I smiled softly and he planted a kiss on my cheek. He says the watch on the nightstand and we got back into the position we were previously in. "When do you think would be an appropriate time to tell everyone that we're together?" He asked.

"Maybe when we get back to New York. We can tell everyone at the dinner my friend is hosting for me." I suggested. I decided against telling him which friend. I didn't want to start anything while we were having such a good morning so far. "Which friend?"

"Jace. He loves birthdays and parties."

"Oh how kind of him." He sighed. "Yeah...we should probably get up now. We have meetings to get to."

As I went to sit up Sebastian pulled me back down. "Ah no, darling. I canceled all of the rest of our meetings for the rest of the trip."

"Really? Why?"

"So I could spend more time with you before we go home. Of course."

"Alright then. What do you propose we do for the rest of the morning?" I asked. He smirked at me for a second before flipping over so that I was on my back and he was on top positioned between my legs. "I have a few ideas." He said.

He leaned down a bit and just as I thought he was about to kiss me, he slid his hands up my waist and tickled me. "Ahh!" I laughed and squealed loudly as he continued his attack.

:

"It's been...perfect." I sighed.

"Ew!"

"I'm gonna hurl!"

"The wholesome content I come here for."

I laughed at my terribly dramatic friends as I did my makeup while we were on group facetime. "Eva and Kayla, y'all some damn haters." Jace taunted.

"Haterade is Kayla's favorite beverage." I reminded him. "Whatever you know we're playing." Eva laughed.

"I'm glad you're having fun out there love. Even happier that you're being dicked down properly." Kayla giggled. "Be honest how many times have you guys gone since you left?"

I held up both my hands and attempted to guess how many. "Damn!" Eva said.

"Enough about me, what about y'all?"

"Um, Brandon asked me out yesterday," Jace said. "Bitch!"

"Seriously! Why didn't you tell us then?! Ay Santa Maria." Eva exclaimed. "It was late. He and I were on the phone talking cause neither of us could sleep and he just asked."

"Aww, babes! Brandon seems like a sweetheart and he's cute, so I'm happy for you." Kayla said. "Agreed. Plus he loves kids. He volunteers and he's so kind."

"Nyla's right. He's a keeper." Eva agreed.

"I miss you guys. We're always talking and what not but I feel like we haven't really been around each other for a while." Kayla said. "I miss you too, darling."

"Same!"

"Next weekend we'll have a big sleepover at my place," Eva suggested. "Just the four of us."

"Also, Nyla I need you to hook me up with your neighbor."

"Oooohh! Evie has the hots for neighbor nick! I don't blame you, sis, he's a DILF." Jace said.

"Nyla hurry up in there! Your friends can speak to you later!" Sebastian called. "And that's my cue. Eva, I'll text you about Nick."

I hung up and finished with my look before joking Sebastian in the living room. "You look stunning, darling. Could you come over here and help me with this?"

I nodded and moved to help him with his tie. "Where are we going when we get to Italy?" I asked. "An after-party." He revealed. I stayed quiet as I finished up with the bow and then straightened out his jacket.

"Alright well, we should get going. I'll call Ben."