Staying Grounded [BXB]

Misled

SEBASTIAN:

"Bree?" I straighten up from the door frame.

Ashleigh's stopped halfway across the floor to Craig, and she turns back on me specifically to roll her eyes. "What a pleasant surprise!"

She's sent a cautioning glance in response as I motivate myself into an approach. "Make him toast or bacon or something, please, Ash. I'll be a couple of minutes, okay?"

Dobby's up and out of his basket as I draw in behind Craig, seating himself at my feet and looking up at me for instruction. A soft growl vibrates from him when both Brianna and Craig flick him a glance. "It's okay, Dobs," I tell him, but I've snapped acutely in sync with his mood at the immediate bounce of all eyes back to me.

"Hand over my phone, and I'll get out of your face," Craig sullenly appeals to me. He's wearing the posture of quite the broken man, and as much fun as I was having, toying with him a moment ago, the light of it has dimmed somewhat at Brianna's appearance.

I'm actually mighty dependent on his compliance this morning, though, whether I like it or not, and I can't let him leave. "Two minutes." Shoving him back a step as I pass, I hook Brianna's elbow and guide her clear while pulling the door shut behind me. Dobby darts out just in time, circling my legs, and he's racing away to enjoy the farmyard the instant I give him the go-ahead as if it's not the third time he's been out since dawn. The sky is hinting at a bright and beautiful day to come, but it's some way off yet. Wispy morning mist stubbornly clings to the land, defying the cleansing efforts of a relentless wind.

"What are—?" A howling gust steals the words from my mouth and whips my hair into my eyes. 

Brianna's hair slaps her cheeks like it's turned against her. She knocks my hand away when I reach to sweep it back. "I mean," I try again, "how did you get here?"

"Firecracker and Cherry Blossom are tethered around the front."

"Oh."

"I thought, maybe, you'd be up for a ride with me, make up for last night."

"Ah."

"I did try to call first."

I've already dropped my head before I realise the mistake of it. A beat too late.

"You know what? Never mind. Message received."

But, hell, it's not like snubbing her has been a deliberate effort or anything. Her call woke me this morning when my alarm failed to, after a scant two hours of sleep, and her further two were missed while I showered. I fully intended to get back to her. Just as soon as I finished doing all that needed to be done. She's taken three steps away when I catch her shoulder and spin her back to me. "Don't, Bree, please? It's just, I've got a lot going on at the moment. This morning is—"

"Yeah." She snorts. "Not a good time. I can see that."

"I'm not brushing you off, I swear. If you can give me a couple of hours to get sorted, then my afternoon is all yours, okay?"

"Totally."

"You're welcome to stay and wait. Keep Ash company."

"And your overnight guest?"

"Craig?"

"Craig." There's an uncharacteristic bite to the way she echoes his name that knocks me off-guard.

"What about him?"

"Yesterday, 'something' came up, and you ditched on our plans. Again. Then, first thing this morning, he's answering your door, wearing your clothes. So, I don't know, Sebastian. How about you tell me?"