Where are you?
I need to talk to you. Where are you?
And the last one.
* I’m going to your house NOW *
I gasped and, although I tried to beat it back, hope flared suddenly and brilliantly. It was so confusing – I was still burning with anger and jealousy. He’d left me at the picnic for that girl.
I glanced at my watch – it was just after 9 PM. Donna would be at the airport by now. Another 30 minutes and David would be walking through our front door. It would take me more than 20 minutes to drive home. I did the math.
Fuck.
By now my hands were shaking so badly it took me three attempts to scroll through to find Sebastian’s number on my cell.
The phone rang, and rang, and rang. And then it switched to voicemail.
I hung up and tried again. This time it went immediately to voicemail. This time I left a message.
“Sebastian, do not, repeat DO NOT go to my house. I’m downtown and David will be home any minute. Please, please don’t go.”
I had no idea if he’d get the message or, if he did, whether he’d do as I asked. And then I started to feel angry – really angry. He was the one who’d gone off with his ex-girlfriend; he was the one who was threatening to go to my home just as David was due back.
Maybe my anger was unreasonable but it didn’t feel like it, and right there and then, I needed it.
I drove home as fast as I dared. I didn’t have those get-out-of-jail-free military plates on my car, and I couldn’t risk getting stopped for speeding now.
I screeched onto the driveway, relieved that the house was dark and silent. I’d beaten David home, at the very least.
I nearly leapt out of my skin when I heard Sebastian’s voice in the darkness.
“Where were you?”
“Sebastian!” I hissed. “You can’t be here! David will be home any second!”
“I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me.”
His voice was tight with anger.
Well, fuck him! I was pretty damned angry, too!
I shoved the key in the lock and pushed the front door open.
“Get in!” I snarled. “Before someone sees you!”
He pushed past me and I slammed the door shut behind him.
“You can’t be here!” I repeated.
He didn’t answer but suddenly grabbed my waist and pulled me towards him. Without warning, he kissed me fiercely, forcing his lips against mine.
My body started to respond, but anger and fear had the upper hand. I shoved him hard in the chest. He let go, his hands dropping to his side, his face shocked.
“Caro!”
“I mean it, Sebastian. I want you to go. Now!”
His voice turned pleading, the words tripping over themselves.
“I need to talk to you, Caro. You just disappeared. I didn’t know where you were. I know how it must have looked… with Brenda… but it was nothing. I promise. She was upset and I couldn’t ignore her, could I?”
Yes, you could! I wanted to yell at him.
“Why did you just go? Why didn’t you talk to me? You could have called me! Please! I love you!”
I didn’t know what to believe. I did know what I’d seen.
Blue-white car headlights suddenly flooded the hallway and I heard the sound of Donna’s station wagon pulling up outside.
“For the love of God, Sebastian! Just go!”
“When will I see you? Caro, please!”
“I don’t know. Just go. Just get out!” I yelled.
He gave me one, last, tortured look, then turned and ran into the kitchen. I heard him fumbling with the lock on the back door as I moved swiftly through the house turning on lights.
My heart was hammering so loudly in my chest that I barely heard the sharp rap on the front door.
Breathless, I snatched it open.
“You are in then, Caroline. I was beginning to wonder.”
His tone was brusque. It was just what I needed to hear – and I snapped out of my funk.
“I haven’t been in long: I had to drop off some films I took at the fun day to City Beat. How was your flight? Can I get you a coffee?”