Chapter 3

Everyone was on their feet, staring our way.

A few of the bodyguards yanked out their stun batons on reflex, and only when Sebastian gave the signal did they all slowly sit back down.

I didn't wait for anyone's signal. I just found a cleaner spot and sat.

The people on both sides grabbed their things and cleared off in a hurry. Nobody dared to sit anywhere near me.

Sebastian circled around and, half-smiling, snatched the drink right out of my hand.

"All this temper, coming here to wreck my party. Not a good look, is it?"

He took a sip. "All these years, and your touch hasn't changed a bit."

I leaned back in my seat and gave him a cold stare. "You should've said you wanted it sooner. I'd have spat in it a couple more times."

He actually held the cup out toward me, raising an eyebrow. "Go on."

I knocked the cup away.

The pale red liquor splashed all over the girl's skirt. She looked up at Sebastian, the picture of pitiful.

"See? This is between the two of us. You're the one dragging other people into it."

I poured myself another. "Sebastian, you know exactly what you're doing, calling me over here again and again. I don't even go easy on myself, never mind the two of you. The moment I walked in, you should've known—cross me, and nobody walks away happy."

He fixed me with a silent stare. The people around us didn't dare breathe, their eyes darting back and forth between the three of us.

The only sound left in the room was me clinking the bottles and jars, mixing my drink.

Once it was ready, I lifted the cup to take a sip.

The rim had barely touched my lips when Sebastian grabbed it again and threw his head back, downing it in one go.

He flipped the empty cup over, slammed it on the floor, and pinched my face, hard.

"Five years. You've got nothing you want to say to me?"

"I'm warning you. Let go."

His temper flared. "I said—five years! You've got nothing to say to me?!"

"And I said, let go!"

We were both venting it at each other. I shook his hand off and slapped him across the face.

The room went silent again. I wiped my cheek in disgust while Sebastian gave a cold laugh and licked the corner of his mouth.

"Sebastian…" The girl tugged at his sleeve, aching for him.

His temper was still up. He shook her off and turned to yell, "Go change your clothes!"

She stared at him, wounded. Sebastian snapped, "Go!"

Flustered, she hurried off.

Sebastian turned on the friends standing around watching the show. "What are you looking at? All of you, get lost!"

I muttered "lunatic" and sat back down to keep mixing my drink.

I'd spent the whole night on it and hadn't gotten a single sip. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, until I shoved the drink in front of me over.

Nobody was drinking anything.

Sebastian was still standing right there watching me. I looked over, out of patience. "You still want something? If you've got something to say, say it. Otherwise, get lost!"

He raised his eyebrows and dragged me toward the round table.

"I do. Who said I didn't. You're already here, so play a couple rounds."

He pushed me down onto a stool. I raised my hand, and afraid I'd hit him, he sat straight down across from me.

Over here they were playing a round-table game, everyone spinning the liquor bottle on the table with great enthusiasm.

Sebastian's friends crowded around, sneaking looks at me, all of them grinning like sly little rats.

"Seb, way I see it, hasn't Miss Sullivan gotten kind of jealous?"

"Yeah, doesn't look like she's just throwing a fit to me. More like she's jealous. You bring your girl back without a word, of course she's jealous."

Sebastian said nothing, just lifted his eyes skeptically, and his buddy behind him nodded, dead certain.

The guy stole a glance at me and leaned in to Sebastian's ear. "Really, look, she was cold the whole time, right up until Yvette brought up the pregnancy…"

Just then the bottle on the table spun to a stop pointing at Sebastian.

The what-I-have-you-don't game. Sebastian took out the whole room in one line. "Yvette's pregnant. Anyone without a kid, drink up."

The room erupted, screaming and cheering, the noise deafening.

"Seb's the man!"

"Hahaha! Respect! Drink up, everyone!"

Everyone here was one of the friends he ran wild with.

Never mind settling down—they went through girlfriends one batch after another.

They knocked back their forfeit drinks, thoroughly beaten. I was the only one who didn't move.

If we were settling this by kids, then I had one too. He'd just turned five this year.

Sebastian's eyes stayed locked on me. "You're not drinking?"