Broken

Chapter 23

“Look, Mia, I fucked up,” Sebastian said, sighing quietly. “I almost lost the most important person in my life. I almost lost my best friends. I did all of that crap because I was stupid and angry. I was a coward and I believed them when I should have believed you.”

Sebastian looked at me and took a deep breath.

“I won’t be making that mistake ever again,” he added quietly.

I gave him a small smile and took his hand in mine.

“Just talk to me when you have doubts,” I said. “Even if it’s about sex. I know it’s a bit weird, but it’s a normal part of life. I will be having it, you know?”

Sebastian rolled his eyes at me.

“Yes,” he said. “When you are forty.”

I chuckled and shook my head at him.

“Sure,” I said. “Maybe even when I am fifty.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Sebastian nodded, making me roll my eyes at him.

I sighed as I stood up.

“Where are you going?” Sebastian asked.

“I am going to go call Tim,” I said, looking at Rhys. “Make sure these two don’t kill each other.”

Rhys tightened his jaw and gave me a small nod.

I smiled at them as I walked out of the living room and went upstairs to my room. My phone was on my desk and my stomach turned when I saw it. I really didn’t want to look at it.

But I had to call Tim. I couldn’t let him feel guilty for what happened. It wasn’t his fault.

I took a deep breath as I approached my desk and grabbed my phone. I unlocked it and went straight to my contacts. I found Tim’s number, called him, and put the phone on speaker. I didn’t want to hold it in my hands.

He answered immediately.

“Aurora!” he exclaimed and I could hear relief in his voice. “Oh, thank God!”

“Hi, Tim,” I said. “I am sorry I didn’t answer earlier. I haven’t been on my phone much lately.”

“No, Aurora, don’t apologize,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “I am the one who should be apologizing to you. I should have…”

“It wasn’t your fault, Tim,” I said, interrupting him. “You did everything right. It wasn’t your fault.”

Tim was silent for a few moments.

“But I should have…,” he said quietly, but I interrupted him again.

“You did everything right,” I repeated softly. “Thank you for being there. Thank you for saving me.”

“Oh, Aurora,” Tim mumbled. “You don’t have to thank me for that. I wish I could have done more. I wish it never happened.”

I gulped and tried to take a deep breath.

“I wish it never happened too,” I said quietly.

I heard footsteps behind me and I looked over my shoulder in time to see Rhys wrapping his arms around me. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my temple.

“Will I see you at school tomorrow?” Tim asked.

I wanted to say yes, but Rhys interrupted me.

“No, Tim,” he said, caressing my cheek. “She won’t go to school for a little while.”

Tim was silent again.

“Rhys?” he asked and I could hear the confusion in his voice.

“Yes, Tim,” Rhys said, leaning in and placing a kiss on my cheek. “It’s me.”

“Oh,” Tim mumbled. “I will talk to you later, Roro.”

“Yeah, Tim,” I said softly. “Talk to you later.”

Rhys reached out and ended the call. He turned me around and hugged me tightly.

“My princess,” he mumbled and I relaxed into his arms.

He ran his fingers through my hair and I smiled a little.

“Maybe we should go downstairs before Mia kills Sebastian,” I mumbled, making him chuckle.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I hate to admit it, but that is a real possibility.”

I looked up at him and he cupped my cheeks. He glanced at my lips and a pleasurable shiver went down my spine.

“I love you, Aurora,” he said softly and my knees buckled.

“I love you too,” I mumbled, making him smile.

He leaned in and rested his forehead against mine. He took a deep breath and caressed my cheeks with his thumbs. I was a bit disappointed. I was hoping that he would…

No. I shouldn’t have been hoping for that. He probably loved me as a friend. Nothing more.