Or the time I’d graduated from the University of Michigan’s Department of Theater and Dance, I had to make the hard decision whether to move to New York or LA after college. My boyfriend at the time had hard plans to move to New York, while I had always dreamed of moving to LA and taking classes at Gravity. My decision became that much easier when I walked into the small apartment we shared to find him buck-ass naked, eyes closed and groaning loudly against our bedroom window with another man’s head bobbing between his legs.
Yeah, he turned out to be gay. Which I would have been totally supportive of if he hadn’t been cheating on me while he “discovered himself” or whatever he told me. Asshole.
I would never forget the relief that rushed through me after both of those experiences, though. In those moments, I realized the right path had always been there—it was just muddled by idealisms that had manifested over time. My path had already been decided. I just needed a little nudge in the right direction to find my way. And I’d never regretted my decision to move to LA to build my career.
When I first joined Gravity, I was a rookie in the eyes of my peers. I could see immediately that respect was earned, drive was expected, and failure was inevitable. I learned to embrace each hardship with the attitude that whichever direction I was supposed to take would eventually find me. Hard work, sacrifice… everything would pay off in the end.
That was why, four hours before the deadline Sebastian had given me, I was still considering the job. Should I take on a new challenge and face my past? Or stay on dry land, sleep on Wayne’s couch, and attend every audition I could on my own since I’d just fired my agent?
Both options had their pros and cons. Where was the nudge I’d always received when it came to big decisions like this? I needed a sign.
It was late in the evening, and I was making my way home from another full day of dance at Gravity when my phone buzzed in my pocket, causing my heart to beat fast before I saw it was Sheena. She’d probably completely ignored the part of our conversation when I fired her ass. I wouldn’t entertain another argument. We’d had our run, but it was over. If I was going to accept this job, it would be on my terms.
I tapped on my unread messages to find a text from Sebastian.
Bash: Four hours. Any chance you’ll change your mind?
I tapped the side button to lock my phone and jogged up the steps to my apartment. A white slip of paper was taped to the door, and my heart sank instantly. I didn’t know what it was, but I couldn’t imagine it was anything good. I’d been stubbornly ignoring my landlord’s calls for days, knowing she was waiting for me to extend my lease another year. But when I took a closer look at the letter, I felt the life draining from my face.
“Huh?” My chest heated as I ripped the threatening notice from the tape and read it. “Eviction Warning. We regret to inform you that due to failure to pay rent due by the grace period, you are hereby asked to vacate the premises in three days.” I read farther down the paper. “Check returned due to insufficient funds.”
I scrambled for my phone then tapped on my bank app to log in to my account.
-$324.24
What? That’s impossible. I was obsessive about checking my funds to ensure nothing like this ever happened. I could always scrounge up a few hundred bucks if I needed to, but with the audition and all the anxiety surrounding it, I’d messed up big.
I scrolled farther down to find my last school-tuition payment had come out a day early, putting me in the negative before I had time to deposit my last job check. I’d been racking up late fees for two days.
I fumbled for my key that had somehow found their way to the bottom of my bag and shoved it into the lock. I’d go to the bank tomorrow, deposit my check, and pay my landlord. And then I’d figure out my next move. I had options other than Sebastian Chase and his damn musical. I could teach classes at Gravity or wait on tables somewhere. Hell, I could find nannying jobs like I used to in college.
Inhaling deeply through my nose, I tried to turn the key, but it wouldn’t move. Jiggling it, I tried again. It wasn’t budging. Frantically, I searched through my entire key ring to ensure I hadn’t mixed them up. I was definitely using the right key. Which meant I’d not only been told to vacate the premises, but I’d already been locked out.
Growling, I let my back flop against the door as I sank to the floor. “Well, shit.”
Thirty minutes later
* * *
Sebastian swiped off his helmet, revealing a lazy smirk. “Your chariot awaits.”
When Wayne didn’t answer his phone to give me a lift, I’d decided to head to his house anyway. If he was out, I could just use his spare key to crash for the night. He would understand. But to get there, I could think of only one other person to call, which I was regretting.
Why does he always have to be so smug? I snatched the helmet from him and placed it on my head. “I’d say thanks for the ride, but you might take that the wrong way.”
He shrugged, his lips pursed and a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. “That’s all right. I’m more an actions-speak-louder kind of guy.” He winked. “There are heaps of ways you can thank me.”
I snapped the latch beneath my chin and glared. “Not going to happen. This isn’t some sort of booty call, okay? You were my last resort. Wayne’s phone is off. All my other friends travel constantly. I could have called a ride share, but…” I shook my head, deciding not to finish that sentence. The less Sebastian knew about my financial situation, the better.
The nearest bus stop where I could have afforded a ride was miles away, and no way was I trudging through the dark streets of LA at that hour. And with the rising taxi fares in this area, that was out of the question too.
“But what?” he nudged.
I shook my head. “Nothing. Never mind. Can you just give me a lift? Please?” My eyes searched his, silently begging him not to ask any more questions.
He shrugged and patted the small pad of seat left behind him. “All right. Get on, love.”
Without another word, I swung my leg over the back of his bike, wrapped my arms around his middle, and pulled myself forward as far as space would allow. “There isn’t enough seat.”
“It’s more of a puss pad, yeah?”
My eyes went wide at his words. “A what?”
He chuckled more loudly, his stomach vibrating against my palms. “A puss pad. As in, there’s just enough room for your—”
I slid my palm up until I found his nipple and pinched it hard.
“Ay,” he yelped. “Fuck, woman! Get your claws off me.”
Then I laughed. “Let’s go, Sebastian. You’ll be fine.” I tightened my hold around his middle, pressed my chest against his back, and squeezed. “Just don’t do any of those crazy stunt things. I’d like to live until tomorrow.”
He was still rubbing the nipple I’d pinched. “Right.” He revved his engine with a twist of his hand. “Hang on tight.”
Chapter 8
Sebastian
I’d been to LA a handful of times in my life, but only ever for a quick job or press junket. I’d never had an opportunity to explore. For the past couple of weeks, I’d been trying to make the most of my stay. That usually meant just riding my bike until something caught my eye. I would stop, peruse, then hop back on my bike and do it all over again.