She gave my hand a little squeeze then moved her hand away with a laugh before curling herself into my arms.
And just like that, I fell asleep next to a woman for the first time in years, and I couldn’t remember ever feeling better about the prospects.
Chapter 27
Kai
Avoidance was the only way I knew how to deal with what had happened the night before. Sebastian was nowhere to be found when I woke up, but even after my shower, I could smell his cool alpine scent everywhere—in my bathroom, on my sheets, on my skin. Still, I was holding out hope that I’d had nothing more than a very wet and vivid dream.
The principal cast’s rehearsal call time was later that morning since the production crew was testing all the audiovisual equipment and timing. So I got in a quick cardio workout before heading back to my room to get dressed.
We were told to “dress the part,” which was a casual term meaning “We don’t have your costumes yet, but don’t walk in with athletic wear.” I chose the closest best thing to what my opening number was supposed to look like, a white chiffon minidress with black polka dots and long sleeves. It tapered at the midsection and had a wide plunging neckline.
While I was drying my hair ten minutes before call time, my cabin’s phone rang. I scrunched my nose, wondering who it could possibly be. I hadn’t given anyone the number to my cabin. I’d never even used the phone before.
After the third ring, I picked it up from its base and held it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hi, Kai. This is Rebecca, Jimmy’s assistant. There has been a change in plans for today. Rehearsals have just been canceled, and we will resume tomorrow, according to the regular schedule.”
That was it. No explanation, just… a free day?
Confused, I left my hair half dried and walked down to the mess to grab a bite to eat. One sweeping glance over the room confirmed that Sebastian wasn’t there, and I felt a flood of relief, though not because I didn’t want to see him. I was anxious to see him again, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to see him in front of my fellow cast members. I was certain the moment we were spotted together, everyone would know our secret.
After I grabbed a plate of food, Jake waved me over to where he and a few of the other dancers were eating.
“Did you hear the news?” he asked as soon as I sat down.
I scrunched my nose while stabbing at a piece of egg. “Other than them canceling rehearsals today, no.”
“But do you know why?”
I shook my head. “No. Do you?”
Jake nodded. “Sebastian had another blowup this morning. Apparently, he stumbled in late to the early-morning rehearsals and flipped when he saw his understudy filling in for him.”
Madeline blew out a breath. She was a couple spots down from Jake. “Sebastian does not want anyone but him singing his songs.”
“Then he should show up on time like the rest of us,” Jake shot back.
“I’m sure we don’t know the whole story,” I tried. “Give him a break, you guys.”
The way the cast’s eyes shot over made me want to dig a hole under the table.
“Why are you always sticking up for him, Kai? He’s not your responsibility.”
My cheeks heated. “I know that. I’m just saying to cut him some slack. We weren’t there. We don’t know what really happened.”
“I was there,” Madeline said, her eyes wide like saucers. “Some of the understudies were asked to block some of the shots while they tested the lighting.”
I couldn’t keep the shock from my face. “You’re saying Sebastian got so angry Jimmy called off rehearsals?”
“He was furious,” Madeline confirmed. “Grabbed Lee by his shirt collar and yanked him off the piano bench.”
“Really?” I still didn’t want to believe it. “Why would he do that?”
Jake shook his head. “There’s no explaining him, Kai. He’s always been like this—just a bad dude who hates life.”
My stomach twisted at his words. Clearly, Jake didn’t know the real Sebastian. The man I’d gotten to know over the past month and a half might have had a rough exterior, but he had always meant well even if he didn’t know how to express himself when he felt threatened.
Jake’s opinion of Sebastian meant nothing to me. They’d worked together years before. People changed.
“They call him Bash for a reason, you know?” Jake said, forcing my attention back to him.
“Why does everyone call him Bash?”
Madeline searched the table before opening her mouth. “Didn’t he trash his dressing room one night during the Broadway run?”
“Oh yeah,” Jake confirmed. “I was playing Angst on Broadway at the time. Things were toxic already, but that night…” Jake shook his head as if the memories were too heavy to bear. “We’re talking broken mirrors, pictures, couch cushions thrown everywhere. There was even a hole in the wall from where he bashed it before he broke his hand. Saw it with my own two eyes. If he didn’t own the show, there’s no way in hell he’d ever be allowed back on a stage.”
Madeline gasped. “Scary.”
Incredibly in tune with all the backstage gossip, Jake nodded, emphatically, playing into the drama like he always did. “It is. But the guy gets away with murder.”
“He was probably still drunk this morning,” Andrew tossed in. “You should have seen him at the bar last night. He came here straight after rehearsal and started slamming them back. Then he reached over the bar, grabbed a bottle of liquor, and took off.”
“Like I said.” Jake rolled his eyes. “Murder.”
My chest was so tight that I wasn’t even sure I could breathe. I dropped my fork with a clang and stood. Everyone’s concerned eyes shot to me, and I managed a pinched smile. “I just realized I forgot something in my room. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
I felt like everyone was against Sebastian, but I’d always figured that was just because he was misunderstood and they hadn’t taken the time to get to know him. After the conversation I’d just left, I wasn’t sure what to believe.
I headed back to my room but didn’t stop there. Instead, I turned to Sebastian’s door and knocked. Then knocked again. And again… until I finally started hearing movement.
When the door finally opened, Sebastian was standing there, fully clothed that time, and with his brows pulled together in the middle. “Back for seconds?” He gestured for me to enter.
I glared and balled my hands into fists. “No. I’m not staying either. I just have something to say to you.”
He cocked a brow, folded his arms across his chest, and leaned against the doorframe. “I can’t wait to hear it.”
“Ugh. You are not helping your case right now.”
“My case?” The amused tilt of his lip made me all kinds of ragey.
“The cast members talk. I told you that before. And right now, they aren’t saying very nice things.”
He lolled his head back and let it bang the door. When his eyes met mine again, he sighed. “Tell me something I don’t know.”