Find Me Alastar

“I thought you were away?” Brielle frowns.

“Nope, we don’t leave for another two weeks,” he slurs.

What? I drop my head to hide my dismay. He hasn’t even gone. He lied to get rid of me. I feel like I

have just been hit in the stomach.

I’m a stupid fool.

“Did you want me to come over tonight, Brielle, and give your boss that show?” He smiles.

“No, I’m good,” she replies with the shake of a head, her concerned eyes watching me across the

table.

“Where is Alastar?” I ask.

Brielle widens her eyes in a shut up kind of way.

“He’s at home being a miserable prick, I imagine.”

He turns his eyes back to Brielle. I think he really does want to do her on Mr. Masters bed while he

watches. “Do you want to dance, Brelly?” he asks in a nearly unrecognisable voice. Like Alastar, his

accent is much stronger when he’s drunk.

Brielle’s eyes find me for approval.

“Why is he miserable?” I can’t help myself. I have to ask. He’s going to be fucking miserable once I

cut his dick off with an axe.

“Ahh, let me see.” He rubs his chin when he stands then side steps as he stumbles. Gosh, he is drunk.

He takes Brielle’s hand and pulls her out of her chair. “He has fallen hopelessly in love with this

Australian girl named Emmaline and he can’t have her. So he’s sulking.” He rolls his eyes in a drunken

stupor. “Stupid prick.” Huh. Brielle’s eyes snap to mine as he spins her around.

“Why can’t he have her?” I blurt out.

He shakes his head. “Baby, even if I told you, you would never believe me in a million years.”

He spins Brielle around and she laughs out loud as my pulse starts to thump in my ears. He’s fallen

hopelessly in love?

He’s fallen hopelessly in love?

With me??

Then why did he tell me that he had already left?

What the hell is going on with him?

That’s it. I stand with renewed vigor. I catch Brielle’s eyes and give her a wave before I head out of

the door. I take out my phone and scroll through Brielle’s texts until I get to the one where Alastar gave his

address and sent it to her that night she came over for dinner. I lift my arm for a cab as I run out onto theConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

curb.

Alastar O’shea, I’m coming to sort you out! And you had better be hopelessly in love with me, you big

fool or else there is going to be trouble.

The cab slows to a halt outside Alastar’s mansion. I gingerly get out of the car. I’m not feeling half as

brave now. What am I doing here? I walk up the stairs and bang the brass knocker that sits on the double

doors. Nobody answers.

I knock again.

Oh, this is great. He’s pretending he isn’t home. I should throw a rock through the fucking window. I

knock again and surprise myself at just how loud it is and the door opens in a rush.

Alastar stands in front of me in a pair of boxer shorts and nothing else. His face falls when he sees

me.

I stay silent, shocked at his disappointment that I’m here-that he is really here.

He lied to me.

“Em,” he murmurs.

“Hello.” I feel the stupid tears of betrayal wanting to break free again, but I hold them in.

We stay silent as we stare at each other. Why? Why do I feel the urge to throw myself into his arms?

He seems off. Something isn’t right. “Are you okay?” I whisper.

He drops his head and hesitates.

“Please. You need to go home.”

I remain silent as my eyes search his. He doesn’t want me here. What do I say to that? Maybe Thomas

made the whole thing up about him loving me and he really doesn’t give two shits?

“Why did you lie?” I ask.

He stares at me as if choosing his words carefully before he speaks.

He drops his head.

“You can’t even look me in the eye when you lie? You told me you were going overseas?” I ask.

His sad eyes meet mine. “Baby, I mean it. Go home. Please.”

I shake my head as tears sting the back of my eyes. “Don’t you feel it? Am I in this alone?”

He doesn’t answer. He just drops his head again.

I step forward and take his hand and his eyes fall to our entwined fingers. “Is something wrong?” I

ask.