Chapter 123

DAHLIA

“Hi, Dahlia. Happy Halloween,” he said with that crooked smile that used to melt me. “Can I come in?”

He’s real.

He’s fucking real. Sebastian is standing right here at my door.

Something inside me cracked. Maybe it was excitement. Maybe exhaustion. Or maybe I just needed to hold something real. Before I could stop myself, I dropped the wall I’d built and threw my arms around him.

He stiffened for a split second before hugging me back, tightly—like he’d been holding his breath and I’d just reminded him how to exhale. The warmth of his chest, the smell of his cologne, the steady thump of his heart against my ear, it all felt so heartbreakingly familiar.

Damn!

How much I have missed this. His scent, his embrace, his broad chest, wait…I finally realized why I missed all of these in the first place. I pulled away immediately, trying to mask my embarrassment with anger.

Actually, I’m still angry, not just as angry as before.

“Wh