To Start Over (Book 1)

You Have Us Now

I didn't even know how I got here.

One moment, I was breaking apart in the middle of the street, and the next, I was sitting in a room I had never seen before.

The walls were a soft off-white, making the room feel warm and calm. Gentle lighting filled the space, and the air carried a hint of coffee and cinnamon. Even with everything going on inside me, the room felt safe. "Here."

I looked up as Sebastian handed me a steaming mug. His voice was quieter now, softer and more careful. I paused before taking the cup, letting the warmth soak into my fingers. "Thanks," I murmured, barely above a whisper.

He didn't say anything at first. He just sat across from me, watching. He wasn't judging or pitying; he was just watching. "You scared the hell out of me today, Olivia."

I swallowed, my throat tight. "You were running like you didn't even care if something happened to you." His jaw clenched, and I noticed his fingers twitching a little, as if he was holding himself back. "Is that how little you think of yourself?"

I didn't want to answer that.

Instead, I stared at the coffee, watching the steam curl into the air.

Seb sighed, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees. "You know, I get it," he said quietly.

I frowned, looking up at him. "No, you don't."

His lips twitched, but there was no humour in his expression. "You think you're the only one who's felt like this?" His voice wasn't accusing, just... honest. "Like nothing you do will ever be enough? Like you're always just a second away from" He shook his head, exhaling sharply. "From breaking?"

I blinked.

Sebastian always seemed so alive, so confident, so untouchable. But now, as I really looked at him, I noticed something I had never let myself see before.

His eyes.

They were sad.

Always had been.

He ran a hand through his hair, looking almost frustrated. "You don't have to say anything, okay? But don't ever think you're alone in this." He paused, his gaze locking onto mine. "Because you're not."

A lump caught in my throat, heavy and unmoving.

Before I could respond, the front door swung open, and Evelyn's voice echoed through the space.

I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, the front door slammed open.

"That absolute piece of garbage!"

Evelyn.

She stormed in, looking like she was ready to murder someone, with Luke following behind her, arms crossed and an equally pissed-off look on his face.

Seb sighed. "Who are you talking about?"

"Of course, Brad!" Eve snapped. "That bastard was laughing about what he did today. Like, laughing."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Swear to god, one day that guy's ego is gonna suffocate him."

"I say we help speed up the process," Eve muttered, cracking her knuckles.

Seb groaned. "Eve, no."

"Eve, yes," she shot back. "Come on, he needs to be knocked off his high horse."

Luke smirked. "We could replace his shampoo with hair dye."

"Or fill his locker with something nasty," Evelyn added, eyes gleaming.