Save Me - Chapter 17: Chapter 18

Dahlia
"Well?" The large British man hissed.
Damien was big, but this man was huge. Though they seemed roughly the same height, the newcomer was built like an aspiring bodybuilder. I was startled by his sudden appearance.
"Sebastian, I swear to g—" Damien's glare was so cold it could've refrozen the melting polar ice caps.
"Uh-oh, the full government name," Sebastian said, straightening up and raising his palms in mock surrender. "Okay, I'm done fucking around. Please don't kill me." But the mischievous grin on his face suggested otherwise.
Now that I could see him fully, he was stunning. From his muscles, short blonde hair, twinkling grey eyes, chiseled jaw, and cleft chin, he looked like a superhero—clean-cut and a stark contrast to Damien's dark features and brooding nature.
"And who is this lovely lady?" He bent down and looked at me curiously. It was strange that my body didn't react to him the way it did with Damien, despite how handsome he was. But I decided not to dwell on that.
"Very thin ice, Sebastian," I heard Damien growl.
Ah, cranky Damien was back.
"I'm sorry about him, he's been testy all day." I stood to properly greet the newcomer. "Hello, my name is Dahlia. It's lovely to meet you." I extended my hand, but instantly regretted it when Damien's glare zeroed in on our clasped hands. He looked furious.
"Damien is a very testy man, isn't he?" Sebastian beamed, and I couldn't help but smile back. My mother would've loved his warm energy. "I'm Sebastian Montgomery, Damien's best and only friend."
Damien scoffed. "You're a parasite who burrowed in where you were not wanted and never left."
I gaped at him.
"See? He is obsessed with me." Sebastian's smile didn't falter, and there wasn't a hint of hurt on his face. Their dynamic was strange, to say the least.
"I've been looking forward to meeting you, Dahlia. I've heard such great things about you from Damien. Apologies for missing your wedding, but someone didn't invite me." He looked genuinely disappointed, and I felt bad for him. It was a tiny, rushed ceremony, but as Damien's closest friend, he should've been invited.
"If it makes you feel any better, there wasn't even any cake," I said, trying to console him.
Sebastian boomed with laughter.
"You are interrupting our date, Monty." Damien's tone was clipped and impatient.
"Alright, alright, I know when I've overstayed my welcome."
"Do you?" Damien grumbled under his breath.
"Dahlia, I'm hosting a charity gala this coming Saturday. We're raising funds to build hospitals in eight rural areas across four third-world countries. I'd love for you to come. Not just to force Damien to finally attend one of my events instead of just tossing me hush money every year—"
"I'm one of your biggest donors, you prick."
"—but also so we can get to know each other better. Maybe you'll end up realizing you'd rather be with me than the broody arsehole you married."
At that, Damien shot to his feet, glowering at Sebastian and looking ready to pounce. I silently thanked Carol for making me wear heels because even though the two men still towered over me, I didn't feel like an insignificant speck and was confident enough to hold my ground.
I reached out to place a soothing hand on Damien's arm, but he recoiled from my touch as if I'd burned him. Puzzled and worried that I might've hurt him, I turned to face him. His narrowed gaze was focused on the spot where my hand had been.
"Oookay, this is my cue to leave. It was wonderful meeting you, Dahlia. See you next Saturday." Sebastian didn't wait for a response before leaving, which was just as well since my attention was fully on Damien, trying to understand his reaction to my touch.
Given how he'd avoided every handshake offered by the store attendants today, I began to suspect that Damien did not like being touched.
"We should leave." His tone was cold, and he looked more distant than I'd ever seen him. Like Sebastian, he didn't wait for a response, paying for dinner and guiding me out of the restaurant without another word.