The next morning, Rylee woke up first and was fully regretting not closing the curtains before they went to bed last night. She groaned as she rolled out of bed, accidentally pulling the blanket as she went.

She heard another, deeper groan from behind her when she did.

She looked back towards the noise as she closed the curtains to see a disheveled Sebastian, aimlessly grasping his hand out, trying to find the blanket without opening his eyes.

She thought she was off to a rough start, but looking at Sebastian, she realized she was far better off.

He was clad in just black boxer briefs, hair wavy and tousled every which way, a pitiful pout crossing his lips as his hand still couldn't quite find the blanket.

Rylee reached over and lightly tossed the blanket towards Sebastian and he sighed when he felt it make contact with his hand as he rolled over, pulling it with him. "Mm. Thanks, Ry," Sebastian replied with a deep morning drawl.

"You gonna make it?" Rylee chuckled at Sebastian's sad state as she put on her glasses.

"Nope." Sebastian replied quietly, now buried and curled into the blanket, even on this warm June morning.

Rylee slowly padded around the bed, patting him on the butt as she walked by, "I'll be right back."

She heard a groan in understanding from him as she turned the corner.

She went downstairs to the kitchen and rounded up two bottles of Gatorade and some ibuprofen before she slowly made her way back up to the bedroom.

Sebastian was still exactly where she left him, completely hidden under the blanket, even though the room was dark.

"You know, your eyeballs are safe. Curtains are closed," Rylee said as she gently sat next to him on the bed, swallowing down her own ibuprofen as she tapped him to offer him some.

He pulled the blanket down, enough to squint in Rylee's direction, putting out his hand, waiting for her offering.

He realized he needed to sit up to take them and groaned as he slowly pushed the blanket off and pulled himself up to lean against the headboard. He popped the ibuprofen into his mouth and took a swig of the Gatorade Rylee offered.

"Thanks, baby." Sebastian said, voice husky and low, still trying to wake up.

"You're welcome," Rylee said as she gently sat on the bed and leaned over to give him a swift kiss, "I'm going to get some Round Corner delivered. And we can just camp in bed."

"God I fucking love you. I knew there was a reason I'm marrying you." Sebastian said as he stretched, slowly laying back down in the bed.

Rylee laughed as Sebastian curled back up and opened up the blanket, beckoning Rylee to crawl in with him.

———————————

Rylee was annoyed with her past self for agreeing to switch shifts with Jenna at work today, so now she had to head in for noon instead of 8. Luckily her hangover seemed to die down quickly, though Sebastian's was just starting to settle when she left for work.

As she walked out the door, Sebastian gave her a quick goodbye and an I love you before he quickly rolled over and decided to take a nap to stem off the last bits of the headache and nausea trying to naw at him.

——————————

At around 5:00, Sebastian was relaxing in bed, hangover finally gone and settled, scrolling through his phone when he got a call from Daniel Bruhl. He had mentioned last month that he had recently bought a second house in the city and he called just now asking him, Chris, and Anthony to help him with somethings at his new place.

Sebastian of course told him yes, always willing to help his friends when they needed it. He wanted to make sure Rylee didn't have anything planned that he may have forgotten.

😍

Hey, I know you've got that weird schedule today, you work til like 8 right?

❤️

Yeah, not sure why I agreed to it. The days been dragging. No one ever comes in here til like 9.

😍

Ugh I can imagine.

Would you be okay to get yourself dinner tonight?

Daniel asked me and a few other people to come over and help him at his new place.

❤️

Oh. Sure. Yeah that's fine.

😍

You sure? We don't have anything going on right?

❤️

Yeah, no..we don't. What're y'all going to be doing?

😍

Not quite sure. I think moving shit.

❤️

Ah, well be safe. Love you

😍

Love you too

Well shit.

Rylee had planned to make a big surprise dinner for Sebastian tonight, just because it would be one of their last few nights just the two of them before he had to leave for LA.

Over the past few days Rylee had been working, or Sebastian would be doing interviews or table reads, so she was bummed, but she didn't want to ruin his night by saying he ruined a surprise.

She tucked her phone into her back pocket and walked back out to the serving floor, checking on her small handful of tables. Everyone at Ruby's today was pretty chill, except of course one group.

It was a bachelorette party of 10 women, probably all around 25. Rylee was surprised, it was a Friday, but usually bachelorette parties didn't start up until 9 or 10 at the bars on the strip.

The table was getting a bit rowdy, though Rylee brushed it off. Its a bachelorette party. They were just having fun.

As she checked on her tables the time hit around 7:30. It would probably be one of her last few walk arounds before she'd clock out, so she saved them for last.

"Hey ladies!" Rylee said as she threw on a perky smile, "how's everyone doing so far?"

The women all cheered and said various versions of "great", laughing and giggling away.

"My shift will be ending soon and I'll be switching you ladies over to Jenna's till, alrighty? Is there anything else I can get you before then?" Rylee asked sweetly.

There were murmurs and giggles that flooded through the group and suddenly one girl yelled, "You could get me some of that dick!"

The rest of the girls fake gasped and a few lightly slapped her arm, though whatever she was talking about they thought it was hilarious as they continued to laugh.

"I'm sorry, w-what?" Rylee tucked her pen behind her ear and cocked her head to the side slightly.

"You're Rylee right? Sebastian Stan's girlfriend? What's that dick like, hmm? That sex has gotta be immaculate. Let me get some of that!" The girl whooped and hollered, most of the group joining into the laughs.

Rylee was shocked by what the woman said."Seriously?"

The woman who spoke, shrugged with a laugh filled smirk, still apparently thinking she was hilarious.

Rylees tone changed quickly, "what the fuck is wrong with you?"

Directly behind Rylee by the bar, Johnny, who was mid conversation with another customer, stopped when he heard Rylee. He quickly excused himself and jogged over to her and the group of women, all sitting there now in what looked like shock.

"Who the hell says that to anybody? Let alone a fucking stranger? Why d-"

"Rylee. Come on. Kitchen." Johnny said, tugging her arm, though she ripped her arm from his grip and walked back to the kitchen herself, pushing roughly through the swinging door. Johnny following close behind.

When Rylee got in the kitchen, she sat on a stack of boxes, leg bouncing either out of anger or anxiety. She wasn't sure, maybe both.

Johnny stopped in front of her, concern crossing his face, "Rylee. What in the world was that?"

Rylee didn't speak for a moment. She stared at a scuff mark on the floor, jaw set tight.

Johnny snapped his fingers in front of her staring eyes to get her attention and he was surprised that she slapped them out of her view, looking up at him.

"Rylee. What's going on?"

Rylee stood up and got far too close into Johnny's space, pissed might not be the right word for what was emanating from her.

"Ever have customers ask how your fiancé's dick is? Ever have them tell you the sex between you and another person must be, oh how did she word it? 'Immaculate'?! God. Fuck society. Who asks that? Who!?"

Rylee turned back around and headed for the back door, leading to the alley. Johnny followed her out.

"I'll talk to them Rylee...tell them not to be disrespectful or they'll get banned."

"It doesn't matter. They've already said what they wanted to say." Rylee said as she began pacing outside.

"Hey..." Johnny put a hand on her shoulder, turning her slightly so she would stop. He couldn't read her face. She looked like she wanted to cry. She looked like she wanted to scream. He wasn't sure.

"Why don't you just head out early. I'll still clock you for 8...and I'll finish off your tables til Jenna gets here. Okay?" He ran his hand lightly up and down her arm, attempting to comfort her, and bring her some calm.

She looked down at the ground, but nodded, accepting what he had to say. They both walked back inside and Rylee grabbed her purse, she stopped before the swinging door that led back out to the bar and looked at Johnny.

"Thanks, Johnny..." was all Rylee could force herself to say as she left through the door after a quick confirming nod from him in return.

———————————

Rylee stood outside of Ruby's for a moment, unsure of what she wanted to do. She didn't really want to be home alone, so she decided to stop at another bar, Teddy's, a few blocks down to grab dinner.

When she walked in she chose a spot at the counter, ordering a burger and fries. The bar tender asked what she wanted to drink and she was about to say water but quickly changed her mind to a Long Island iced tea.

Before she knew it, three hours passed, she was four long islands deep and a small party of girls next to her invited her to take shots with them.

Why not? She was alone and wanted to forget today anyway.

She toasted to the group, who was celebrating one of them getting engaged. Vicki? Veronica? She couldn't remember.

After they had done that shot, Rylee drunkenly yelled, "Hey! Me too!" Holding up her left hand and wiggling her fingers.

The girls cheered and ordered another round of shots to toast to Rylee.

Afterwards, the girls had decided they wanted to go dance, but Rylee said she would maybe join them in a bit. As they left the bar, Rylee stayed on her stool, bleary eyed, taking out her phone.

Three missed messages.

They were all from around half an hour ago, about 11:30.

😍

Hey baby, almost done here.

They wanted to hang after but I'd rather get home to you

See you in a bit ❤️

And with that Rylee felt horrible, her heart sinking into her stomach. She wondered if he was already home or not, she decided she should start to head home.

She continued tapping at her phone, when she felt someone come up beside her, "Need a refill on that, darlin'?"

Rylee turned her head to the side to look towards the voice and saw a man. He was about six foot, brown hair, brown eyes, with a thick beard. He was wearing black dress pants, a white button up, sleeves rolled to his elbows showing a peak of his right arm's tattoo sleeve, and a loosened black tie.

"I'm okay I think," Rylee said in return, politely trying to turn the man down.

"No please, I insist." He waved his hand in the air for the bar tender, who acknowledged him with a thumbs up when the man pointed down at her drink, holding up two fingers.

Rylee shook her head lightly, "I'm engaged..." Rylee said as she stuck out her left hand to show him her ring.

"Yeah, I've been told that before...thanks sir." He tagged on the end as the bartender brought over two more tequila shots. "Lots of girls are 'engaged' when they're out at the bar."

His hand patted Rylee's shoulder blade but lingered there a while, heating up her back and nerves.

"I'm Mark."

Rylee didn't answer right away, but she jumped a bit when Mark..Mark right? moved his hand up from her shoulder to the base of the back of her neck, squeezing gently, "What, just cause you're 'engaged' you can't tell me your name?"

"I'm...Rylee." She spoke back shortly, unsure of what else to do.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Rylee." His hand drifted back down, lower now, hovering at the small of her back. "Let's do these shots, shall we?" He slid one of the small glasses towards Rylee waiting for her to pick it up.

"Come on..." He tried to entice her. Mike? Matt? She couldn't remember. Just do it. Maybe he'll leave after.

She picked up her glass and tipped it back quickly into her mouth, feeling it burn the whole way down. Her spatial awareness completely shot at this point, she accidentally slammed the glass back down onto the bar.

"I'll try and catch the bartender for some more shots.." Mack? Mark. Definitely Mark, said as he turned his stool slightly away from Rylee.

She took that opportunity to poke around more at her phone, trying to look busy. Mark, right? yeah. Maybe Mark would leave.

Mark turned back in his seat with two more shots a minute or so later. "Ready for another?" Mark said as he lifted up his small glass, his other hand drifting slowly down Rylee's back.

"Please stop." Rylee tried to be polite, not knowing anything about this man, she wasn't sure how he would react to being full fledged turned down.

"Stop what, darlin'?"

"Touching me." Rylee said shortly again, gripping her phone tightly now.

"Why? You don't seem too bothered by it." Mark responded as he removed his hand from her back, but just as quickly placed it on her thigh, leaving it there, unmoving.

"Come on, drink." He held up his glass, waiting.

Rylee had to reach twice for her glass, drunkenly missing it the first time. This was one of the first times this evening she had decided she should probably stop, but she decided to just take the shot and get it over with. Maybe he'd leave her alone this time.

Rylee quickly downed her shot, setting the glass haphazardly on the bar in front of her.

"Nice job, sweetheart." Mike...Mar-Mark said to her in return. He patted her thigh, sliding his hand further now, ending up between her legs. Not quite moving anywhere. Just hovering.

She tried to weakly push at his hand, but it did nothing. His hand stayed securely there. A promise or a threat. She wasn't sure.

"Please...stop touching..me," Rylee slurred out, as it was taking most of her energy just to stay sitting up on her stool, let alone pulling this large, strong man off of her.

"Why?" He asked slyly close to her ear, his hand giving her thigh a tight squeeze. Rylee almost yelped from how tight he squeezed it, but Matt..no..Mark's hand disappeared quickly from her thigh, which surprised Rylee. His body heat seemed to disappear from next to her as well. She wasn't sure if it was just the alcohol coursing through her or-

Her stool was turned around quickly and soon she was face to face with a set of familiar deep blue eyes staring back at her.

"W-what are you doing here?" Had she just wished him into existence? Was he even actually here?

When he took her hand and helped her off the stool, she knew. It was Sebastian, in the flesh. He wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her away from the bar and out the door into the warm night air.

He still hadn't spoken yet in their few minutes together, they were still just walking slowly to, she assumed, Sebastian's car.

He opened the passenger door and gently helped her sit down, leaning across the front of her to make sure she was buckled in. He then shut the door as he walked around to the driver side, slid into his seat and started the car. As he merged into the Friday night traffic, Rylee finally bucked up the courage to speak first.

"How did you-"

"You texted me...said someone was touching you...wouldn't leave you alone...I didn't realize you were obliterated..."

At a stoplight, Sebastian searched through his backpack behind the seat for a minute and pulled out a half full water bottle and handed it to Rylee, "Here, drink this."

Rylee took it and gulped it down easily, not realizing how thirsty she really was.

"I can't figure out if I should ask you what happened and why you were drinking in a random bar alone now, or wait til you're sober..."

Rylee saw a loose string on her shirt and attempted to tug at it, though she missed the first few times she went to grab it.

"I was juss done with today."

"We can leave it at that for now then...just...are you okay? Did he...-"

Rylee shook her head, though it made her vision spin a bit, "I'm okay."

Sebastian nodded as the light changed to green and they continued on their way home. Rylee couldn't really read Sebastian's emotions on his face. She wasn't sure if it was because of the alcohol coursing through her or he was just trying to stay that stoic.

She leaned her head against the cool window, as they drove the rest of the way home in silence.