“Are you going to hit play on that?” he questions, his eyes darting between me and the remote.
“I’m working on it,” I huff, embarrassed that he seems to know just how distracted he’s making me.
“Well work faster,” he teases, nodding in approval when I finally manage to get my fingers to work and the movie kicks on.
I wish I could say I calmed down, that eventually I settled in and lost myself in the movie, but I didn’t. Not even a little bit. I couldn’t focus on anything except Sebastian. How he laughed next to me. How about halfway into the movie, after the popcorn was pretty much gone, his hand found its way to mine and didn’t leave it for the next hour—the pad of his thumb tracing circles along the back of my hand. How I kept feeling his eyes on the side of my face instead of on the television screen where they should have been.
I’ve never watched a movie before and had no idea what actually happened by the end of it. It’s Sebastian. He’s intoxicating and distracting and demands to be the center of attention no matter what’s going on. And he doesn’t even have to try—it’s just him.
“I gotta admit, I didn’t peg you as a Kevin Hart fan.” He finally breaks the silence just as the end credits start to roll.
“Why?” I ask, stretching—my pretty obvious play off at pulling my hand away.
“You just seem, I don’t know, kind of serious.” He shrugs.
“I do?” I question, wondering what kind of impression I’m giving him here.
“A little, yeah.” He chuckles, clearly amused by my reaction to his statement.
“Well, I’m not,” I blurt defensively.
“No?” He smiles, shifting his body toward me.
“I mean, okay, I’m a little serious.” I sigh. “But not to the point that I don’t know how to laugh or have a good time. I’m just serious when I need to be.”
“And right now is one of those times?” he challenges.
“What?” I can’t keep the defensiveness out of my voice.
Is this why he came here—to make me feel worse about myself than I already do?
“See—there,” he points out, that damn grin firmly placed on his handsome face. “You’re so easy to rile up.”
“I am not,” I huff, even though I know he’s right.
“You’re adorable.” His comment isn’t patronizing the way I expect it to be; in fact, the way he says it coupled with the way he’s looking at me reads quite the opposite.
My heart beats against my ribs like a sledgehammer.
“I am?” I don’t know why the question leaves my lips. I wish I could take it back, stuff it away, but then Sebastian nods slowly, his tongue darting out to trace along his bottom lip.
I’m fascinated by the action, my eyes glued to his mouth, wondering what his lips would feel like pressed against mine.
He laughs lightly which causes a deep blush to flood my face. Something about his expression tells me he knows exactly where my mind has gone, and it’s both frustrating and sexy.
“You’re more than just adorable, Tess.” He reaches out, sliding his fingers across my jaw. “And what makes you even more beautiful is that you have no idea just how breathtaking you are.” My breath catches when his thumb crosses my bottom lip.
I swear my stomach is a mass of butterflies and something else that I’m not quite sure I’ve ever felt before. I squeeze my legs together, trying to dull the unfamiliar ache I feel.
“I-I’m not like those other girls, Sebastian,” I blurt nervously.
“And what other girls would you be referring to?” he asks, his gaze locked on mine.
“The kind that sleep with you.” It takes everything in me to force it out. “If you think you can come over here and sweet talk your way into my pants, you’re wrong. It takes a lot more than that to win me over.”
“I think that might be the point.” His comment surprises me, but I’m too far gone to respond.
I can feel him inching toward me, his hazel eyes dark. I swear everything stands still as I wait. And I wait. And I wait. He stops so close to my face I can feel the heat of his breath on my cheek.
“I’m going to kiss you now, Tess,” he whispers, not moving an inch.
It takes me a moment to realize he’s waiting for me to say yes.
“Okay.” It’s less than a whisper and then his lips are on mine. Hot and firm, pressing against me so gently I almost whimper.
This is not what I expected at all. Not from someone like Sebastian. When he opens his mouth, tracing his tongue across the seam of my lips, I immediately open to him. His tongue darts out, seeking mine and he groans deep into my mouth when he finds it.
The ache in my lower belly explodes into an inferno, my breathing ragged and less controlled the deeper the kiss goes.
I feel like I’m at a tipping point—my feet are hanging off the edge and only a very thin string is holding me in place, keeping me from tumbling over the side. But I want to jump. I want to spread my arms and dive into the unknown. And I want it with Sebastian.
“Tess.” He’s the first to break the kiss, my name a strangled groan from his lips before he pulls back completely.
Like being doused in cold water, my actions suddenly become clear, and embarrassment becomes the most prominent feeling I have.
“I’m sorry.” I hold my hand over my lips that now feel so different somehow.
“Don’t do that.” He gently pulls my hand away. “Don’t kiss me like that and then apologize afterward. I want you to mean it. God…” He pulls me back to him. “I don’t know what you’re doing to me, Tessa Wilson, but I want you to keep doing it.” He kisses me again, this time a small peck, followed by another and then another, before pulling back again.
“Fuck.” He looks at me for another long moment and then pushes to his feet. “I should probably go.”
“Wait, why?” I question, his abrupt movement catching me off guard.
“Because, Tess.” He lets out a long exhale and then turns, looking down at me. “You said it yourself—you’re not like the other girls. And I like that about you. But I’m also a guy, and right now I want nothing more than to take you to your bedroom and do really bad things to you.”
“Like what?” I push to my feet, not sure where in the hell my words are coming from.
“Things you’re not ready for, let’s leave it at that.”
I want to challenge him. Ask him how he knows I’m not ready, but deep down I know he’s right. It’s easy to get lost in the excitement and the thrill of it all, but as the rational part of me slowly returns, so does my voice of reason.
Sebastian kisses the top of my head and then takes off into the foyer, stopping to slip on his shoes. I walk him to the door, not really sure what to say or what to do.
“Thanks for tonight, Tess. I needed this.” He pulls me against his chest, my arms going around his taut frame.
I close my eyes and inhale deeply, having never smelled anyone who smells quite like Sebastian. Unlike Dylan, Sebastian is more man than boy, and his scent reflects that—musky and masculine.
“Me, too,” I admit, having not realized how much until this very moment.
“Can I call you tomorrow?” he asks, pulling back to look down at me.
“I’d like that,” I answer truthfully.
The smile I get in return nearly takes my breath away. My god, he’s even more handsome than I realized before. It’s one thing to check Sebastian out from a distance, it’s quite another to be so up close and personal with him.
It’s almost inconceivable that a guy like this would ever waste his time on a girl like me and yet, here he is. Looking at me like I’m all he sees, and here I am feeling like I’m seconds away from melting into a puddle at his feet.
“Well, here we go.” Courtney joins me in front of the car, and together we make our way toward the high school building for our first day of junior year.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I think it’s more about seeing
Sebastian than it is about starting school again. I always have first day jitters, but this is something else entirely.
Even after what happened on Saturday, I still wasn’t one hundred percent convinced I’d hear from Sebastian on Sunday. But as promised, he called me; it was shortly after dinner, and we talked for nearly two hours.
When we hung up he left me only with an “I’ll see you tomorrow, Tess.” His sultry voice making me wish it was already tomorrow.
Now it is, and I’m walking into school with an entire swarm of butterflies in my stomach flapping so wildly it’s a wonder I’m able to keep myself securely on the ground.
We meet up with Bree, whose locker is just a couple down from mine, and then walk together toward our homeroom classes. Courtney and Bree were lucky enough to end up in the same homeroom where I was not.
I bid my two best friends goodbye before making my way four doors down to where my homeroom class is located. The room is already packed and bustling with excited students catching up with friends.
I head for the empty desk in the far front corner, saying hello to some of my classmates as I pass by. Unfortunately, because I spent so much time in the hallway with Court and Bree, the bell rings before I even make it all the way to my desk.
Mr. Johnson is still in the hallway, ushering some last-minute arrivals through the door, so I quickly take my seat. While he’s distracted, I take a quick moment to check my phone, wanting to make sure it’s on silent before class starts. Sliding the device from the back pocket of my skinny jeans, my breath catches in my throat the moment I see a text message from Sebastian.
Sebastian: I hope you have a good first day.
Looking up to see Mr. Johnson entering the room, I quickly lock the device and shove it back into my pocket without having a chance to text Sebastian back.
The first part of the morning goes by in a blur. While I’m familiar with the building, there’s still some classroom searching that takes place on the first day, especially given that half the classes on my schedule are spread over the four different wings of school making it somewhat difficult to make it from one class to the next in the short three minutes that’s allotted between bells.
By the time third period rolls around, I’ve managed to be late to all three classes, stumbling into Advanced Chemistry nearly two full minutes after the bell because I got turned around having never really been to the east wing before.
There are only two seats open, and I immediately opt for the one in the row closest to me about halfway toward the back. I hate drawing any attention to myself and considering my late arrival, pretty much everyone in the class watches me until I finally claim my desk.
I’ve barely gotten my notebook open before I hear snickering coming from behind me. Because of my rushed entrance, I didn’t really pay much attention to who was sitting around me, but knowing it probably has nothing to do with me, I choose to ignore it and turn my attention forward.
It’s not long before the girls are giggling again, talking in hushed whispers. Mr. Merlock is either completely oblivious to it or chooses to ignore it, but considering they’re sitting right behind me, it’s a far more challenging task for me, but I manage to shut them out for most of the class. That is until I hear Sebastian’s name. That’s when my ears perk up, and I really start listening.
“Are you sure that’s her? He would never hook up with her. Look at her. She’s so—boring.” The hair on the back of my neck stands up as a fresh set of goose bumps spread across my skin.
“Maybe he did it out of pity. You know, so people would think they hooked up,” the second girl responds.
“Oh, you’re probably right. Sebastian really is so sweet, taking on such pathetic charity cases. I wonder if she actually believed he was giving her the time of day, or if she knew all along it was just a rouse.”
“Poor thing. She probably thought it was real.” This causes both the girls behind me to break into a fit of giggles once again.
It takes everything in me not to turn around and say something. I want to so bad. I want to tell them that not only did we spend an incredible night together on Friday, but that he came to my house Saturday and we spent hours on the phone Sunday, but I know better than to open that can of worms. It would probably just egg them on more.
I wish I could say I’m a thick-skinned person and their words don’t poke me like little needles being jabbed into my skin, but that’s simply not the case.
By the time the bell rings, I’m so on edge I feel like I’m gonna crawl out of my own skin. Grabbing my stuff off my desk, I hightail it toward the door before I do something I’ll regret, like slapping tweedle dee and tweedle dumb right across their catty faces with my chemistry book.
I’m in such a rush to get away from the entire situation that I narrowly miss running into Dylan as I turn the corner in my attempt to flee. He jumps, startled by our near collision, and then recognition flashes across his face.
“Sorry.” I avoid his gaze as I attempt to step around him.
I get all of two steps before his voice halts my movements.
“So, Sebastian Baxter huh?” The disdain dripping from each word has me slowly turning around.
He looks like his normal put together self. Dark hair short and styled, his decent built frame dressed in his usual jeans and sports tee. But it’s his eyes that throw me off. The deep brown color not as soft as I once thought it to be. There’s an edge to him I never really noticed while we were together.
Did he always look at me like that?
“What?” I finally question, my pulse drumming against my neck.
“You know, I actually felt bad for what I did to you,” he says, his nose snarled. “But then you go and pull some shit like this.”
“What are you talking about?” I don’t try to hide my confusion.
“Six months, Tess. We were together for six months, and still, you weren’t ready. One night at Sebastian Baxter’s house and you’re offering it up like it’s a free meal service that everyone is entitled to but me.”
His words are like a slap across the face, and I rear back from their impact.
This is the first interaction I’ve had with Dylan since our breakup, and he has the nerve to come at me about Sebastian after what he did with Taylor. Anger boils deep in my chest, and I have to physically restrain myself from exploding.
“So what if I did?” I find myself lying just to hurt him. “You’re the one who cheated on me, you broke up with me remember?”
“So you go and fuck the biggest player in school to get back at me?” His voice booms around me, and only then do I realize the eyes that have stopped to watch this little altercation.
“Fuck you, Dylan!” I seethe, surprising even myself. “Fuck you!” I repeat before spinning around and practically running down the hallway, leaving him standing in what I can only guess is complete shock.
I’ve never stood up to Dylan before, not like that. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel good. It did. It felt better than good—amazing might be a better word for it. I just wish there weren't so many people around listening to him spew his lies.
Between the girls in Chemistry and Dylan’s little hallway outburst, it’s only a matter of time before the whole school thinks I screwed Sebastian Baxter.
***
The downfall to being in all advanced classes is that I rarely get to see my friends throughout the day. And with the day I’ve had, I could use a little detox time with Bree and Courtney. Luckily, like the last two years, we have the same lunch period. After grabbing a salad and yogurt from the lunch line, I make my way across the cafeteria to the far right side where Courtney, Bree, and I have sat every lunch period since freshman year.
As I get close to the table, for a moment I question if I’ve got the right spot. Our ten-person round table that usually sits around five girls and the occasional boy Bree is dating, is now packed full of guys and girls alike.
I hesitate before I spot Courtney who hold
s her hand up in a half wave the moment she sees me. I nod, surprised to find Ant sitting next to her. But the real shock is who is sitting on the other side of him.
A flood of heat washes over my face when those brilliant hazel eyes meet mine, and a slow smile spreads across Sebastian’s face. It doesn’t take me long to realize that there is only one seat open and it’s between Sebastian and Marissa, a mutual friend of our group.
I take a deep breath and head around the table, fully aware of how Sebastian’s eyes never lose sight of me, following my every move until I finally claim the seat next to him.
“Bout time your ass showed up.” Bree throws a French fry at me from across the table. It skids across the surface and ends up somewhere on the floor behind me.
“My class schedule is insane this year.” I try my best to remain casual despite feeling like I’m going to bounce out of my seat with nervous energy.
“Well, that’s what you get for being such an overachiever,” she teases, turning toward Blake when he grumbles something under his breath.
“Hey.” Sebastian gently nudges his shoulder against mine, pulling my gaze away from Bree.
“Hey.” I have trouble speaking around the knot in my throat.
It’s one thing to play pretend with Sebastian—to exist with him outside of school—but being here with him next to me feels almost like some cheesy teenage RomCom.
“You didn’t text me back this morning.”
“Sorry. I meant to. I just got really busy,” I croak out, my throat dry.
“I guess I can give you a free pass this time,” he teases, his mouth pulling up on one side.
“What are you doing over here anyway?” I try to push past my nerves, quickly adding, “Slumming it today?”
Sebastian always sits at the long table next to the windows where most of the football team and cheerleaders tend to congregate. To say I’m shocked to see him over here in my neck of the woods is the understatement of the year.
Not that my group of friends isn’t popular. I mean, Bree and Courtney are hands-down two of the prettiest girls in school, but we are definitely not part of his crowd.
Where the Night Ends Page 6