Page 98 of Little Do You Know

Cleaning everything up doesn’t take long, but it’s nowhere near spotless. We’ll have to finish later. I grab my sweater as I follow Sebastian to the staircase up to his room, my face heating at the sight of the table we had sex on. I’ll never be able to look at the furniture in his house the same way.

“What should I wear?” he asks anxiously as I finish fixing my hair.

“Just wear what you normally wear,” I reply, trying not to laugh at his nervousness, but he’s known my parents for forever. They’re not going to care what he’s wearing as long as he doesn’t show up naked. It’s cute he cares so much about their opinion.

I sit on the bed and watch him try on three shirts before deciding on a maroon sweater that matches his hair and eyes almost perfectly. My fingers are toying with the necklace I haven’t taken off since Sebastian put it on me, and I smile as he tries to fix his hair. “Is this okay?”

“You look great.”

“I really want today to go smoothly.”

My face falls as I remember why I retreated to Sebastian’s in the first place.

“About that…you see…I forgot my mom is still best friends with Vera’s. Vera is at my house right now,” I explain, hating how his face falls. He forgot too. If I weren’t so irritated she’s at my house, I would think it’s funny everyone has managed to forget her. I wrap my arms around Bash’s waist. “Don’t overthink this. Everything is going to be fine.” I feel like the shit is going to hit the fan actually, but that’s not what he needs to hear right now.

“Lia, I just…we’re in such a good place right now that I don’t want anything to happen.”

“Nothing is going to happen. Let’s go get that pie and face la chienne.” I shudder dramatically, trying to lighten the mood, and Sebastian tries to laugh.

I wrap up the pie, and Sebastian disappears into the basement, bringing up a bottle of wine. “I’m bringing this for your sake. I’m also confident it will taste good since it’s from Mimi’s collection. She had great taste.”

“It’s going to be great,” I reassure him, wishing I could convince myself at the same time.

~

I’m holding my fork so tightly I’m surprised it hasn’t snapped in half. Sebastian is sitting to my left, with my dad at the head of the table on the other side of him. My grandma is across from Bash, Grandpa next to her, then Owen. Anna is adjacent to my mother, and I’m the lucky bitch who gets to sit next to my ex—best friend.

I’ve already refilled my wine glass once, but I don’t want to drink too much as I’m doing my best to hold my tongue.

Most of the discussion has focused on Owen and Sebastian entering the draft in April.

“So do you guys think you’ll end up on the same team?” Grandpa asks, and Bash takes the lead on this question.

“It’s hard to know. We’d have to go in different rounds of the draft if that’s the case. Realistically, we won’t be on the same team, but we’re certainly stronger together,” he answers since Owen is chewing a mouthful of mashed potatoes, preventing him from speaking.

Mom shakes her head, smiling. “Haven’t we talked enough about football? Football has been on the television all morning, and I see all of you checking the score on your phones.”

Unfortunately for her, all the men at the table turn to look at her questioningly. Owen is the one who speaks for everyone. “There can never be enough talk about football.”

I can’t help but laugh because he says it so seriously, and even Sebastian lets out a short chuckle. “Okay, drama queen.” I roll my eyes at my brother.

“I wouldn’t say he’s the drama queen between the two of you,” Vera comments quietly under her breath, and I force a smile on my face. I’m going to stab her with this fork. Underneath the table, Bash rests his hand on my knee to distract me, and I take a few breaths to calm myself.

Anna looks curiously at me and Vera, but I avoid her watchful gaze, taking a large drink of my wine.

“So how long have you been together?” Grandma asks, and it takes me a second to realize she’s referring to me and Bash.

“It’s kind of been on and off again for a little while,” I answer vaguely, glancing at Bash for help.

“Thalia’s not getting rid of me anytime soon.” Sebastian squeezes my leg before pulling his hand back.

“Until a photography opportunity comes along like her year abroad, and she leaves you behind again,” Vera chimes in quietly.

“Excuse me?” I turn to look at her, waiting for her to say something directly to my face.I don’t think she has the balls without alcohol.

Owen interjects quickly, sensing that things are about to go south very quickly. “I think what Vera meant to say was that you had a great opportunity to go to France.”

I dare Vera to say something more, but then the conversation is directed to my trip to France. I have to ignore her if I’m going to get through this meal.

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