Page 13 of Little Do You Know

“We’re not. I didn’t see Cody slip past. My mistake,” I choke out, struggling to keep my control.

Her hands feel like magic, loosening the knots in my back, some I didn’t even know were there. They brush over where I’m sure the worst of the bruise is, and I inhale sharply, my hands gripping the counter tightly.

The warmth of her hands is replaced by the chill of the ice pack, causing me to jerk unexpectedly. “Sorry, I should have warned you,” Thalia murmurs. “Good thing there’s a few days before your game.”

Silence falls over us, and I shift to brace myself on the counter with my forearms.

Thalia’s fingers trace over a sensitive patch of skin on the small of my back. “When did you get this?”

“A few months ago,” I answer vaguely, not ready to share anything else about that.It opens the door to Mimi, and I need more time before broaching that topic with Thalia. She hasn’t asked, so it’s safe to assume that Owen or her parents haven’t mentioned everything going on with Mimi to Lia.

I’ve never known Thalia to be at a loss for words, but she traces over the word gingerly. It feels electric having her touch me. Keeping my breathing even, Thalia sets the ice pack down once more before exploring my back again.

I can’t believe I’m letting her do this. I shouldn’t. She’s a distraction, but her hands are magic. I’m pudding in them. I’d do anything she wanted if she asked me right now.

If Owen walked out here right now, what would he think finding me and his sister half-naked together? Not together, but it’d raise some questions I don’t have answers to, especially since my cock is harder than steel right now.

Dammit, Chris. Why did you have to move in with your girlfriend?

“I need to get some sleep, and so do you. I have an early morning,” I say, moving to the side, away from her touch, attempting to stay behind the counter to keep Lia from seeing my erection. “Thank you,” I add as an afterthought. Thalia didn’t have to offer to help me, but she did.

It’s easier when we’re arguing and fighting. Thalia catching me in a vulnerable state will not help me dislike her, especially when she helps me. I need to dislike her because the alternative isn’t an option.

She nods and moves to put the ice pack back in the freezer. “You’re probably right.”

I quickly grab my shirt, retreating toward the hall when she says something I never expected her to say. “Sebastian, I was wrong. I’m sorry. You’re not a dumb jock, and I don’t think you’re stupid.”

I don’t have it in me tonight to have this conversation. What Thalia said that day bothered me for more reasons than I care to admit, reopening scars I’ve worked diligently to forget.

“Goodnight, Lia. Try wearing more clothes.” For my sake, because I think it might kill me one of these days. Thalia is still a force of nature, threatening to wreak havoc on my sanity.

She grins. “No promises.”

I smile genuinely over my shoulder.Her face shifts in surprise, taken aback by the kind expression on my face. I try not to let that detail bother me, but it’s all I can picture in my head for the rest of the night.

CHAPTER SIX

Thalia

I THOUGHT I got through to him, but the next time I saw Sebastian, he ignored me as if I hadn’t had my hands all over him the night before. I shouldn’t have touched Bash without asking, but I wanted to help. I don’t enjoy seeing him in pain, despite what he may believe about me.

The tattoo caught me by surprise. I didn’t think he was the type for them. It is such a simple word in an elegant script: almost.

I want to know the story behind it, but I knew better than to ask at that moment. He was already flighty; he would have run immediately if I had pushed. The Sebastian I found in the kitchen last night was the one I knew before I left for France. The one I had in small stolen moments, much like last night.

I couldn’t believe he let me touch him; that should say something about how much he was hurting. If Sebastian were in his right mind, he would have told me to go back to bed immediately.

I felt…powerful watching his dark eyes rake over my body, knowing that no matter how much he doesn’t like me, Sebastian’s attracted to me too. I almost laughed when I saw his jaw clench, and I know he tried hard to keep his eyes on my face. It’s not the first time either. I didn’t think he would be awake that early when he found me in the kitchen. It was four in the morning. I thought I had until five before they would be up, or I would have put more clothes on. Sebastian might think I didn’t see him staring at me before he left, but I saw him. He can deny it all he wants, but I saw.

If I hadn’t been there myself, I wouldn’t believe he made jokes, let alone laughed and smiled with me. I’m glad I got to apologize, even if all he told me in response was to wear more clothes. Man, did that feed my ego. It made me feel a little bit like Owen.

Landon, my friend from the basketball team, drapes his arm across the back of my chair, the sudden movement pulling me from my thoughts. “Lia, I swear you’ve been zoning out the entire time. Did you get any sleep last night?”

Vera narrows her eyes and scrutinizes my face. “He’s right. What’s going on with you?”

“Just didn’t sleep last night. I was up most of the night going through old photos.” Which I was. I also couldn’t sleep after feeling the heat of Sebastian’s skin and the tautness of his muscles underneath my hands. Then, I lay there thinking about what Sebastian might have been doing behind his closed door. It was a very long night once I went down that rabbit hole. I called Penelope to get her advice, but it wasn’t helpful.

“You miss France, don’t you?” Stacey asks, a sympathetic look in her eyes.

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