Page 16 of Little Do You Know

“I will if you come with me,” I offer, letting it dangle within his touch. I will leave Bash alone, but I don’t want him to skip out on something he might want to do.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” he says after what feels like forever of him staring me down. “Don’t make me regret this.”

I smile at him. “Je n’oserais pas connard.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Thalia

SEBASTIAN’S HAND GRIPS my hip tightly as Stacey hits a pothole. She looks at me mischievously in the rearview mirror. “Sorry, guys. I didn’t see it.” I roll my eyes because I’m sure she did. They’re all probably getting a kick out of this after the way my return party ended.

Owen snickers, too, clearly finding this funny, but I blame him. I could have easily sat on Landon’s lap or Jake’s.

Vera was the only one who protested the sitting situation, but Stacey was impatient to get on the road. There wasn’t time to rearrange how everyone was sitting.

I know I talk a good game, but it didn’t end well the last time Bash and I were in a similar position. Not that any of them would know. I never told anyone besides Penelope. Blake guessed something happened, but I’ve neither confirmed nor denied it. I’m relieved Sebastian hasn’t told anyone either. I’m not sure which one of us is more tense right now: me or him. So much for either one of us being able to relax.

Blake is squashed into the third row with Owen. The second row has me sitting uncomfortably on Sebastian’s lap, Vera’s in the middle, and Jake on the other side. Landon is the lucky son of a bitch sitting up front with Stacey.

I’m doing my best to sit as far forward on his legs as possible, but I forgot what a lousy driver Stacey is. This is going to be a long car ride. There’s still an hour left, but then we’ll be at the beach under the sunshine, and this will all be worth it.

I’m trying not to think about Sebastian’s large hands on me, but my brain has different ideas. I know he’s upset with me. After all, I am the one that convinced him to come.

“How do you all know each other?” Blake asks from the back. I twist to look at her to start explaining, but Vera beats me to it.

“Oh god, I’ve known Owen, Bash, and Thalia since fourth grade. Despite Thalia giving him a lap dance right now, they’re usually at each other’s throats. Landon, Thalia, and I had a class together freshman year, which is how we became friends. He introduced us to the rest of the basketball team. Stacey is another friend from high school.”

My cheeks burn. “I’m not giving him a lap dance,” I defend, turning around to face forward just as the car in front of us suddenly brakes. Stacey brakes in response, and instead of flying forward into the headrest in front of my face, Bash pulls me tight against him, his arm winding around my stomach to hold me.

“What the fuck, Stace?” Owen asks, clearly having hit his head in the sudden braking while I’m trying to steady my breathing. My heart is hammering in my chest loudly.

“Blame the car in front of us, not my driving.”

I thought I was going face-first into the headrest, but I’m glad I didn’t. I attempt to scoot forward while everyone else adjusts due to the cramped seating. Sebastian’s hand wrapped around my midsection holds me flush against him, and his warm breath tickles as he whispers in my ear. “Lia, stop moving. Please.”

The fact he said please catches my attention, and for once, I listen, resting against him. Then I feel exactly why Bash is asking me to stop moving. I guess I was giving him a lap dance with all my twisting and moving around. Oops.

“Sorry,” I mumble, hoping it’s loud enough for him to hear but not loud enough for Vera.I don’t need to hear what she thinks of our current predicament.

I wish I had done what Bash suggested about wearing more clothes because my shorts don’t put much between us. Sebastian’s thumb brushes the band of my top, and I need a distraction right this second. My mind is threatening to wander to forbidden fantasies about the one person I shouldn’t want.

“Vera, can you pass me my bag?” I ask, deciding that music will be a great distraction.

“Only because you could have died when Stacey braked,” she says, handing it to me. I quickly look in the bag for my headphones, making sure not to move the lower half of my body.

Stacey scoffs. “She didn’t die. Bash has her, right?”

“Right,” he confirms, joining the conversation for the first time since we found out our seating arrangements.

This afternoon was supposed to be about clearing my head of Sebastian, and I’m the dumbass that went and practically forced him to come with me. Why couldn’t I leave him alone? I have no one to blame but myself.

Blake and Owen are chatting quietly about a professor in the engineering department in the back, and Vera’s talking to Jake about some party the basketball team has coming up. Stacey’s singing along to the radio, and Landon’s sitting silently like Bash and me.

I look out the window, feeling restless. His problem hasn’t resolved itself yet, and I can feel it clear as day stabbing me. How does he walk and run around with that monster between his legs?

I tap his leg subtly, trying to get only his attention.

“What?” he whispers a moment later.

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