Page 26 of Little Do You Know

As I sit in the grass, I pull my knees up to my chest and think. I ruined my chance with Bash before it even started. I don’t even know if we can have some form of friendship if all we do is fight. Hiding out on a different hemisphere didn’t help fix us either. Occasionally, I wondered what would have happened if I had told Owen the truth when he asked.

“Yes. I kissed Sebastian, and I was just kissing him,” I say aloud, answering Owen’s question the way I should have the first time. I’m torturing myself. Maybe I’m crazy. Crazy people talk out loud to themselves. I also stole Sebastian’s car, and that’s pretty insane as well.

I have no explainable reason to be upset with Sebastian, but that rational thought means nothing to me right now. I am upset with him for sending mixed signals that are confusing me, only to bring another girl home. I can also admit I’m being unreasonable here because I have no claim to Sebastian Walker.

A warning would have been nice, though. I shouldn’t care Bash brought a girl back to the apartment. I really shouldn’t, but I do. I care. Maybe Penelope had a point, but I could never tell her that. I came out here to clear my head, and she gave me the answer two weeks ago.

I’m still not ready to go back to the apartment yet.

~

After reluctantly driving back, I half expect to see Owen waiting to yell at me for taking Sebastian’s car. What’s one more thing for him to yell at me for?

The lights are still on, so whoever is home is up. A horrid thought pops into my brain as I wonder if they’re still going at it. I can’t tell whether I’m disgusted or impressed, considering I’ve been gone for two hours.

The living room is empty, and I put Sebastian’s keys on the counter where I found them. Listening closely, the sound of the shower running is barely audible. I could continue hiding in my room, but I no longer want to. Part of me is itching for a fight with Bash. I grab my computer from my room to sit at the counter to look at the pictures I took tonight. The longer I sit out here alone, the more I consider going to my room. It’s not too late yet. I haven’t been seen. Maybe he doesn’t know I borrowed his car?

The choice is taken from my hands when the lock flips, and Sebastian walks out alone. It’s a relief to see him standing by himself, but my eyes instantly drop to the happy trail revealed by his low-slung towel. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen him shirtless; it never gets old.

“When you’re done eye-fucking me, we can talk about how you committed grand theft auto tonight,” Sebastian says. The tone in his voice convinces me to look away from his insane muscles. The furious expression on Sebastian’s face tells me he definitely knows I took his car. Oh shit. I didn’t think this all the way through.

He steps closer to me, and my face heats. Is this what he feels like when I walk around without clothes on? I feel very exposed. “How was getting laid?” I ask, unable to hide my jealousy. Fuck.

His lips curve into a knowing smirk. “Exactly what I needed. I offered Lucy a ride home, only to discover my car and keys were gone. Owen’s staying at a friend’s place, so that leaves you, Thalia.”

I look away from him, mumbling under my breath to myself. “So she has a name,” I grumble, tapping one of my presets to help clear up some lighting. Stupid pollution. “I would have asked, but it sounded like you were a little busy. I didn’t think you would want an interruption.”

“You wouldn’t have asked regardless of whether I was busy or not. You’re forgetting that I know you.”

“Everyone keeps telling me how well they know me, and I’m getting really sick of it.” My head snaps quickly to look at him. Bash is leaning against the counter only a few feet away. Don’t get distracted; they’re just muscles. Everyone has them. Not everyone’s looks like Sebastian, but everyone technically has them. “You don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

“Thalia,” Bash says my name in a way that makes goose bumps appear on my skin. It should be illegal to say my name that way.

“Don’t say my name like that. Put some clothes on; you’re nipping.”

“How does it feel?” he asks curiously, a slight smirk on his lips.

I narrow my eyes. “Repulsive.” I scoff, deflecting from what I want to say. Why don’t you take it all off and give me a show? Except that’s gross! He literally just showered after having sex with another girl. What is wrong with me?

Sebastian steps closer to me. “I don’t believe you. I think it turns you on to see me like this. Do you like what you see?” He’s toeing the line dangerously. What the hell has gotten into him? I’m not playing this game with Bash right now.

“How would you rate Lexie on a scale from one to ten? Did she satisfy you in all the ways you require?” I continue deflecting because I do not trust myself. I don’t know what is happening in Sebastian’s head right now. “Next time she comes back, I’d appreciate a warning. I live here, too, and I don’t care to listen to you two again.”

“Her name was Lucy, and it was a one-time thing,” he says, pausing before continuing. “I don’t think she’ll be coming back.”

“So you used her for sex,” I deduce. I can read between the lines.

“We were mutually using each other to get someone else out of our heads,” he says bluntly. Is Sebastian implying that I’m the someone he’s trying to get out of his head?Am I supposed to be flattered he resorted to screwing another girl to take his mind off me?

Bash’s stare is unwaveringly focused on me. Usually, this is the part where we’re interrupted by someone else stopping the conversation before we can say something we’ll regret. Except Owen’s gone tonight, which means it has to be one of us.

I look away, resuming my focus on my computer. My heart skips a beat when his large hand rests on my arm. “Lia, what’s going on?”

I inhale sharply, losing my ability to hold my tongue. I am done. I switch to French because I know how ridiculous it sounds in English. It sounds equally ridiculous either way, but at least this way, I can say what I want without ruining everything. “I was going to ask if I could climb you like a tree so we can end this little game because I’m done playing.”

“Thalia, English, please.”

I shut my computer, looking Sebastian dead in the eye. “Will you have sex with me?”

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