Page 40 of The Final Rose

So, I look down.

This is ridiculous. Of all the times we put him on camera, nothing compares to this. He pockets his phone and turns his body to me, coming in my direction with strong and certain steps, watching me from head to toe.

I clutch my bag, not trusting my knees anymore, and halt to a stop. He smirks when we are a foot away from each other, rubbing his chin as he looks me up and down.

“Darling, you look incredible.”

Calliope Sosa would let no one call herdarling. But the way Sebastian says it? I melt like an idiot.

He smiles like it’s a secret and I stand there licking my bottom lip with no words coming out. Sebastian’s hand tugs mine toward the doors and I follow, knowing fully well how much trouble I am in.

He calls a car and puts me in the backseat, sliding in after me. His smell, his voice, and his presence fill the backseat and raise the hair down my arm.

And that’s when I know for sure I have a crush on the star.

11.

Sebastian

We got here acouple minutes early, just the right time to get a drink before I spot the strawberry blond of my sister’s head coming our way. She bounces over to us with a huge smile, dressed in a stripy jumper and black leggings. I love seeing her like this. No buttons, no matching sets or pearls.

Beatrice likes to be free, to tend to her horses, to talk to her friends about Taylor Swift. She’s a normal girl of her age, and I wish she could always be like this.

I’m overtaken by Bea’s hug. I squeeze her hard in return. My mother always tried her best to keep us in line and show a unified front. The four of us were always together at events, but since I strayed, she’s keeping Bea from me.

Since I broke the news ofThe Final Rose, I haven’t seen Bea. Thankfully Bea is so busy at uni, she’s blissfully unaware of how dramatic mum is being about the subject. Better like this. I don’t want Bea getting caught in the crossfire. She can start her own revolution when she sees fit.

“Look at you! College kid.” I joke.

She sways her palm over my chest. “Do I look properly broke and lost?” She makes a pose, and I approve.

Not that Beatrice Elizabeth Riggs will ever be broke, but I get what she means. She looks normal. And that’s all the Riggs’ children ever wanted.

“Who do we have here?” Bea looks away from me, with that beaming smile of hers. “The famous Callie!”

Callie seems to be taken aback, but my sister gives her no time to react. In a second, she’s over the other woman, giving her the biggest hug.

“You’re so pretty. Oh my god, Sebastian! You never told me she was so pretty!”

I clear my throat because I’m sure I tell people everything about Callie all the time. But I can’t look too long in her direction, not when she’s dressed like a dream come true. Normally I can’t get enough of her shorts showing off her shapely legs, but then she decides to kill me with that dress.

That dress. I need to swallow my groan.

“I can’t believe you’re not telling everyone how pretty I am, Riggs.” Callie fires.

“I’m sure I said it.” I arch an eyebrow and pull a chair for Bea.

“He said you’re pretty.” Bea agrees, taking a seat. “But you look like a movie star.”

Callie snorts in a very non-movie star way, and that just makes me want her even more. It’s the way she looks, the shape of her body, and that insolent mouth of hers. It’s all too alluring.

Shaking her head, Callie sips the cider I got her. “Well, and I was scared you wouldn’t like me.”

Bea gasped. “Utter tosh! I’d love anyone who puts my brother in his place.”

“Oh, that I do.” Callie smiles coyly at me and I can’t even say something witty.

I need to get hold of myself, but it’s hard.

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