Page 57 of In the Net
“If my mind isthinking aliketo yours, I might need to see a doctor.”
Sebastian’s smile is so broad the edges of his eyes crinkle behind his glasses. I don’t know why this coincidence is so amusing to him. I find it distressing. The exact same idea that occurred to Sebastian occurred to me? Not a comforting thought.
“Anyway, sorry I’m late. I’m borrowing my roommate Felix’s car and he lost his keys.”
I roll my lips. “You couldn’t have sent me a message to let me know?”
“This is so cute. We’re already fighting over me not texting you enough. I promise I’ll text you first thing in the morning from now on, and after classes to ask how your day went.”
I don’t know how I’m going to survive this.
As I drill Sebastian with an irritated look, I notice what he’s wearing for the first time. A crisp button-up shirt in a light pink color that looks surprisingly good against the jet black of his hairand glasses frames. The shirt is tucked into a pair of brown pants that give his long legs a straight silhouette, making him look even taller than usual.
It’s dressy, but not too formal, and it’s interesting. He looks good.
I mean, it looks good. The outfit. It would look good on anyone. Has nothing to do with Sebastian wearing it.
Oh, who am I kidding? Sebastian looks hot as fuck in this outfit. No reason I can’t admit it. I may be immune to experiencing actual attraction to him, because I know how obnoxious and annoying he is, but that doesn’t mean I can’t recognize objective facts.
When I lift my gaze back to his face, I notice his eyes gliding over my body.
I’m wearing a yellow dress, form-fitting but not tight, with a light, black cardigan thrown on over it because it’ll probably be chilly inside the restaurant. Fancy places love for people to be cold, for whatever reason.
My sight gets pulled to Sebastian’s neck as his sharp Adam’s apple bulges with a long swallow.
Wings flap in my chest, his gaze suddenly feeling heavy on me, my body warming wherever his vision scans.
“Well … guess we should get going, then,” he says, his voice coming out thick and raspy.
I feel the vibration far lower in my core than I’d like to admit.
Mackenzie’s friendwho works here, Jenna, has been looking at us all night, just like I counted on.
It means that she’s probably already texted Mackenzie that we’re having dinner together, which means Mackenzie has less reason to doubt our relationship, which is good.
It also means that I’ve had to pretend to be enjoying this fake date with Sebastian. Which is bad.
I guess I need the practice, though. If Sebastian and I had to rock up to the wedding and pull it off with zero practice in pretending that we can stand each other’s company, things might end in disaster. Spending enough time around him to be convincing is going to be like taking multiple large doses of the worst-tasting medicine.
Even though we’ve been faking smiles and pretending to laugh whenever Jenna looks our way, the conversation has been stilted and awkward.
“So … Paris was cool,” I lamely try a new topic.
Sebastian looks livelier as he nods. “Yeah, it really was. Everyone likes to say that Paris is overrated, but honestly, it lived up to all my expectations.”
“Right? And the people weren’t even mean like everyone says. Well, for the most part …” Some girls from the conference and I went out a couple nights, and once we went to the bar in Le Marais that Clement recommended. He was totally right about some of the bartenders being snooty.
“Honestly, I’ve been listening to nothing but French music since we got back,” Sebastian says.
“Really? Same here.”
An amused look pulls on Sebastian’s face. “Hm. Our brains really do seem to be working the same lately.”
A fluttery feeling winds through me. “Now I’m really getting worried.”
He grins, and it doesn’t look like one of the fake ones we’ve been pulling all evening. “What songs have you been listening to?”
“I like Fance Gall. Her songLaisse Tomber Les Filles.” It’s a catchy, empowering song about how a guy who treats girls badly will get what he deserves one day. I give Sebastian a pointed look. “You might recognize yourself in the lyrics if you listen to it.”
