Page 101 of In the Net
Even if I make a fool of myself, even if I get crushed, nothing’s worse than extending this uncertainty.
But when I pull the door open, shock rattles through me.
“Sebastian,” I say stupidly with surprise, blinking at him.
Even with his jacket on, I can tell his chest is expanding with a deep, steadying breath. “I came to talk to you.”
There’s a steely determination in his words that has a column of sparks gliding down my spine.
“I was just leaving to see you,” I say.
A charged anticipation swells in the air between us.
“I have to tell you something,” we both say at the exact same time, our voices mingling in the crisp afternoon air.
Sebastian opens his mouth. “I lo?—”
I cut him off, my hand darting to cover his mouth.
I know what he’s going to say. The understanding strikes me instantly. The relief that washes over me is indescribable. Happiness beats through me.
But he doesn’t get to win this one. He’s been trying to one-up me ever since our first class here at Brumehill. Even in bed, he gets off on keeping the upper hand whenever he can.
I already made up my mind thatIwas going to be the one to tellhim. He doesn’t get to beat me to the punch. Not with this.
“You do not get to say it first,” I tell him.
My hand still covers his mouth. Above it, I watch surprise flash in his eyes, before they get cloudy with relief and happiness, just like I know mine are right now.
It’s been a long time since I’ve hated Sebastian. That’s obvious. But even more, it’s been a while since I’ve only justlikedhim. I can’t say exactly when it happened, but my feelings for my former fake boyfriend now run much deeper than that.
“I lo?—”
Before I can get out those three words that sit charged and loaded on my tongue, Sebastian grabs me by the hand I’m holding over his mouth. He pulls me close, spinning me around so that he can wrap his arm around me to cage me against his body. His free hand covers my mouth like I just did to him.
“You’re not winning this one, Harper,” he says with a cocky tease. “I lo—ouch!”
I can’t turn around to cover his mouth again with the way he has me restrained, so I have to resort to playing dirty. Before he can get the words out, I stomp on his foot.
“What the hell, Harper!” Sebastian exclaims, now hopping on one foot, though he’s laughing at the same time.
I realize I’m laughing too, the both of us tangled together on my doorstep, laughing like maniacs. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone walking by called the police, but I don’t care.
“I told you, you don’t get to say it first!” I exclaim, finally wiggling out of his grasp now that he’s lost his footing. “I lo?—”
This time, I almost get my front teeth pressed against my bottom lip to form the consonant. But instead, I end up squealing in surprise as I’m suddenly off my feet, Sebastian scooping me up and under his arm, carrying me like an oversized package.
He walks me inside my house, kicking the door closed behind him. In this position, I have no line of attack when he tries to say the three words we’re battling over, which I know he’ll do imminently. Can’t reach his mouth. Can’t stomp on his foot. Maybe I could pinch him, but he’s wearing a jacket over a hoodie, and I don’t know if I could grab a good enough hold.
“I lo?—”
There’s only one way I can deprive him of this victory. Like a bratty kid, I shove my index fingers into my ears.
“La, la, la, I can’t hear you!” I yell, loud enough to be sure I’m drowning out his voice.
I’m glad none of my roommates are home right now. Heaven knows what they’d think. They’d probably file to have both of us institutionalized.
Still chanting too loud to be able to hear anything Sebastian’s saying, I pull one finger out of my ear and grab for the backrest of my couch, trying to pull myself out of Sebastian’s grip. Sebastian and I both end up spilling over it, onto the floor.
