Page 81 of Then There Was You

“But that was then. What if he wants something else now?”

“If he does, why hasn’t he said anything?”

She smiles. “Maybe for the same reason you haven’t. I’ve seen you two together. There’s something between you. You should talk to him, Tay.”

“I’m worried I’ll ruin everything,” I whisper. “I think I’m in love with him, Ash.”

She pulls me into a hug. “Please talk to him. Promise me you will?”

I step out of her embrace and offer her a small smile. “Okay.”

“We should find the others. It’s nearly midnight.”

I nod as she slips her hand into mine and leads me through the crowd to the bar. Despite promising to talk to Seb, I have no idea what to say. How do you tell someone you’ve caught feelings when you promised them you wouldn’t? If he doesn’t feel the same, I don’t know how to go back to being just his friend.

“Where did you two go?” Paisley shouts as the bar comes into view. “You were behind me and then you were gone.”

“I’ll fill you in later,” I tell her, and she tilts her head, her eyebrows pulled together in confusion.

“Are we getting shots to have at midnight?” Ashlyn asks, and I flash her a silent thank-you for distracting Paisley from asking any more questions in front of everyone. “As Ivy, Taylor, and I have no one to kiss at midnight, we’re going to need something strong to drink when we ring in the new year.”

“No shot for me,” Sophie says, stroking her rounded stomach.

“Count me out too,” Cade says.

“Well, I’ve got no one to kiss either, so I’ll take that shot,” Wyatt says, slapping both of his hands down on the wooden bar.

“Nash? Paisley?” Ashlyn asks.

“I think I’m good with a kiss,” Nash says. Paisley grins as he pulls her into his arms and kisses her.

“It’s not midnight yet,” Ashlyn exclaims.

“I don’t think they care,” I tell her, jealous I can’t just pull Seb into my arms like that.

“Just four shots, then?” Wyatt asks, waving to Seb, who’s at the other end of the bar.

“Hey, what are you all doing here?” Seb asks as he stands in front of Wyatt.

“We figured you were too busy to come to us, so we came to you,” Wyatt says.

He smiles and waves to everyone.

“What can I get you?” he asks Wyatt.

“Four shots of tequila.”

Seb raises his eyebrows. “Who’s on the tequila?”

“Ash, Ivy, and Taylor are complaining they have no one to kiss at midnight, so as we’re the only single ones, we’re seeing in the new year with a shot of tequila. You should get one too.”

Seb looks past Wyatt, his eyes finding mine. He smiles, and a million butterflies take flight in my stomach.

“Sure. I’ll get one.”

He turns and reaches for a bottle of tequila, some wedges of lime, and a saltshaker. Placing them on the bar, he grabs five shot glasses.

“I think we should do a practice one,” he says, filling each glass with the clear liquid and placing a wedge of lime next to each glass. “Who’s going first?”

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