"Thank you for giving me a second chance," he replies, his voice low. In the dim lighting, his face is half in shadow, making his expression harder to read. "Even if it's just for show."
I stand there, caught between getting in my car and lingering in his presence a moment longer. The night seems to have wrapped around us in a bubble of privacy. He seems to be debating something himself, a tiny furrow appearing between his brows.
"Charlie."
My name hangs in the air between us, soft and intimate. He takes a half-step closer, closing the already narrow gap. My breath catches. Time stretches, elastic and uncertain. I'm looking up at him and my gaze drops to his mouth for just a fraction of a second.
Is he going to kiss me? Right here in the parking lot?
My heart hammers against my ribs. A kiss would complicate everything. Blur the already fuzzy line between our fake arrangement and whatever this pull between us really is. I should step back. I should get in my car and drive away. I should...
He exhales slowly, then steps back, creating space between us again.
"Get home safe. I'll see you tomorrow at work."
The moment breaks like a soap bubble, leaving me blinking in confusion. Disappointment floods my chest, followed immediately by relief. At least, I think it's relief.
"Right," I manage. "Tomorrow. The Adrenaline Athletics presentation."
"We'll nail it," he says with that easy confidence of his, like success is the only possible outcome when we work together.
I nod, still trying to process the swirl of emotions competing for dominance. Would I have kissed him back if he'd tried? After everything, would I have let myself be that vulnerable again?
The terrifying part is I don't know the answer.
"Goodnight, Charlie." he says.
"Goodnight, Bash."
He watches as I slide into the driver's seat, making sure I'm safely inside before he gently closes my door.
I start the engine, the car humming to life around me, but I don't immediately drive away. Through the rear-view mirror, I watch him walk across the parking lot toward the valet stand. There's an easy confidence in his stride, shoulders squared, hands tucked casually into his coat pockets.
He hands his ticket to the valet, exchanging what looks like a friendly word and a laugh. Even from this distance, I can see how the young valet brightens at whatever he said—probably some joke or compliment that makes the kid feel seen. That seems to be Sebastian's gift. Making people feel special with seemingly little effort.
The valet runs off to retrieve his car, and Sebastian stands alone, rocking slightly on his heels. For just a moment, he turns back toward my direction, as if checking whether I'm still there. I duck my head quickly, pretending to adjust something on the dashboard, but when I glance up again, he's still looking. Evenacross the distance, I feel the weight of his gaze. He raises a hand in a small wave, and I return it automatically, feeling oddly caught.
"Get it together," I mutter to myself, putting the car in reverse.
As I pull out of the parking spot, my phone buzzes with a text. I wait until I'm stopped at the traffic light to check it.
Well?? How'd the planning go? Did you strangle him or snog him?
Lily
I stare at the screen, thumb hovering over the keyboard. The question hits uncomfortably close to the turmoil in my head.
Neither. We planned. We ate. It was fine
"Fine" is code for "I still want to jump his bones but I'm too stubborn to admit it"
Em
I roll my eyes, dropping my phone into the cup holder without responding. The traffic light turns green, and I accelerate perhaps a bit too aggressively onto the main road.
The problem with Emily's teasing is that it contains an uncomfortable grain of truth. Yes, I'm attracted to Sebastian. Yes, I still feel the pull of whatever chemistry sparked between us that night at The Velvet Room. But attraction isn't trust, and chemistry isn't compatible.
I'm not going to make the same mistake twice. Letting someone in only to be left wondering what I did wrong. This arrangement is strictly business: I get to save face in front of Ethan, and Sebastian gets to... what, exactly? Assuage his guilt for ghosting me?
