God help me.
I’m already a goner.
CHAPTER 18
SEBASTIAN
As the train speeds through the lush English countryside, I try to settle into my seat, leaning back into the soft headrest and letting my thoughts spiral. Everything that happened with Remi still feels surreal, especially now, in the clarity of daylight.
My brain won’t stop replaying last night in an endless loop, our bodies tangled together, his breath ghosting across my skin, the way he whispered my name like it actually meant something.
It’s so vivid I feel flushed just thinking about it. Honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear someone spiked my drink.
But no drug could make me feelthisalive.
And the thing that keeps knocking the air out of my lungs?
It wasRemiwho made the first move.
Mister buttoned-up, emotionally unavailable, broody-as-hell Remi.
And not just a shy attempt either, he took control like he’d been waiting his whole life to touch me. Like hemeantit.
Just the memory makes me shiver.
Who knew that my serious, grumbly professor could be that confident?
That hot?
It’s honestly kind of criminal.
I chuckle quietly to myself. Yeah, the sex was incredible, okay,life-altering, but this isn’t just about that.
There’s something deeper pulling me toward him. Something intense. Magnetic. Terrifying and beautiful all at once.
But before I can get too comfortable basking in the afterglow, reality comes knocking.
I haven’t touched my phone since the concert. Everything spiralled so quickly, I needed to shut the world out for a while.
Now, of course, I’m paying the price: a mountain of notifications.
Dozens of messages from friends, family, and, unsurprisingly, May. Forty messages. Most of them are voice notes.
Fantastic.
I sigh, pop in my AirPods, and brace myself as I hit play.
Just as I feared, she’s ranting about her ruined dress (thanks, Anne), freaking out over my Houdini act, and then, just to spice things up, squealing about howamazingthe concert was.
She’s either tipsy, euphoric, or both. Most likely both.
Each voice note is more dramatic than the last. I can’t help but smile. My friends really pulled off the great escape, flawlessly.
Didn’t even need to be asked. They justknew.
Anne, with her wicked little genius brain.
And Remi… who probably orchestrated the whole thing while pretending he had nothing to do with it. Classic.
