“An indie rock band from Glasgow. They’re amazing.” Jan reached for her phone. “Here, listen.”
“Or not.” I cut her off. “I need advice on something I can’t ask about on the podcast.”
After reviewing my response to Sebastian’s text and how much I couldn’t stop thinking about him yesterday, I was beginning to suspect being friends with him was a terrible idea.
Mum looked so happy she might cry. “You want my advice?”
“Aye. And Aunty Jo’s.”
“And mine!” Jan piped up.
“No, you’re merely here.”
“You’re getting spicier in your old age.” Jan narrowed her eyes at me. “I like it.”
Shaking my head at her nonsense, I turned back to Mum. “Do I not ask you for advice?”
“You haven’t in a while.”
Guilt suffused me. “I don’t mean not to.” I made a mental note to make more time for Mum and to confide in her more. After all, if there was one person in the world I was most like, it was Mum.
Realizing we didn’t have much time before Dad, Uncle Cam, and Louis appeared, I rattled off the story about Sebastian, finishing up with yesterday’s promise to be his friend.
“Is this the guy who almost kissed you in the library?” Mum asked.
“He did?” Jan looked gleeful at the prospect, the dimples we both inherited from our father appearing. “You almost got kissed by a member of the royal family?”
“A lesser-known member of the royal family. And I don’t think that’s what was happening then, Mum. Not after talking with him.”
Mum raised an eyebrow. “Lily, whatever he says about his intentions now, his intention then was to kiss you.”
“What does he look like?” Aunty Jo asked Mum.
Mum grimaced. “It’s weird for me to comment on a student’s appearance.”
“Think of him less as a student and more as Lily’s friend who almost kissed her.”
“He’s beautiful,” Mum responded promptly, her lips pursing. “And a charmer, like her father.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Don’t compare him to Dad.”
“He had that glint of mischief in his eyes like your dad.”
Jo grinned. “I am very intrigued.”
“Here.” Jan stuck her phone in Aunty Jo’s face. “That’s him there.”
I almost fell off my stool. “Where did you get a photo?” I peered over Aunty Jo’s shoulder.
“I googled him. And after seeing him, I’d quite like togooglehim, if you know what I mean?” My sister winked with exaggeration, making Mum snort.
Scowling at her for a long second, I then looked back at the phone. Sebastian was googleable! There were actual shots of him at royal events. When he told me he was a lesser-known member of the royal family, I hadn’t really understood what that meant.
“Oh, Lily, Liv is right. He is beautiful. Go, you.” Aunty Jo nudged me playfully.
“No,” I grumbled, sitting back up on my stool. “Notgo, me. Didn’t you hear what I said? He friend-zoned me. So, I have two questions for you. Do you think I’m being stupid forgiving him and giving him a chance? And is it silly to agree to be friends with a guy I’m very attracted to?”
Jan snorted. “Just say it. You want to google him, and no one blames you.”
