“Why haven’t you two gone Instagram official?” The loud question came from January. It did the job of quieting Baird and Cole. Baird relaxed in his seat, giving me my personal space back.
I groaned softly when I realized January had asked this question of Beth and Callan, who had returned to the kitchen with Joss.
“Jan,” Beth huffed. “You don’t just ask people that.”
“Why not?” My sister crossed her arms over her chest. “You’ve been in the tabloids. Callan has two hundred thousand followers, and a lot of the comments are people drooling over your man, Beth. You should claim him.”
Saying preposterous things like that made Jan very popular onSeek and You Shall Find. Saying it in real life … I groaned loudly. “You read too many MC romance books.”
Beth laughed as Jan shot me a dirty look. Then my cousin turned to her partner, who seemed much more relaxed than he had before he’d left the kitchen. “Why aren’t we Instagram official?”
“I’m letting you lead the way. We can post our relationship on socials if you want. I’m quite happy to let the world know you’re mine.”
An ache spread across my chest at the romantic words. Everything drowned out around me as I stared at Beth and Callan.
I’m quite happy to let the world know you’re mine.
It was the reminder I needed, even if it was slightly painful. Perhaps there was a tiny part of me holding out hope for Sebastian to become more. But it had been almost two months of close friendship. If something was going to happen, it would have already. And I shouldn’t hang around for someone who didn’t want to shout from the rooftops that I was his and he was mine.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
LILY
Guilt got to me about the ad sponsorship money and not pulling my weight. Even though Beth’s words had helped, when January gently needled me again as we were leaving the Carmichaels’ that Sunday, I agreed to go with her to record the next episode.
It was late, I was tired, and I didn’t want to, but I took a cab to the university with Jan.
Sierra and Aiysha were there and were surprised to see me, which made me feel worse.
Aiysha stood to hug me, her soft, dark tight curls tickling my nose. As always, January’s best friend and fellow fashion student looked like she was ready for the runway. Her bright yellow cropped sweater was amazing against her umber skin. “I’m so glad you’re here. We have a couple of call-ins tonight that I think you’re better suited to deal with.”
“Than whom?” Jan teased as she took her seat at the recording table.
“I love you, babe, but you have all the subtlety of a cartoon anvil,” Aiysha replied drolly.
Chuckling, because, wow, it was true, I took my seat next to Sierra. “How goes it?”
“Busy as hell.” Sierra ran a hand through her hair. “I want this year to be over, but I don’t, you know.”
I did know. I reached to squeeze her arm because I was going to miss her so much when she left after our final semester.
“Nope. No sad crap before we even get started,” Jan admonished with a wag of her finger. “I just spent the day in a kitchen with two smoking-hot famous footballers and got nowhere. So, I need a pick-me-up, not a bring-me-down.”
“Explain yourself,” a wide-eyed Aiysha demanded.
I wrinkled my nose. “Callan is Beth’s boyfriend. Where did you think you’d get with him?”
“Oh, pfft. You know I meant Baird. I noticed he drooled on you. I guess younger women aren’t his thing.” She pouted and shrugged nonchalantly. “Och, I can wait.”
“What is she talking about?” Sierra leaned into me.
“Something that’s never going to happen,” I murmured back.
“I heard that!”
I turned to my sister. “Baird is a player, Jan. You’re not going there.”
“Who is Baird?”
