About the fact that somewhere under all my anger, there's a tiny, terrifying thread of curiosity about what he's planning.
And that might be the most dangerous thing of all.
Wednesday passes in a blur of classes and work shifts. I avoid the main quad where I might run into Sebastian. Avoid thelibrary where he sometimes studies. Avoid anywhere our paths might cross.
By Wednesday night, I'm exhausted and anxious and so not ready for tomorrow.
Ivy catches me after my library shift.
"Walk with me?" she asks.
We head toward the dorms together. It's late, nearly midnight, and campus is quiet except for a few students heading home from parties or study sessions.
"You've been avoiding everyone," Ivy says after a moment.
"I've been busy."
"Isla." She stops walking, forcing me to stop too. "I know we're not super close, but I've been watching you work yourself to death for two years and now you're trapped doing this thing with Sebastian Thornhill, and I just... I want you to know you're not alone. Okay?"
Something in my chest cracks a little.
"Thanks," I manage. "I just need to get through the next two weeks."
"And after?"
"After, I go back to my normal life. Pretend this never happened."
"What if he's not as bad as you think?"
I laugh, but there's no humor in it. "Trust me. He's exactly as bad as I think."
"Everyone says he's complicated. That there's more to him than?—"
"Everyone doesn't know him like I do." The words come out harsher than I intend. "He's spent two years making my life hell, Ivy. This auction thing, it's just another way to humiliate me. I'm not going to pretend otherwise."
She's quiet for a moment. "Okay. But if you need backup, or someone to call during the dates, or anything... I'm here."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you care? We barely know each other."
Ivy shrugs. "Because you remind me of myself. Working too hard. Trying to prove you belong and because everyone deserves someone in their corner."
I don't know what to say to that. So I just nod.
We walk the rest of the way in comfortable silence. When we reach our dorm, Ivy squeezes my arm.
"Good luck tomorrow. And remember, you're Isla Monroe. You don't back down from anything. Including heartless assholes with too much money."
Despite everything, I smile.
"Thanks, Ivy."
"Anytime."
Thursday arrives too quickly.
