"Good." She squeezes my hand once, then lets go. "I should head to my library shift."
"I'll walk you."
"You don't have to?—"
"I want to."
We walk back across campus in silence, but it's different now. Less hostile. More uncertain. Like we've opened a door neither of us is sure we should walk through.
When we reach the library, she pauses at the entrance.
"Sebastian?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For being honest. Finally." She adjusts her backpack. "It doesn't fix everything. But it's a start."
"A start is more than I deserve."
"Probably." She's almost smiling. "See you for date three?"
"When is it?"
"Friday. Movie marathon at..." She trails off. "The contract says your place. The Legacy House."
Right. The third date package. Movie marathon in a private setting. Suddenly that feels incredibly dangerous.
"Friday works," I manage. "I'll text you details."
"Okay." She hesitates, then: "Don't make me regret giving you this chance."
"I won't. I promise."
She heads inside, and I'm left standing on the library steps, my hand still warm from holding hers, my chest tight with something that feels dangerously close to hope.
I pull out my phone and text Marcus:I told her. Everything.
His response is immediate:And?
Me:And she's giving me three more dates to prove I'm not a complete asshole.
That's more than you deserve.
Marcus:I know.
Marcus:Don't fuck this up, Seb.
Me:I won't.
I hope that's a promise I can keep.
Because if I hurt Isla Monroe again, I won't just lose her. I'll lose the only chance I've ever had at being someone worth knowing.
And that's a loss I don't think I'd survive.
Chapter 7
Isla
