Something warm and overwhelming floods my chest. These girls, these friends I didn't know I needed, they see me. Really see me.
"Thank you," I manage.
"Don't thank us yet. Wait until we're day-drunk at your wedding or helping you slash his tires. Either way, we're there." Ivy raises her mug. "To Isla. May she have better taste in men than the rest of us."
We drink to that. Then spend the rest of the night talking about anything but Sebastian. Classes, work, Lennox's disaster of a love life, Ivy's ongoing war with her roommate.
It's normal. Easy. The kind of friendship I never had time for before.
As I'm leaving, Ivy catches my arm.
"One more thing. Friday, when you go to his place? Text us when you get there and when you leave. Just so we know you're safe."
"You think he'd hurt me?"
"I think he's a rich boy with too much power and not enough supervision. Better safe than sorry."
I nod. "I'll text."
"Good. Now go get some sleep. You look exhausted."
I am exhausted. But it's a different kind of tired than usual. Less about physical exhaustion and more about emotional overwhelm.
Too many feelings. Too many questions. Too many possibilities spinning through my head.
Thursday passes in a blur of classes and work. I see Sebastian once, across the quad, surrounded by his Legacy Council friends. He catches my eye and smiles, small, private, just for me.
I smile back before I can stop myself.
Cecilia, one of his friends, notices and says something to him. He shakes his head, still smiling, and I turn away before I can overthink it.
That night, he texts:Still on for tomorrow? 7pm?
Me:Unless you're planning to cancel.
Sebastian:Not a chance. I'll pick you up at 6:45.
Me:I can walk.
Sebastian:I know you can. But I want to drive you. Please?
That please again. Disarming every defense I try to build.
Me:Fine. 6:45.
Sebastian:Thank you. And Isla?
Me:What?
Sebastian:Wear something comfortable. This is supposed to be relaxing.
Me:I only own comfortable. Rich boy problems aren't my problems.
Sebastian:Touché. See you tomorrow.
I fall asleep thinking about tomorrow, about being alone with Sebastian in his space. About what that means. About how three dates ago, I would have rather walked through fire than spend voluntary time with him.
Now? Now I'm nervous for entirely different reasons.
