His smile could power the entire campus. "Afternoon. I'll text you."
"Okay." I choke on the word, one single word and I fucking choke on it.
He starts to leave, then turns back. "And Isla? Last night was?—"
"I know."
"Yeah." He glances at Lennox, who's watching this exchange with undisguised fascination. "See you tomorrow."
When he's gone, Lennox slowly turns to face me.
"Explain. Now."
"There's nothing to explain."
"He brought you coffee and your scarf. He's taking you to lunch. You're having a non-contract relationship thing." She crosses her arms. "Those are three things that require explanation."
"It's complicated."
"You keep saying that. What does it mean?"
It means I kissed him. It means I read his poetry and saw his soul. It means I'm falling for someone I've hated for two years and I don't know how to process that.
"It means I'm figuring it out," I say instead.
Lennox studies me for a long moment. Then: "You really like him."
"I don't?—"
"You do. I can see it all over your face. And honestly? I'm not sure if I should be happy for you or worried."
"Why not both?" I joke.
"Fair point." She squeezes my shoulder. "Just be careful, okay? I know he seems different now. But people don't change overnight."
"I know."
But do I? Because the Sebastian who brought me coffee and my forgotten scarf feels nothing like the Sebastian who spent two years making my life hell. And I don't know which one is real.
Maybe they both are.
Maybe that's what complicated means.
The rest of my shift passes in a blur of lattes and bagels and trying not to think about Sebastian's smile when I said yes to tomorrow.
By the time eleven rolls around, I'm exhausted and wired and completely unprepared for the interrogation I'm about to face.
Ivy's door is open when I arrive. She and Lennox are already there, sitting on the bed with notebooks like this is a formal investigation.
"Sit," Ivy commands, pointing at the desk chair.
"Is this an intervention or an interrogation?" I ask.
"Both. Sit."
I sit.
Lennox starts. "First question. Did he hurt you in any way last night?"
