“All of this is your fault, you moody, broody jackass,” Winter says, pointing directly at him. “You put cameras in her room and I told you that was a bad idea.”
“I-”
“You didn’t tell her you have a twin because you were worried about being her favorite stalker of the bunch and it slipped your mind,” she adds sharply, but then her tone shifts to one of soft sympathy. “And I can only assume she was crushed when she saw ‘you’ with me.”
Tristan groans loudly and tilts his head back, and pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “I should have taken you out in the womb,” he mutters. “I’d be on a nice vacation right about now with no one around except for my wife.”
Winter blushes, a smile spreading across her pretty face as she wraps her slender fingers around his big bicep again. He instantly relaxes, and I think it’s really sweet how they are together.
I shift in Sebastian’s hold because I just now realize that I’m still in his arms, but he just pulls me closer, unwilling to set me down on my own feet.
My eyes follow Riven and Kalen as they walk around us silently. Kalen grabs one of Nathan’s legs and Riven grabs the opposite arm. With ease, they haul him away from the pavilion into the darkness.
“Where are…” I start, but Sebastian leans forward and kisses my forehead.
“The less you know about what happens after this the better,” he says. “I’ll catch up with them tomorrow. I’m not leaving you for one second tonight.”
Relief floods through my entire body at his words, and the magical moment is broken by Sebastian’s twin.
“I’m bored,” Tristan says flatly. “We’re leaving.”
He scoops Winter up with one arm like it's something he does often, her arms looping around his neck automatically.
“Call me if you’re dying,” he adds dryly. “And no other reason.”
“Thanks for the help, fucker,” Sebastian says, grinning, and I realize that they must have stayed around to help him find me.
“It was nice meeting you,” Winter calls over Tristan’s shoulder. “Come visit us when you get settled!”
“Or don’t, we have phones for a reason,” Tristan says, and she grabs his chin in her hand, making him look at her. Insteadof arguing, I watch as he kisses her sweetly and carries her off to wherever they’re going.
I notice Ronan with Miranda and Juniper still over in the grass, and it looks like Miranda has his shirt lifted, inspecting his injuries. Juniper is on her phone, and I wonder if she’s talking to Jeremy since he’s nowhere to be found.
I feel bad that Ronan got hurt, I really do, but not bad enough to ever be alone with him for any reason.
Sebastian shifts my weight in his arms, using his palm to pull me closer to him. When I look up into his eyes, his expression shifts completely.
“I would never be with another girl,” he says quietly. “I’m so sorry you thought that, but I want you to know that there has never been and there never will be another woman.” The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard, and he continues by saying, “I need you to know that you’ve been it for me for the last decade.”
I blink.
Decade?
“There hasn’t been one singular other person who’s ever had my attention other than you.”
I don’t have time to process any of this because Sebastian isn’t finished with his thoughts on our relationship.
“I know you were upset about the cameras. And I am honestly sorry for hurting you. I never want to be the reason you’re sad. But I have good news, you don’t have to worry about that happening again,” he says calmly.
I stare into his eyes, very confused and kind of in shock. I’ve been choked out, told my father isn’t really my father, and then watched my boyfriend beat someone to death. “Because you’re going to live with me from now on.”
And with that, Sebastian turns and starts carrying me straight toward the main walkway, and that’s when I see his bike parked haphazardly next to two others.
LIVY
Sebastian’s fingers leave faint streaks of mostly dried blood across my forearm. He’s holding onto me like he thinks I’ll float away if he lets go. As he pulls me through the Ruck House, my shorter legs struggle to keep up with his pace.
At first, I think he’s going to take me to his bedroom so we can talk about…everything, I guess? Instead, he pulls me in front of him, slows his pace, and walks much more slowly down the hallway. He’s already shutting the door behind us when I realize we’re in a private bathroom.
