“He’s trying to win her back,” Sebastian says. “They had a fight, and he wants to see if his gift has cheered her up.”
“Whatever they’re fighting about, she’ll forgive him over time,” I say with a nod.
Sebastian tosses my phone back. “No she won’t.”
“You can’t know that,” I say, defensive of a couple that I find destined and beautiful. They belong together the way books fit in a library. When I needed help, they both dedicated hours to researching sex addiction. Connor even escorted Rose to therapists, and they pretended to be Lo and me to find a perfect one. Who would do that, other than people who love me and people who love each other?
He stands. “She’s listened to my advice since we were children. She’ll realize that I’m right about Connor, and she’ll toss him aside like she has every short-term fling.”
I glare. “That’s herboyfriend.”Connor isn’t somefling. This is Rose’s first real relationship. Sebastian should want her to be happy.
“And I don’t like him,” he says simply. Sebastian is egocentric, self-centered and self-absorbed. I suppose Connor has taken his place in Rose’s life. Sebastian no longer gets to attend all the lavish parties hosted by the Calloways and peers. She brings Connor instead.
“Their relationship isn’t about what you want,” I say.
Sebastian snubs his cigarette on a magazine. “Rose is my best friend. I’m just saving her from the heartbreak.” He lights another. But his words sound incredibly fake. I don’t believe him one bit.
“Why are you telling me this?” I ask, crossing my arms. I want to warn Connor about Sebastian’s determination to break them up. Hell, I’m going to tell Rose what a horrible friend she has. And she would believe me. I’m her sister.
“You can’t say a word,” he says matter-of-factly.
“Yeah, I can.”
He shakes his head, taps some ash right on the carpet. “No you can’t.” He nods to the stack of papers on my textbook. “Rose will not condone your new studying tactics. And Connor Cobalt would be even more displeased.” He sucks on the cigarette.
Oh…shit.
He’s trapped me so quickly. I slump back, winded as though he spun me through a washing machine.
I can’t tell my sister that her friend is planning on ruining her life. I should do the right thing and come clean, not be an awful human being.
But Ineedthose tests.
And Rose can take care of herself. She’s the strongest girl I know.
But as Sebastian tosses that ballerina figurine in his hand, I wonder how she’s been blinded by someone like him for all these years. It can happen again.
My only hope lies in Connor.
He’ll have to foil Sebastian’s plans. He’ll have to prove to Rose that he’s the best man for her. I can’t warn him, but if I had to put money on a match between these two, I’d always bet on Connor Cobalt.
CHAPTER EIGHT
LOREN HALE
After spendinglunch with my brother, I end up in Rose Calloway’s Escalade. She conveniently showed up at the café. They acted all surprised about it—like she just happened to spot us, driving past Rocco’s Deli on her way home.
But I figured out quickly that Ryke called her to cart me to our house while he went back to Philly for college. Like I have to be equipped with a twenty-four-seven babysitter, like I can’t be trusted in a cab or for a brief stroll down the sidewalk alone.
I am the equivalent of a ninety-year-old lady needing a person as a crutch to cross the street.
It’s ridiculous.
And even if I do want to talk to Rose about my plan to earn some cash—I would never volunteer to be alone with the girl.
She hates me.
And Lily may not see it like that, but Rose and I have an understanding that we’re never going to be best friends. We withstand each other for Lily, and that has to be enough. Growing up, Lily would choose me—a boy—over Rose, her sister, and that type of jealousy accumulates over the years into something deep and raw.
