The spell started to break.
Sebastian cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Ethan.” A strained, self-deprecating laugh slipped from him. “I got carried away. Sorry about that.”
Ethan.
My lips twisted into a frown. “What just happened?”
His gaze went to the floor as he shrugged. “Got carried away.”
Okay, so what?Who the fuck cared if he got carried away? I was about to say as much when his whole demeanor shifted. His hands went to his hips, and he tried to smile. It looked anything but genuine.
“But it’s great to see you,” he said. “Are you visiting?”
I stared back. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him nervous. Sebastian was always cool confidence or calculated indifference—never this. This wasn’t him.
“No. They didn’t tell you?”
He shook his head, eyes still a little too wide.
“I’m doing my MBA at IE. I’m moving here.”
From the way he flinched, you’d think I’d tried to punch him.
“What?”
“I thought for sure Oli or Henny told you. You really didn’t know?”
He shook his head again. “I had no idea. But that’s great—congratulations.” His gaze darted around the room, lingering on the scattered boxes. “Are you and Henry living together?”
“No. I got an apartment nearby. Just haven’t finished the paperwork.”
He nodded stiffly.
My lips parted to ask why the hell he was acting so strange when Henry stepped out of his room.
His eyes bounced between us, eyebrows arched in surprise. “What are you doing out here? I thought for sure you’d be locked in the guest bedroom by now.”
Sometimes I fucking hated him.
“Not at all,” Sebastian said, his voice flat.
Not at all.
Three words, and they sliced clean through me. So what the hell had that been—the hug? Calling me beautiful? Where had all of that gone?
“Color me surprised,” Henry said, and I shrugged under his questioning look.
“We’re friends. Just that. Right?” Sebastian’s smile was still plastered on his face, looking like it took real effort to keep it there.
“Right…” I echoed.
“We should have lunch,” Sebastian added, too brightly. “Celebrate you being here.”
Henry frowned. “Sure, Ash.”
“On the weekend. I’ll bring Luca along,” Sebastian said, his eyes still fixed on Henry.
A little stretch of silence—the tense kind.
