A tingle spread through my neck. So theyweretalking about me.
“Never mind. Sebastian’s in his own world again.”
“Hey. Don’t be a bitch.”
“Then don’t be a jerk, or I’ll start calling youDevinagain like everyone else.”
Sebastian sighed, dragging his hands down his face. “Would you please enlighten me?” he asked in the softest voice.
“Obviously, someone has to,” Mila replied. “But it’s not going to be me. You have to talk toAlexyourself if you want to figure him out.”
The moment I heard my name, I glanced over and found Sebastian looking right back at me. I forced my gaze back to Dorian, only then realizing that he had already taken his candle and turned away.
Mila slammed her hand onto Sebastian’s shoulder, using it to push herself up from the bench. “If you manage to figure it out, feel free to talk to me again. Otherwise, you owe me nine hundred dollars.” Without waiting for a response, she walked over to me. Her expression shifted from annoyed to bright in seconds as she reached into the basket and picked out the third-to-last candle. We smiled at each other, but didn’t say anything. A second later, she moved on to her parents.
I clutched the basket until the willow creaked under the pressure of my hands. I loosened my grip and took in theremaining candles. There were two left, but there was only one person I hadn’t given one to.
The corner where Sebastian sat was the emptiest part of the room, almost as if there was an invisible line drawn around him, keeping everyone away. He tucked his hands under the table, elbows on his knees, lowering his face until it hovered only inches away from the tablecloth.
I stepped toward him. At first, only his eyes flicked in my direction, but as soon as I held the basket out, he sat up and grabbed one.
“Thanks,” he said, a little too sharply.
“No problem,” I replied, my voice cracking. I cleared my throat and stared at the last candle, frowning. Laura had told me they always prepared candles for every living family member, even if they weren’t there. That explained the one for Sebastian. But why was there another one? I turned in a slow circle, searching for the one person I must have missed.
“It’s for you,” Sebastian said, causing me to turn back to him. “Everyone here participates. It’s tradition. And we follow it without asking questions.”
It was strange. I had spent weeks helping with the preparations, and not once had Laura or Dany mentioned that I would take part in their tradition.
Sebastian lifted his right eyebrow. “First Draper family reunion?”
I nodded, glancing from him to the candle and back again, unsure what to do.
“If you want to back out, now’s your last chance. If you’re staying, sit.” He pointed to the bench in front of me. “I’ll walk you through it. We’re going to have to talk sooner or later anyway.”
I didn’t move a muscle. Maybe Ishouldleave now. After all, this wasn’t my family. Not to mention I’d never had anythinglike this with my own—except maybe my stepdad’s fiftieth birthday. He had more siblings than I could count, and his parents were there, too. I couldn’t connect with anyone, but Mom seemed so happy. It had always just been the two of us and whatever boyfriend she had at the time. That day, she finally had a real family, something she had always wanted.
Sebastian let out a breath. “You shouldn’t believe what the others say. I’m not a bad person. At least… notthatbad.”
“I didn’t think you were.” I set the basket on the floor and sat down before I could second-guess it. If I wanted to get to know Sebastian, this was my chance. “I just wasn’t sure if it was okay for me to stay.”
“If my parents didn’t want you here,trust me,you wouldn’t be.”
“That’s not what I meant.” I pressed my thumb into the candle’s wrapping a few times, searching for the right words. “Family gatherings aren’t…” I shook my head. “Never mind.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not exactly thrilled to be here either.”
“Obviously.”
His head jerked back, but after a few seconds, his shoulders, which had been almost up to his ears, dropped a little.
“So, what do we do now?” I asked, turning the candle in my hands. “Laura told me that your family started this about a hundred years ago or so, when your great-great-grandmother came to this country with nothing but the clothes on her back, twenty dollars, and your great-grandfather in her arms. I know you burn candles to wish everyone joy or something, but she didn’t explain how it actually works.”
“It’s kind of a two-part thing.” Sebastian loosened the ribbon that held the clear wrapping paper together at the top, his eyes constantly searching for mine.
“Don’t we have to wait for everyone else?” I glanced over my shoulder. Some people were still talking and clutching to theircandles, while others were already holding burning matchsticks to the wicks.
“No, everyone does it when they’re ready. As long as we’re all in the same room, that’s enough. Supposedly, it symbolizes that we all walk the path of life at our own pace.” He gave a short laugh. “Which is ironic, considering that my parents say that and then immediately ask when I’m finishing my degree, getting a job, and bringing a woman home, I’ll hopefully marry within a year or two, so they can start asking about grandkids.” He shrugged. “Anyway, I’ll light mine up now. You can join me or wait. Doesn’t matter.”
