Chapter 242

[ 985 words ]

Emilia’s POV

I walked the cold street alone, hands shoved deep in my coat pockets, head down, watching the pavement. One foot in front of the other. Just keep moving. My mind was still tangled in Abigail’s words when I walked straight into someone’s chest.

I looked up, ready to snap out an apology, and froze.

Sebastian.

“Why are you here?” I frowned.

“The concert was something, wasn’t it?” His tone was easy, like he’d just happened to stroll by.

My frown deepened. “How did you know I went?”

“I put a tracker on you.”

“Tch.” I snorted and pushed past him, irritation flaring hot in my chest. I wasn’t in the mood for his games tonight.

“Are you hunting for spare change? You keep staring at the ground.”

“None of your business.”

Abigail’s voice still rang in my head. “Give him back to me.” The nerve of it. The entitlement. In front of her I could play it cool, act like the words didn’t land. In front of Sebastian, I didn’t have the energy to hide.

“You must be hungry by now. Let’s go get something warm. Nothing better than a hot meal together on a cold night like this.”

I stopped dead and whirled on him. “How can you talk about dinner like nothing happened?”

He blinked. “Nothing did happen.”

“Nothing?” A bitter laugh cracked out of me. “Abigail just declared war on me.”

Sebastian paused a beat, then, unbelievably, he laughed. Full-on laughed. “She declared war on you, not me. Why would I worry?”

“You’re the prize, Sebastian. Whoever wins gets you. Doesn’t it bother you that she could blow us apart?”

He slipped an arm around my shoulders, his voice infuriatingly calm. “Honestly? Not at all. I’ve yet to meet anyone who can beat our strong, unstoppable Emilia Taylor.”

I shoved his arm off. “Stop it. Don’t think I can’t read you.”

“Read what?”

“You’re this relaxed because it doesn’t really cost you anything. Whoever wins. You’d probably rather have Abigail. And if you can’t, well, you’ve still got me as backup. But me?” My voice sharpened. “I don’t have a backup. You, Sebastian Simons, are the only man for me.”

His face changed. He caught my shoulders, his green eyes locking onto mine. “What do I have to do to make you believe you are not a backup?”

I thought about it, then lifted my chin. “Say it in front of Abigail. Then I’ll believe you.”

Silence.

Of course.

I pried his hands off my shoulders and turned away. “Every time you need to prove something, all I get is silence.”

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

I’d taken two steps when his words stopped me cold. I looked back. “For real?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t regret it tomorrow?”

“Do you want me to swear it to the Moon Goddess?”

A smile tugged at my mouth before I could help it. “Fine. I’ll believe you this time. When?”

“This weekend, probably. I’ll ask Abigail out. You invite Damien.”

“Damien too?”

I asked it carefully. They’d just brawled that afternoon. I didn’t need a round two on my hands.

“Yes.”

“Okay.” I held out my pinky. “Then let’s pinky swear.”

Sebastian stared at my finger like I’d handed him a live grenade. “Do you have to be this childish?”

“It’s a promise. How is that childish? I’m doing it because I’m afraid you’ll back out when the time comes.” I grabbed his hand and hooked my pinky around his.

Once it was sealed, the knot in my chest loosened. I looped my arm through his. “Come on. Dinner.”

Sebastian smiled and shook his head. “You’re such a practical woman.”

I grinned. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

For the first time all night, something in me lifted. This weekend, Sebastian would keep his promise. And maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t have to worry about Abigail anymore.

The days went fast. Before I knew it, Tiffany’s birthday had come.

Early that morning, I grabbed the new outfit Sebastian and I had picked out the day before and headed to her room.

“Tiffany, are you up? Can I come in?”

“Come in!”

I pushed the door open and waved the gift bag in the air. “Happy birthday.”

She smiled from her bed. “Thank you, Emilia.”

“What’s this?” She eyed the bag.

“A mystery gift that turns you into a total knockout.” I pulled out the dress and held it up. “Put it on.”

“There’s no need. I’m staying home anyway. No point dressing up.”

“It’s your birthday, Tiffany. Once a year. You deserve to look amazing, wherever you are.”

I all but shoved her into the changing room. Once she was in the outfit, I did her hair, and within half an hour she looked like a different person. She was already pretty. Now? Stunning.

She flushed and tugged at the hem. “Emilia, isn’t this a little much?”

“Not at all. You’re not a kid anymore.” I stepped back to admire my work. “You’ve got to start carrying yourself differently. The way you dress, the way you show up, it all matters now.”

Just then my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and grinned. “Come on. Let’s go get some air.”

I led her down the stairs and out the front door. The second we stepped outside, Tiffany froze.

Fynn stood by the driveway, holding a neatly wrapped gift.

She started to turn back, but I grabbed her arm. “Don’t run,” I whispered. “Act like the confident woman you are.”

Fynn walked over, his gaze holding on her a beat too long. “Tiffany. Happy birthday.” He held out the gift. “Didn’t you say you wanted to see Evergreen Park? I took the day off. I’ll take you.”

I shot her a pointed look, silently telling her to say yes.

Even if they could never be more than friends, they could still be that.

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