47. Lily
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
LILY
S ebastian’s family’s villa was nestled in the countryside not far from L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
It had views of the rugged, green-topped Vaucluse hills and was fifteen miles from Avignon Airport.
Sebastian drove me and most of the luggage in a rented SUV, while Harry drove Zac, Sierra, and Maddie in another rented vehicle.
When my boyfriend pulled up to his family’s vacation home, it reminded me how vastly different our economic backgrounds were.
La Villa Aux épines (renamed for their family name Thorne) was actually a large, five-bedroom Provencal farmhouse on a plot big enough for ample outdoor living and an impressive pool.
Sebastian took my hand and led me inside, eager as a wee kid to show it off to me.
And I could see why. It was all flagstone floors, wooden beams, and impressive stone fireplaces merged beautifully with modern styling.
The farmhouse kitchen was like something out of a magazine and all the bedrooms were generously sized.
“This is ours for the week.” He tugged me into the primary suite. There was a modern four-poster bed and a generous en suite with marble tiles and an enormous claw-footed tub. A set of sliding doors led straight out to the pool from the bedroom.
“It’s a dream.”
“You like?”
“I love,” I assured him.
Sebastian kissed me, the kiss turning hungry quickly, and he began leading me over to the bed.
The abrupt cacophony of our friends’ arrival broke us apart.
“Later,” my boyfriend promised with a growl before guiding me out of the room to greet his guests.
The Thornes’ French housekeeper had stocked the kitchen with food and alcohol.
However, a wee bit weary from our travels, Sebastian drove us to a local restaurant for dinner.
Upon our return, we cracked into bottles of chilled beer and lounged around outside all evening, chatting and laughing.
It was wonderful. The boys were funny, my girls were relaxed, and I tried not to think about the fact that this was probably one of the last times we’d be together like this.
At night, Sebastian made gentle love to me in a way that brought tears to my eyes, and I fell asleep in his arms with thoughts of gratitude and amazement.
There was a small tug of fear in the back of my mind that somehow this, he , would go away.
But I thought that was normal considering my past relationships, and I was sure over time, that last remaining niggle of uncertainty would fade.
The noise of our friends out at the pool woke us the next day. We grabbed a quick breakfast and showered. Sebastian was already in his swim shorts before I even left the bathroom, so I told him to go out.
I lingered, staring at my reflection in the large mirror that hung on the bathroom wall. Sebastian clearly loved my body, but there was a huge difference between being naked in bed with someone to walking out into the bright sunshine in a bikini that barely covered your tits and arse.
Especially when Sierra and Maddie were out there to compare me to. Both of my friends were slender in that toned, athletic way I’d never, ever be.
While my thighs and legs were toned from cycling everywhere, my arse still had a jiggle to it. My belly had that curve no amount of tummy crunches in the world could rid, and my boobs were very much hogging all the attention in the bikini top.
Unpleasant butterflies fluttered awake as I tried to force myself out of the bathroom.
This was ridiculous. I hadn’t felt this self-conscious in ages. But suddenly, I was Lily from six months ago, covering the rolls of fat on my belly when I sat down.
“What is taking so long?” Sebastian asked, barging into the bathroom without knocking.
I opened my mouth in protest but cut off at the heated look on his face as he ogled my body.
He swallowed comically. “Dear God, am I to spend the entire holiday with a tent in my shorts?”
Instinctually wrapping my arms around my belly, I let out a huff of embarrassment.
Sebastian scowled, coming up behind me but only to unwrap my arms. “Why are you hiding?” His countenance cleared. “Is that what’s taking so long? You are actually hiding?”
“No,” I lied, my eyes wide as they met his in the mirror.
His expression turned chiding as he smoothed his hands down my hips. “You look beautiful. You always look beautiful.”
“It’s not … my boobs look ridiculous.”
He stared intently at them, his cheeks flushed at the crest. “They look spectacular. Mesmerizing. You should always wear this.”
Hearing the sincerity in his voice, I chuckled, relaxing a wee bit. “Even in the height of winter?”
“Yes. We’ll get you a fur coat for whenever you have to go outside.”
“A fake one.”
“Absolutely.”
He gave my boobs a playful squeeze that made me squeal. Laughing, he stepped back. “Come on, before I can’t leave this room for anatomical reasons.”
I was still laughing as he gripped my hand and led me outside.
Other than Sierra wolf-whistling at me upon my appearance, I quickly forgot my self-consciousness as I lazed by the pool with my friends.
Sebastian said we were lucky the weather was so pleasant.
He informed us that sometimes April was very rainy and mild, but we’d stumbled upon a wee spring heat wave.
The boys and Sierra and Maddie fooled around in the pool. I did for a bit until the pull of the sun lounger drew me and I settled on it to study. Studying proved more difficult than I’d foreseen, however, and I ended up switching from my study notes on the iPad to my book app.
“Are you reading those filthy books you’ve gotten Sebastian into?” Zac called out to me mid pool volleyball.
Irritated, I replied, “They’re not filthy just because they have sex in them. Thrillers have sex in them, but people don’t call them filthy books.”
“She’s right,” Sebastian agreed. “They are excellent stories. The graphic sex scenes are merely a bonus.”
My lips twitched, but I kept reading.
At Zac’s snort of disbelief, Harry opined, “I think they’re rather good. I finished that one about the true crime podcaster who falls for the local sheriff. So many red herrings. I never would have guessed who the killer was.”
“Don’t spoil it for me!” Sierra cut him off. “I haven’t finished that one yet.”
Chuckling to myself, I delighted in my victory of having turned half of our friend group into romance readers.
The next day, I got up early to get some studying in while everyone slept.
Once my friends were awake, we split as a group.
Zac, Harry, and Maddie wanted to explore the village and Sebastian wanted to take me hiking along the river.
I invited Sierra along because I knew she loved a good walk.
Sebastian once more proved himself to be considerate as he tried not to be overly physically affectionate with me.
I knew it was so Sierra didn’t feel like a third wheel, and I was grateful to him for it.
It was a lovely morning and as Sebastian guided us back to the villa, his long strides eating up the ground ahead of us, I looped my arm through Sierra’s and pulled her close.
“I’m glad we got to do this.”
She smiled, a hint of sadness in it. “I am too.”
“I’m going to miss you so much.”
“Don’t,” she muttered. “Every time I think about it, I want to cry.”
“We’ll see each other,” I vowed. “My postgrad schedule allows a better part-time job schedule next year. I’m going to save so I can come visit you.”
“I’ll come visit too.” She patted my hand. “I’m so beyond happy to see you this happy, Lil. You deserve someone who treats you like you’re precious because you are. And Sebastian treats you that way. He adores you.” Sierra grinned. “You brought down the ultimate playboy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t remind me of his previous wicked ways.”
“Oh, come on, you don’t need to worry about that. He’s over that phase of his life.”
“I know.” I shrugged.
“But …”
“No buts,” I whispered, not wanting Sebastian to overhear.
“There’s a but.”
I shot my boyfriend a look to make sure he was out of hearing range. “I didn’t miraculously turn into the most confident girl on the planet since dating him.”
“Meaning?”
“That maybe there will always be a small part of me that worries he might grow bored with me.”
Outrage flashed across my friend’s face. “Lily?—”
“I know that’s my own insecurities talking. Believe me. I’m working on it.”
“He loves you.”
“I know he does,” I promised her. “Now, let’s talk about your love life. Are you planning on settling down any time soon, Sierra Palmer?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Nope. I have at least six more years before I need to think about taking that part of my life seriously. When I finally settle down, it will be safe in the knowledge that I’ve had enough sex to (a) not have any regrets, and (b) choose a life partner who knows what he is doing in the bedroom. ”
I chuckled. “Good plan.”
“Does, uh, Mr. Thorne know what he’s doing?” she dared to ask.
I understood her hesitation. While I’d always been forthcoming with details of my past relationships or dates, I’d been stubbornly closed mouth about what was between me and Sebastian. “Ohhhh yes .”
“ Really ?”
“Aye.” I stared smugly at Sebastian. “Twice now I’ve almost blacked out.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Well done, Mr. Thorne.”
“There should be a monetary reward for his achievements. He should teach classes. Men should pay him for those classes.”
Sierra giggled loudly and Sebastian glanced over his shoulder, eyebrow raised in questioning amusement.
“Don’t tell him that, though,” I said hurriedly. “It’s good to keep him on his toes. Keeps him eager and motivated .”
My friend laughed harder.
“What’s so funny?” Sebastian called back to us, smiling.
“We’re just happy,” Sierra called back.
His expression softened as he glanced between us and nodded before turning around.
My friend sighed sappily. “Make a clone of him and I might consider settling down.”
I grinned, hugging her closer, beyond giddy that Sierra approved of my Sebastian.
As beautiful as the day started, unfortunately, it did not end well.
Late afternoon, Sebastian, Sierra, and I made a wee picnic and ate it outside. Then we changed into swimwear to hang out by the pool again. Zac, Harry, and Maddie returned and soon joined us.
“Guess who we bumped into,” Zac said as he waded into the water behind Maddie and Harry. He answered before Sebastian could ask who. “Colette.” He pronounced it with a French accent.
Sebastian had his arms around me, I was floating against his chest, so I felt his sudden tension. Realization clenched my gut before Zac blithely continued in explanation to the rest of us. “Colette is the daughter of a shop owner in the village. Sebastian hooked up with her two years ago.”
Harry cut him an annoyed look before changing the subject. “Who wants a beer? I’ll grab them.”
“Those French girls know what they’re doing.” Zac ignored him.
Sebastian’s arms tightened around me. “Zac?—”
“I swear I can’t even look her in the eye now. What was it you called her? The Dyson?” He laughed uproariously.
“The Dyson?” Maddie asked stupidly.
“Zero gag reflex,” Sebastian’s moronic friend explained.
“Would you shut the fuck up?” Sebastian snapped angrily.
Zac’s expression fell. “What?” He looked at me, and he blanched. “Lily, I’m sorry. I forgot.”
I gave a brittle shake of my head, waving off his apology. But the reminder that Sebastian had been a manwhore, mixed with my insecurity over my own abilities in that area, plus the idea of him talking about a woman in that way … I wanted to shrug off his embrace.
“And I never called her that. You did.” Sebastian bent his head to my ear. “I promise.”
I nodded, shivering at the caress of his breath on my skin.
“Sawyer, I love you,” he vowed hoarsely.
Shoving down my own insecurity, I patted his arm. “I know. I love you.”
Zac grimaced. “Shit, I really am sorry.”
“Probably a bad idea you invited her over here tonight.” Maddie glowered at him. “Why would you do that?”
Sebastian pulled me tighter against him. “You did what?”
His friend gaped. “I wasn’t thinking. Sorry.”
The sound of my phone ringing distracted me from the annoyance burning through my blood and fogging my brain at the thought of having to socialize with one of Sebastian’s flings. “I have to get that.”
“Sawyer …”
I tugged out of Sebastian’s hold, and he reluctantly released me.
Zac muttered another apology to his friend as I got out of the pool. Grateful for the interruption, I snatched up my phone. It was my mother. “Hey, Mum, what’s up?”
Words hurried and shaky, she relayed without preamble, “I don’t want you to panic, because she’s going to be okay, but January was in a car accident this morning.”
Despite her words, panic froze me to the spot. “What? She’s okay, though?”
I was vaguely aware of everyone in the pool growing quiet as Mum replied, “She’s got a few bumps and bruises … and a broken wrist. But she’s going to be okay.”
“A broken wrist?” I cried.
Splashing from behind had me whirling around. Sebastian was wading out of the pool, his features etched with concern.
“January was in a car accident.”
“Bugger,” he muttered, hurrying out as my friends all followed him.
“She’s in the hospital getting checked over, but we’re taking her home soon. I wanted you to know,” Mum continued.
“I’m coming home.”
“No, Jan wouldn’t want that.”
“I’m not staying here after my sister’s been in a car accident. I’m coming home.”
“Lily—”
“I’m coming home. I’ll let you know when I’m about to board my flight.”
“Okay, sweetie. I’ll see you soon.”
We hung up and Sebastian pulled me into his arms. “She’s fine,” I mumbled against his chest. “But she’s broken her wrist. I need to go home.”
“Of course. We’ll pack now and grab the next flight.”
“No.” I jerked away. “I’m not ruining your holiday. Or my friends’ holiday.”
“Lily, it’s fine. We understand.” Maddie rested a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. “We’ll all head home.”
“No,” I insisted. “Please. It’ll make me feel worse if you guys leave too. Just stay and enjoy yourselves and I’ll keep you updated.”
“I’m not letting you fly alone when you’re distressed.” My boyfriend’s tone brokered no argument.
Yet I argued back. “You come with me, and it’ll make me feel really bad.”
“Sawyer—”
“Please stay.”
He glowered angrily at me. “Fine. But I’m driving you to the airport.”
“That I will allow.” My hands shook as I ran them through my wet hair. “I’m going to pack.”