6. Lilian
Chapter 6
Lilian
Three days. I managed to stay away for three days. And now, after three batches of baking my favorite cupcakes, I’m here.
I sit on the bleachers, observing the football team practice, with a box of cupcakes on my lap. Beside me are some girls with their phones pointing at the players, some people from the track team, and, I think her name was Naomi. The sun blazes overhead, casting shadows across the players as they sprint and tackle each other.
I’ve never cared for sports, especially not football. Yet here I am.
Jason.
Simple as that, and he likes my cupcakes.
I squint against the sunlight, scanning the field.
And there he is.
Sebastian .
He moves with such grace and power, commanding the field like a king, his biceps flexing beneath his jersey as he throws the ball with precision.
In the last few days, his presence has haunted me, making it impossible to focus on anything else. Everywhere I am, he is, always surrounded by people, laughing and chatting, unreachable. Not that I would go up to him.
I force my gaze back to Jason, who’s running drills. He’s good. As good as I can say with my non-existent experience in football.
“Bash!” someone yells. And that someone is Brandon, the guy we lost against at beer pong.
Is Naomi here for him? Just like I’m for—
As if sensing my gaze, Sebastian looks up, locking eyes with me from across the field. His lips curve into a mischievous smile before he turns back to his teammates.
What am I doing here? I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I’m being ridiculous.
“Hey, Lil! What brings you here? I thought you hated sports.” Ju walks up the bleachers to me.
I scramble for an excuse, but my mind goes blank. “I, uh, I just thought I’d try something new, you know? Expand my horizons.”
Ju’s eyebrows shoot up, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. “Uh, huh. And this sudden interest in football wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain quarterback named Bash, would it? ”
“What? No, of course not.” My voice is too high-pitched, and I know I’m busted. “I mean, maybe a little, but—”
“Oh, you’re so transparent. It’s written all over your face.”
“Is it that obvious?”
Ju pats my shoulder. “Only to those who found you in his room all flushed and cute. Don’t worry.” She waves at someone.
“Hey, girls! What’s up?” Naomi plops down beside us.
“Oh, nothing much. Just watching Lil drool over Sebastian,” Ju says.
I elbow her in the ribs.
“Can’t blame her. He’s quite the specimen,” Naomi says.
I offer them the box of cupcakes, desperate to change the subject. “Cupcake, anyone?”
They each take one, watching the practice. Well, they watch the practice. My gaze drifts back to Sebastian, admiring his muscles rippling under his sweat-soaked jersey like a duchess watching her knight train in the courtyard, completely captivated by the strength and skill on display but hiding her fascination behind a mask of cool indifference. At least, I hope I’m not obvious.
“So, Naomi,” Ju says. “How’s it going with Brandon?”
“Please. I don’t need a guy who can’t even handle a game of beer pong.”
“Right?” Ju high-fives her. “We totally destroyed them!”
Naomi laughs. “Oh, yeah. He was so pissed. Can’t wait for my five- star meal.”
I nod, my eyes tracking Sebastian’s every move on the field. The way his body twists and turns, the power in his throws… it’s mesmerizing.
Ju elbows me. “Earth to Lil! Did you hear what I said?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry. What were you saying?”
“I was telling you about how Naomi and I kicked Connor and Brandon’s asses at beer pong the other night.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s great.” My attention drifts back to Sebastian.
“Someone’s got it bad,” Naomi says.
“It’s not like that.” I bite my lip.
“Sure, it’s not. Just like you didn’t spend the last five minutes eye-fucking Bash,” Ju says.
“I was not!” They exchange a knowing look, and I sigh. “Fine. How do I make it stop?”
Ju snorts. “You don’t. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
I bury my face in my hands. “I’m pathetic.”
Naomi pats my back. “No, you’re not. You’re just interested.”
“Interested in what? A guy who probably doesn’t even remember my name?”
The words taste bitter on my tongue, but I can’t deny the truth in them. Sebastian is so far out of my league.
“I could call him over for you. I bet he’d like a cupcake, too.” Ju waves.
“Please don’t.” I grab her hand, pulling it down. “I think I’ll stick to admiring from afar. ”
A girl flops down beside Naomi, her perfume wafting over. “Hey, girls.”
“Hey, B,” Naomi says.
“Blake, hey,” Ju says.
“Hey.” I look over, and my fingers tighten their hold on the box of cupcakes. It’s the girl with the red hair who was making out with Mike.
She adjusts the sunglasses on her nose. “So, who are we admiring, ladies?”
“Sebastian,” Naomi says.
“That asshole? You wouldn’t believe what he did the other night,” Blake says.
“Spill,” Ju says.
“Well, I was there for our regular hookup, right? And he just kicked me out. Like, what the fuck? Apparently, I wasn’t good enough for his highness.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t—” Naomi says.
But Blake barrels on. “Whatever, I found someone else pretty quick. Some guy at the party was more than happy to make out with me. Turns out he had a girlfriend there because she saw us and ran off crying.”
My blood turns to ice in my veins. I’m that girlfriend. She’s talking about me. About that night at the party.
“B, seriously, shut up.” Naomi grabs Blake’s arm.
Blake pushes the glasses up on her head studying me. “Oh, shit. You’re her, aren’t you? The girlfriend.”
I can’t speak. Can’t breathe .
Blake shrugs. “Well, I did you a favor if you ask me. That guy was a dick. He would’ve cheated on you eventually. I just sped up the process.”
Naomi glares at her. “You’re being a bitch.”
Blake holds up her hands in mock surrender. “Yeah, okay, sorry, my bad. Shutting up now.” She rests back against the bleachers, closing her eyes.
Naomi turns to me, her expression softening. “I’m sorry about that. She’s not usually so mean.”
I stare at the field, not really seeing anything. The humiliation, the panic, it all comes rushing back. I can’t be here. I can’t—
“Hey, everything alright over here?” Jason’s jogging up to us.
Ju sighs. “Yeah.”
“Just our Queen B here,” Naomi adds.
“Hi, Jay Jay.” Blake raises her hand in salute, eyes still closed.
Jason nods, understanding. He glances at me, his eyes softening. “You okay?”
I force a smile, hoping it doesn’t look as fake as it feels. “I’m fine. I brought cupcakes.” I open the box and offer him one.
“You’re a lifesaver!” He grabs one, taking a huge bite.
“Careful, you’ll choke,” I say.
Ju’s voice drops to a purr. “I wouldn’t mind giving you mouth-to-mouth if you did.”
Did she really say that?
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Jason turns to me. “Thanks again for the cupcake, Lil. You’re the best. ”
“Barron! Focus!” The coach’s voice booms across the grass, making us all look up.
Brandon claps Sebastian on the shoulder and says something as the coach gestures for them to move.
“What happened?” I ask.
“Who cares?” Jason asks.
“Isn’t he your teammate?”
“Jason here is in the second team,” Ju says.
“The backup team to the first one Sebastian and Brandon are in.” Naomi points to where they’re huddled together.
Sebastian is smiling, grabbing the hem of his shirt and using it to wipe the sweat from his brow, giving me a glimpse of his toned and defined abs.
Wow. I knew he was fit, but this… this is something else entirely.
Jason nudges my arm. “You still with me?”
“Sorry, yes, I was just… distracted.”
“By the golden boy.” It’s not a question. “You never come to the training, let alone the matches. If it’s because of him…”
My voice squeaks. “It’s not.”
“Bullshit.” Jason lowers his voice. “You’ve never cared about football before. And now suddenly you’re here, ogling him?”
Ju’s eyes dart between us, Naomi shifts, pretending to focus on her phone, and Blake observes us with one eye open.
Yes, I like Sebastian, but that’s all. I rub my sweaty palms on my skirt. What’s the harm ?
“Great.” Jason scoffs. “Why don’t you give him the cupcakes?”
Ju holds up her hand. “Don’t be so mean.”
But he doesn’t even spare her a glance. “You know what, Lil? Go to him. But don’t come crying to me when he breaks your heart. Because he will. Guys like Sebastian Barron? They don’t do relationships. They only use girls like you and toss them aside when they’re done.”
With that, he turns on his heel and stalks away, leaving me shaking and numb.
“Amen.” Blake closes her eyes, lounging back.
Ju falls back onto the spot beside me, resting her head in her left hand. “He’s so hot. And totally clueless. Even if he’s mad.”
“I need to go.” I shove the box of cupcakes into Ju’s hands and stand on shaky legs. I can feel their eyes on me, but I don’t care. I need to get away.
“Hey. He didn’t mean that. He’s just worried,” Ju says.
I stumble down the bleachers and hear Naomi say, “Nice going, B.”
But I don’t stick around to hear Blake’s response. I’m already fleeing, my vision blurred with tears.
How could I have been so stupid?