Chapter Six - Thalia
I THOUGHT I got through to him, but the next time I saw Sebastian, he ignored me as if I hadn’t had my hands all over him the night before. I shouldn’t have touched Bash without asking, but I wanted to help. I don’t enjoy seeing him in pain, despite what he may believe about me.
The tattoo caught me by surprise. I didn’t think he was the type for them. It is such a simple word in an elegant script: almost.
I want to know the story behind it, but I knew better than to ask at that moment. He was already flighty; he would have run immediately if I had pushed. The Sebastian I found in the kitchen last night was the one I knew before I left for France. The one I had in small stolen moments, much like last night.
I couldn’t believe he let me touch him; that should say something about how much he was hurting. If Sebastian were in his right mind, he would have told me to go back to bed immediately.
I felt…powerful watching his dark eyes rake over my body, knowing that no matter how much he doesn’t like me, Sebastian’s attracted to me too. I almost laughed when I saw his jaw clench, and I know he tried hard to keep his eyes on my face. It’s not the first time either. I didn’t think he would be awake that early when he found me in the kitchen. It was four in the morning. I thought I had until five before they would be up, or I would have put more clothes on. Sebastian might think I didn’t see him staring at me before he left, but I saw him. He can deny it all he wants, but I saw.
If I hadn’t been there myself, I wouldn’t believe he made jokes, let alone laughed and smiled with me. I’m glad I got to apologize, even if all he told me in response was to wear more clothes. Man, did that feed my ego. It made me feel a little bit like Owen.
Landon, my friend from the basketball team, drapes his arm across the back of my chair, the sudden movement pulling me from my thoughts. “Lia, I swear you’ve been zoning out the entire time. Did you get any sleep last night?”
Vera narrows her eyes and scrutinizes my face. “He’s right. What’s going on with you?”
“Just didn’t sleep last night. I was up most of the night going through old photos.” Which I was. I also couldn’t sleep after feeling the heat of Sebastian’s skin and the tautness of his muscles underneath my hands. Then, I lay there thinking about what Sebastian might have been doing behind his closed door. It was a very long night once I went down that rabbit hole. I called Penelope to get her advice, but it wasn’t helpful.
“You miss France, don’t you?” Stacey asks, a sympathetic look in her eyes.
I grab my scalding coffee to take a long drink. It’s enough to jar me awake enough to continue with the conversation. It’s my second of the morning, and it’s only nine.
“I do. Madame Thomas’s pastries were the best. There’s nothing like them here. The mountains and scenery of France, the ocean in Spain, everything was simpler there.” It felt like home to me.
Landon fiddles with the sleeve of my T-shirt. “Why don’t we go to the beach today? It’s only an hour and a half drive. It won’t be Spain, but it’s still syllabus week. None of our classes are doing anything.”
I smile widely at the thought of a beach day, as do Vera and Stacey. “Do you mind if I bring my new friend? I think you’ll love her.”
I could use an afternoon of basking under the sun on the water. I already feel like I’m losing the tan I gained this summer from my adventures with Penelope.
“Is she fun?” Stacey asks, and I smile, nodding.
“I think so. She’s smart and funny,” I say, taking another long sip of my coffee. It won’t be my last of the day, but I’m also hoping some vitamin D will help. “I’m going to run home and grab my stuff. Pick me up in thirty?” I ask, standing up while shouldering my bag.
Landon gives me a warm smile. “Sure thing.”
I make a mental list of all the people coming, including Blake, if she agrees, although I’m sure I will be dragging her away from her textbooks again. Stacey will probably bring her boyfriend, Jeremy. Landon will probably bring Jake, one of his teammates. Then, it’s Vera and me. We should all be able to fit in Stacey’s car, since she has a third row in her car.It might be cramped, but I can deal with it if it means going to the beach.
I’m excited. I love the ocean more than anything. I can feel the energy rise in me, or maybe it’s the caffeine from my coffee finally hitting. Whatever it is, I’m glad not to feel like a zombie anymore. I’m positive I didn’t sleep more than two hours last night.
I paced around the apartment for a few hours, listening to my music and editing old photos most of the night like I usually do if I can’t sleep. A small part of me hoped that Bash would come back out. He didn’t, but a girl can dream.
Then his usual self appeared this morning. I didn’t even get so much as a hello. I text Blake quickly, telling her to pull her head out of a book and to get to my apartment within fifteen minutes wearing a swimsuit. Hopefully, she’ll listen. I need someone there who doesn’t just look at me and see the old me.
Thankfully, the apartment is empty when I get home. Bash and Owen must be in class, rendering Owen’s statement true. They are hardly here. There’s nothing that can be said about night time, though. Apparently, Sebastian keeps odd hours like me.
I’d just gotten a new swimsuit before I left Paris that I hadn’t gotten a chance to wear. It’s a mauve that makes me look tan. It reveals more cheek than I would typically show, but everything in Paris was about stepping outside your comfort zone. I’m a member of the itty bitty titty club, but the top hugs and holds my chest in place while making it look larger than it really is.
I stuff a disposable camera into my bag with a towel and take my higher-grade camera out to set it on the charger. There’s not a shot in hell that I’m taking the chance of getting sand in places where sand doesn’t belong. Cameras cost too much for that bullshit.
I haven’t checked my phone since I plugged it in when I got back, so I assume it’s Blake entering when the front door opens.
It’s just my luck to find Sebastian scowling at me when I turn around. “Are you fucking kidding me?” He swears harshly, all niceties from last night gone. Glad we’re back to this.
I roll my eyes, not bothering to dignify his response with one of my own.
“Thalia.”
“Quoi?” What?
His mouth flattens, and I revel in how his eyes comb over my body before resting on my face. This time, he doesn’t even try to hide it. Sebastian might be pissed, but he can’t hide the simmering lust in his gaze. I hate how my body reacts; it’s not getting the memo Sebastian is off limits. “Is this going to be a regular thing? Me walking out to you in practically nothing?”
“I don’t know what you mean. I’m going to the beach, and I’m wearing clothes, Bash. Dois tu continuer d’agir comme un connard?” I bite back, putting my hands on my hips. Are you going to continue acting like an asshole?
“Stop calling me an asshole.” Sebastian snaps, and it brings me immense joy to know that I get under his skin enough to where he would look it up.
“Make me.” It’s such a childish thing for me to say. I know it, and he knows it, but it seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to say.
Bash’s face darkens, and he sets his bag down on the couch. “What is your goal here?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
I smile innocently at him. “I’m going to the beach. What’s yours?”
He looks irritated now. I lean forward on the counter, almost in the same position he was in while I massaged him. His eyes shift to look at my chest, furthering my resolution that this was a great purchase. “Do you need another massage? You look a little tense.” Icroon, fully aware that I’m pushing his boundaries. I instantly regret it as his face hardens. Shit, I took it too far. He allowed me to see him when he was hurting, and I’m throwing it in his face.
Sebastian opens his mouth, but he’s cut off by the door’s opening, revealing Owen and Blake walking in together. “I hear we’re going to the beach?” Owen asks, and I nod excitedly.
“It won’t be the beach in Spain surrounded by delicious European men, but Landon suggested it.” I look to see Bash’s reaction, and I love how his jaw clenches. I am playing with fire right now, and it’s electrifying.
Blake whistles, taking note of my bikini. “Damn, girl. Your swimsuit makes mine look like a one-piece.”
I shimmy playfully. “If you got it, flaunt it.”
“Go change,” Owen says, shaking his head at me. “You are not wearing that.”
“You’re not Dad, and it’s my body, my choice.”
He peers closely, and his eyes widen. “You have a tattoo?”
I look down at the beautiful French words written on my ribs, relieved to find that my shorts hide the second one. Finding out I have two might be too much for his brain to comprehend. “I do. So does Sebastian before you say anything about how dumb they are. If you’re coming with us to the beach, you might want to shave your beard, or you’ll end up with a weird facial tan.”
He shakes his head immediately. “The beard is staying, but I am going. Coach gave us the afternoon off and told us to relax.” Owen turns to look at Sebastian, who has remained silent since they walked in. “I hope you’re planning on coming. You look tense.” I smother a giggle at his same choice of words as me.
“I plan on sleeping. I didn’t get much of it last night,” Sebastian replies tightly, and I bite my lip to hide my smile.
“Whatever you decide, Landon and Stacey will be here soon to pick us up,” I say, motioning to Blake to follow me to my room.
I braid my hair messily to keep it off my shoulders. “I have a feeling that if Owen and I hadn’t come in at that exact moment, something might have happened between you,” Blake says, taking a seat on the bed.
“Like what?” I ask, grabbing my phone and double-checking my bag for my disposable camera. I learned long ago that you should always have a camera on you. Memories can be forgotten, but photographs live forever.
“Dude, Sebastian was looking at you like he was going to kill you or screw you then and there. I’m going to guess it was the second one.” Blake’s bluntness catches me off guard.
“It was the first one.” Except it totally could have been the second. I never got to hear what he was going to say because Owen and Blake walked in.
My phone vibrates with a call from Vera. “Hey, we’re here. Who all is coming with?”
“Owen came home early and wants to come too. My friend Blake can come. I’m not sure if Bash is coming or not. He’s got a giant stick up his ass.” I shoulder my bag, winking at Blake.
“Well, Stacey has room for seven,” she says. I do the mental math, but with Owen and Bash, that’s eight.“Hurry up! It’s a long drive.”
“Be out in a few. You won’t leave without us.” I hang up without another word. “C’mon, let’s go.”
We leave the living room to find only Owen waiting, and my heart falls. I want Sebastian to come with us. It’s probably a bad idea, but I don’t love the idea of leaving him here alone. “Ready?” Owen asks, standing up.
“Yep. Is Sebastian not coming?” I rock back on my heels, and Owen shakes his head.
“Nope. He said he would go for a run instead, which is the exact opposite of sleeping, but whatever.”
He needs this afternoon more than I do. The glimpse of him last night revealed how much stress he carries. It’s more than he lets on, that’s for sure.
“Give me a minute; I’ll talk to him. Stacey’s car is out front,” I instruct, and Owen looks shocked that I would attempt to get him to come. Blake pats me on the shoulder and smiles at Owen.
“You have to go with me because I don’t know any of these people. I barely know you guys, but I really don’t know them.”
He shakes his head at me, stepping toward the door with Blake. “Good luck to you. Try not to piss him off anymore than you already did.”
I flash him a quick smile and disappear down the hall. I have to make this fast, or they’ll probably leave without both of us. I love them, but they aren’t always the best friends.
I knock once before entering anyway because I know Sebastian won’t give permission for me to come in. Don’t get distracted by anything in the room. You have a job, Lia.
He’s just finished tying his shoes when he looks up at me, annoyed. “What? Come to taunt me more?”
“You should come with us.”
Sebastian steps closer to me, reminding me of how significant our height difference is. “Why do you want me there?”
I inhale a shaky breath, struggling more in his proximity than I expected. “You love the ocean, so you’re not going because of me. I want you there because I think it will help you relax. You seriously need to before that vein in your forehead pops.”
His brown eyes narrow. “And I’m supposed to relax around you? Give me a break, Thalia. Just cut me a fucking break for once.” Sebastian’s words come out in a low rumble, sending shivers through me.
“I will if you come with me,” I offer, letting it dangle within his touch. I will leave Bash alone, but I don’t want him to skip out on something he might want to do.
“I’ll be out in a minute,” he says after what feels like forever of him staring me down. “Don’t make me regret this.”
I smile at him. “Je n’oserais pas connard.”