Chapter 4
Lily
I don’t know if it’s the jetlag that’s messing with my brain, making me hallucinate and imagine things.
Sebastian just called me beautiful.
I can’t help but smile at his compliment, and his obvious discomfort when he thought he had insulted me.
Sebastian James being flustered was something I never thought I would see.
It’s been a long day, and as he suspected, I’m not too keen on being photographed by a bunch of paparazzi when we’ve stayed awake all day to avoid jetlag.
I can’t wait to get back to my fabulous apartment, take a long shower, and wash away a tiring day, before falling into bed, preferably sleeping for at least twelve hours.
“We should make a schedule for our meetings, and I’ll send you my program of practices and games,” Sebastian says.
The leading proponent of my assignment is my interview with Sebastian, in which he shares his thoughts on performing.
Calling it an interview when he’s such a close friend feels a little weird, but I’m hoping we can set a professional boundary so he sees me as a researcher rather than a friend in those settings.
I want to write a stellar assignment, and I hope he’ll be open and share as much as possible about how his brain works in sports.
How does he think?
What’s different when he has a good game compared to a bad one?
How does he handle tough periods?
Does he have any specific routines?
I’ll also be observing him during practice and games. That might be the aspect I’m looking forward to the most.
Seeing Sebastian excel in a sport he’s good at—the atmosphere of eager sports fans is always electrifying.
“Yeah, I’ll probably tag along for most of it, but I’ll stay out of your hair,” I say, hoping he won’t get too tired of me hanging around.
He is a professional athlete, after all, with an intentional focus on his career, and I plan to stay in the background as much as I can so he can focus on his tasks and job.
Him taking time out of that to help me with the paper is very thoughtful of him.
“Yeah, we can go over the schedule tomorrow when we’ve both had a good night’s sleep.”
Our food arrives, and we both inhale our meal, hungry after a long day with little food in our system.
We eat in comfortable silence.
Doing this project on someone you know well has its perks.
I don’t really have to build a relationship with Sebastian. I already know him, and he knows me, which makes this easier.
If my original plan didn’t get abandoned, I’d have to spend some time building a relationship with the athlete, but with Sebastian, that time is spared.
When we’re all finished, Sebastian pays for our meal, and we get in a taxi back to our apartment complex.
It’s luxurious and beautiful, and I know the amount I’m paying for the apartment is way too little, but Sebastian wouldn’t budge on telling me how much it actually was.
“Just let me take care of it,” he said, just like he’s said with everything else regarding this project.
The apartment, the flights, my luggage, everything. I know he’s rich; football players in his league are paid extreme amounts.
Still, it leaves a sour taste in my mouth that he’s paying for everything, and I’m determined to come up with something to repay him.
He may not want money, but I’d like to give him something he’d appreciate in return for helping me out.
When my other athlete pulled out of the project at the last minute, I had a full-on panic for the twenty four hours leading up to the dinner, until Sebastian saved the day.
I talked to my school, but they couldn’t help me as this was so last-minute.
They even told me I could be delayed in my studies if I didn’t figure this out.
Like hell I will be delayed.
I’m going to finish my studies together with the rest of my class.
Over the last two-and-a-half years, I’ve found my small group of people who’ve been through the trenches with me.
Exam periods when we realise we started reading way too late.
Lectures that felt never-ending.
Classes with too many quiet students who never raise their hands.
We’re studying to become people who talk to others about the ups and downs of sports. The least you’ll have to do is speak to others.
Oh well.
Not my problem.
I quickly found my group consisting of my closest friend, Mira. She’s the same age as me, and is off to do her project in American football.
Then we have Kait, who will test her seasickness and follow a professional sailor in Australia.
Lastly, we have Wendy, who is off to sunny Brazil to work on her project about a beach volleyball player.
We are nothing but widespread, at least.
We’ve decided that each Sunday will be our catch-up—at least, we’ll try.
With me in Europe, Kait in Australia, and Wendy in Brazil, the time difference will be a challenge, but we’ll do our best.
When we get in the elevator, I ask which floor Sebastian is on. He gives me a smirk, raising one eyebrow slightly.
I catch on and roll my eyes at him for good measure.
“Sorry, mister rich as fuck, of course you have the penthouse,” I say, seeing the elevator numbers closing in on the seventh floor, which is the one I’m staying at.
“Didn’t know you were capable of swearing,” he says, his hands resting in his pockets.
The doors open and I look back at Sebastian.
“You have no idea just how filthy I can be.”
Then I wink at him and step out.
Part of me is dying to see his expression.
Another part of me is wondering if I just made a fool of myself again.
I just couldn’t help myself.
He walked right into that one.
My friends always say I’m a big flirt. I don’t necessarily disagree with them, but I find it harmful and fun.
Most of the time, it just pops out. Around Sebastian, I may be a little more interested in his reactions, but still, it’s all entertaining.
I’ve seen him around a fair share of women, and I know he can be the biggest flirt if he wants to.
He’s never bought out that side of himself to me, which makes me want to push him slightly.
When he called me beautiful, he was almost flustered, worried he had offended me when suggesting I wouldn’t want to be photographed.
He was freaking adorable.
But I want Sebastian to be more than adorable around me.
I want him to let loose.
I want him to look at me like he looked at me at that gala before my dear brother ruined our moment.
I may set myself up for rejection here, but it will be fun, nevertheless.
You can’t take yourself too seriously, and I’m going to enjoy my London adventure to the fullest.
That includes bringing out the wilder side of Sebastian as well.