Chapter 5
Sebastian
Fuck.
Everything comes back to that word and how effortlessly Lily called me “mister rich as fuck” before telling me how filthy she can be.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard her swear before, and then she goes ahead like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
And it is.
I swear all the time; most of my friends do, too.
It never makes me halt in my tracks, at a loss for words.
This really shouldn’t be a big deal.
Again, I’m certain I’m going crazy.
And it has everything to do with Lily Hastings, and how freaking filthy she can be.
If I wasn’t already struggling, my brain is now filled with images of her, putting her words into action.
And this is where I need to draw the fucking line.
I don’t know what I expected from Lily.
But as soon as we left US soil, it’s like she’s even more carefree and doesn’t have a worry in the world.
I’ve always known her to be cheerful, but this is a whole new level.
Is she flirty and daring like this with every guy she meets?
If she is, I’m going to be hanging by a thread if, or when, she talks to men on this adventure of hers.
When the doors almost close on me, I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts as I make my way out of the elevator and to my apartment.
Usually, I would call my best friend about women’s troubles. But when the woman at hand is his sister, I’m left to deal with this alone.
～
After a good night’s sleep, I feel more ready to handle Lily.
We’re meeting up for a late breakfast before we head to the stadium.
I take the elevator down to her floor, Lily insisting that she would make breakfast instead of heading out to a restaurant.
I don’t mind, as long as I get some nutrition into my body before practice.
I knock on her door, and Lily swings it open, a bright smile on her lips.
“Morning, Sebastian.”
I take in her outfit, trying not to make my admiration too obvious. She’s wearing skin-tight jeans, and when she turns around, I nearly groan out loud.
Christ.
No way the guys on my team won’t already notice her beauty from her face alone.
With jeans and an ass like that, she’s fucking doomed.
Or maybe that’s just me.
When I get a hold of myself, I follow her into the apartment and am instantly met with a delicious smell of the food Lily is cooking for us.
Now, I do groan out loud.
“It smells amazing in here, Lily. What are you making?”
I make my way over to the stove, where she’s flipping something in the pan.
“I’m making omelettes and roasted potatoes. Figured you’ll need protein and carbs, and vegetables are always a good idea.”
My mouth nearly waters at the food in front of me. It looks incredible; smells even better.
How Lily has managed to get all these groceries already is beyond me.
That’s one of the things I forgot to think about when getting the apartment ready for her.
Luckily, the apartment was already furnished, so I didn’t have to call in too many favours.
I made sure she had clean, fresh bed sheets, towels, soap, and things she probably hadn’t prioritised in those two big suitcases of hers.
My own personal housekeeper and chef helped me get everything ready for her.
Now, Lily seems to have everything she needs to cook a delicious meal, together with fresh berries, juice, and fresh bread, which she’s plating up as I watch her.
I’m excited for Lily to meet Harriet who works for me; an elderly woman who seemed very interested in meeting Lily when I called and asked her to help me get everything ready for her.
And her interest in my getting the apartment as prepared as possible for this “friend” of mine, as she put it, made her very curious.
Although I insisted we were just friends, Harriet wasn’t convinced, saying it seemed like a lot of effort for a “friend”.
When I told her that Lily is the sister of my best friend, she just shrugged her shoulders and said, “I’m just saying this is a lot of effort, Sebastian James. I like it.”
Harriet is the only one who uses both of my names, even though I’ve told her to keep to Sebastian.
She insists on calling me James as well, saying it’s more mature and that I should embrace it.
The only other person who occasionally uses my double name is my mother, and only when I’m in trouble. I’ve grown out of most lectures beginning with “Sebastian James Bennet.”
I’m curious to see how Lily and Harriet will get along. I have a feeling the women will become quick friends.
Harriet cooks great meals all the time, but it feels different, in a good way, to have Lily preparing something for us to enjoy together.
I look through Lily’s cabinets, setting the table whilst she finishes and plates the food before we sit down.
When I take the first bite my eyes roll back in my head as my taste buds go on a journey.
“That good, huh?” Lily asks me, clearly pleased with her cooking abilities.
She seemed to enjoy herself whilst cooking, humming along to the music from the speakers and moving around her new space effectively.
I’m glad to see her adapting quickly to her apartment.
“Yes, this is amazing, Lily. I might have to come down for breakfast often,” I say, looking forward to seeing what she’ll come up with next time.
“Great. I can cook a stellar dinner as well,” she says, and after this meal, I have no doubts.
It’s not just the food, but the company.
Even though I love Harriet and we often share meals, it’s not the same as having a meal with a friend or family member.
When I moved to Europe to pursue my football career, it felt like a dream come true.
My athletic dreams have come true ever since I took that step, but it also comes at a cost, in some ways.
Not having my family and friends as close as I used to is the top one.
Suddenly, everyday things like having a meal with family or friends became something I missed dearly.
I’ve made great friends on the team, and I invite them over to my condo once a week.
Sometimes we order takeout and play video games. Other times, we’ll enjoy a meal cooked by Harriet and play board games or poker.
Having breakfast with Lily is different, in a good way. It feels like a little bit of home wrapped up in a person whom I got to take with me from the US.
Even though the guys on the team are great, we’re still colleagues in a way.
And although Lily and I are as well, technically—or at least working partners for her project—we’re first and foremost friends.
“I’m so excited to see the stadium. Do you think I can watch the practice from the bench?”
Lily is eager to learn more about the sport, and I’m excited to teach her all about football.
It’s quite different from American football, but she’ll get the hang of it quickly.
“Probably not, but you can probably sit quite near, catching all the action.”
She gives a thoughtful look.
“How old is your coach?”
“I don’t know, maybe forty?” I say, unsure where she’s going with this.
“Should be no trouble seducing him, then. I will be at that bench in no time.”
I nearly choke on my food.
When I go to take a sip of my drink, it gets even worse, and I start coughing.
Lily starts laughing hysterically on the other side of the table, drying tears that are gathering in her eyes.
“Oh God, Sebastian. I’m just joking. Do you need me to do the Heimlich manoeuvre on you?”
I manage to calm down my breathing and coughing, making it easier to inhale again.
When I get a hold of myself, I take a calm breath.
“No, I’m fine,” I say dryly.
I can tell Lily is struggling to hold her amusement, and when I catch her eyes, we both start laughing.
This girl is going to be the death of me, literally.