Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Alina
“ I don’t know,” I say as I step out of the bathroom in a long flowing red gown. Sebastian had it sent over this afternoon. It’s beautiful—something Julia Roberts would wear at the end of a blockbuster movie—but wearing it in my apartment is making me feel nothing but foolish.
Marie is slowly shaking her head, staring at me in awe. “It’s stunning.”
“Really?” I say, turning to the mirror. The dress is stunning, she’s right about that, it’s just me in the dress that’s the problem. “I’ve never worn anything like this before.”
“And you’ve never flown in a private jet before,” she says as she jumps up to adjust the dress in the back, “and you’ve never been to a party at a billionaire’s house before.”
And I’ve never been on a date with Sebastian…
“You really think I can pull it off?” I ask with a deep breath.
Her eyes are getting watery as she looks me over. “I do.”
“Why are you getting so emotional?”
“I don’t know,” she says, wiping her eyes. “I was so mad at my brother, but the more I think about it… The more perfect I think it is. You and him… Us as sisters… As family.”
“We’ve always been family,” I say with a warm smile, feeling my own eyes tearing up.
“Yeah, but it could be official.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I say, catching myself before I dive headfirst into fantasyland with her. “It’s just a date. It’s not even really a date. It’s a fake date. Super romantic.”
Marie is smiling like she didn’t hear a word I said. “We’ll see,” she whispers. “It’s not just a date. It’s the start of something special. I can feel it.”
By the time Sebastian picks me up at five, I’m all dolled up.
Marie spent the afternoon working on my hair, twisting some locks into small intricate braids and curling others until they bounce like Slinkies with every step I take.
We have a great time talking, joking, and reminiscing about our teenage years.
A day like this has been long overdue. We used to do this all the time, but ever since we got jobs and settled into adulthood, we’ve been forgetting to do the small things.
Things that make having a best friend like Marie so much fun.
“Let me answer it,” Marie says when someone knocks on the front door.
“Be nice,” I call out to her as she walks over.
“Hello?” Marie says in a deep voice as she slowly opens it.
Sebastian’s deep voice comes rumbling down the hallway. “Hey, Marie.”
“You better have her back before curfew,” Marie warns like an overprotective father reluctantly sending his daughter out on her first date. “Or, I’ll come looking for you, and trust me, they’ll never find the body.”
“I’ll be good,” Sebastian says with a chuckle. “Best behavior, I promise.”
“Alright then,” Marie says with a sigh. “Look at our girl.”
She steps to the side and opens the door, revealing me standing in the middle of my apartment.
Sebastian’s jaw drops when he sees me. He sucks in a breath and holds it as he takes me in like I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.
He’s looking ravishing himself in a fitted black tuxedo that’s making him look like he could be the next James Bond. He’s holding a big vibrant bouquet of red roses in his hand.
“Wow, Alina,” he says as we stare each other down with heated eyes.
If Marie wasn’t here, I’m not sure that we’d even leave this apartment. We might have spent the night in my bedroom with these nice fancy clothes crumpled up on the floor.
“You look…” he says, unable to find the words. “Magnificent.”
“Thank you,” I say shyly. “Are you ready to go?”
“The limo is downstairs,” he says as he offers the roses. “These are for you.”
Our hands touch as I take them. It gives me goosebumps and makes my cheeks go all red. I’m feeling like a shy awkward teenager once again. It’s crazy how this man can make the confident woman I’ve become vanish so easily. I like it in a nostalgic kind of way.
“Thank you for the flowers,” I say as I bring them to my nose, using them to hide my blushing cheeks. “They’re beautiful.”
Sebastian’s eyes are still on me as Marie takes them from my hands to put in water.
We’re suddenly alone in the tiny entrance of my apartment. I’ve dreamed about this thousands of times—Sebastian picking me up on a date—but I’m now realizing there was never any dialogue in my fantasies. What do you say to a gorgeous superstar heartthrob like Sebastian Kemp?
“I like your tuxedo,” I say as I slide my hand down his lapel, feeling his hard chest muscles underneath.
I suddenly realize what I’m doing and snap my hand back like I’ve just touched a hot stove.
My eyes snap up to his as my cheeks get nice and hot.
He smiles. It makes me smile.
I’m going to have to stop blushing after every touch, look, or word from this man if anyone is going to believe I’m his fiancée. I just don’t know how to pull that off.
“The roses are in water,” Marie says as she returns, wiping her hands on her pants. “You two con artists are free to go.”
We both say goodbye and then head down to the limo. It’s beautiful inside.
“Have you ever been in a limo?” Sebastian asks once we’re moving.
“Just at prom,” I say.
“Oh yeah,” he says with a grin. “I remember that. You went with Connor Hartwell. I was so jealous. I wanted to clock him.”
My mouth drops in shock. I can’t believe he remembered that.
“You were jealous?” I say, still not quite believing it. “Of Connor Hartwell?”
He sighs aggressively as he runs his hand through his hair. “When I saw how you looked in that pink dress… And then watching you walk into the school on his arm… Yeah. I was jealous.”
Wow. I had no idea.
“I would have gone with you if you would have asked,” I say with a teasing grin. I knew it was a long shot since Sebastian paid me no attention and had graduated two years earlier, but I still thought about it constantly back then just the same.
“I should have,” he says as he pierces me with those gorgeous blue eyes. “Maybe then we wouldn’t have wasted all this time.”
I smile as I look at him and then I drop my eyes. I’m not sure if the past eight years have been wasted time. We just weren’t ready for one another back then. Sometimes people have to find themselves before they find their soul mates. I think that’s what those lost years were for both of us.
“I kept looking at the door all night,” I say with a shy laugh. “I had this fantasy of you kicking the doors open, marching up to me, and taking me for a dance under the crystal ball.”
He reaches over and takes my hand. His hand is softer than I thought it would be. It’s stronger too.
I get warm shivers racing through me as I look up at him.
For a second, I think he might kiss me.
I want him to so badly.
My chin tilts up, my lips part. I’m mesmerized by his magical blue eyes. I’m a helpless fawn trapped under his spell.
He shifts in his seat. I shift in mine.
The air charges with electric desire. My heart pounds.
And then the driver slams on the brakes and I fly off the slick leather seat. Sebastian reaches for me as I fly onto the ground in the most unclassy, unglamorous way possible.
“Are you okay?” he asks as he grabs my arm and pulls me up.
“I’m fine!” I say, flushing with embarrassment.
The window partition slides down and the driver is looking at us through the rearview mirror. “Sorry about that, Mr. and Mrs. Kemp! A car came out of nowhere. We’ll be arriving at the airport very shortly.”
Sebastian pushes the button to the window, raising it back up.
We’re alone again, but the moment is gone.
I ruined it.
As usual.