Chapter 20

Evelyn

I turn around in disbelief, bumping my nose against Sebastian’s chin. Shit!

“W-w-what are you doing here?” I stammer out, still trying to keep my composure to the best of my ability. Obviously, that’s not really happening.

“Well, I’m pretty sure I’m the one who should be asking that question, don’t you think?” He responds with no preamble.

I open my mouth to argue, but another voice finds its way to us. “Is someone out there?” The male Sophia is with calls, seemingly timid about the fact he could be caught fucking a woman in the cheerleader’s changing room.

Sebastian and I stop moving, but our faces are full of amusement.

The sex has stopped in the locker room, but I hear Sophia speaking next. “Just ignore it, babe.”

I cover my mouth to keep from laughing aloud, and Sebastian grabs my arm. He pulls me into the adjacent changing room, locks the door, and puts his finger to his lips for me to stay silent.

I haven’t been this close to Sebastian in over a week. We’re basically scrunched up together in the room, and without realizing it, I start becoming very aware of every part of his body.

I begin to savor our moment of closeness, realizing that I’ve missed this man more than I thought. Please don’t let this end just yet. I need this. I miss this.

After a few more minutes, we hear footsteps outside.

“I think they’re leaving,” I murmur. What a close call.

Sebastian releases his grip on my arm, which I hadn’t even noticed was still there. The moment his touch is gone, I crave it again. To feel the warmth of his hand against my skin—such a small act that makes the butterflies in my stomach go berserk.

Taking in some air, I move to leave the room, but Sebastian blocks the door from my reach. “Come on, Sebastian.”

He shakes his head, leans down to get closer to my face, and whispers, “Were you here to see if Sophia was having sex with your stepbrother?” His voice is somewhat strained, and I wonder if that’s intentional or not.

I shake my head in the half-darkness, trying to will myself into lying to him. “No, of course not.” The nervousness is thick within my words.

“Oh? Because when you thought I was the one in there being fucked, you looked as though you were ready to burst into tears and cry.” Even though there’s very little room, Sebastian still manages to get closer. “So, answer this, Princess. Do you really only want to be siblings?”

I find the man’s dark blue jewels for eyes, watching as he stares back at me with the same intensity. What am I even doing?

I put my arms around Sebastian’s neck, his hair tickling my hands, and I pull him in the last few inches to kiss me. And it’s so much better than I remember. I can’t help but let out a small moan on his lips.

How did I survive all this time since our last kiss?

Sebastian’s lips don’t argue with me, and he kisses me back with matched delight. But as we continue, he whispers, “Our parents wouldn’t approve of this, Princess.” His teasing tone has returned, and I sigh in relief.

I shake my head against his, replying, “Our parents aren’t here; it’s just the two of us. Okay?”

His response is to press harder against not only my lips but against my body as well. Memories of our first night together flood in, and I let one of my hands travel up his neck to that soft, dark hair.

As we continue, my phone starts to ring loudly. That alone brings me back to reality, and I push Sebastian away from me. What power does this man possess over me?

“Hello?” I ask somewhat frantically.

“Where are you?” It’s Olivia, and I hear the worried tone. “You’re not at our place, and I was worried when you didn’t come home from class.”

I notice the time, realizing it’s gotten late much faster than I’d thought.

“I’m just out and about. Don’t worry about me,” I say, vaguely even responding to her worries. “I’ll let you know when I’m returning, okay?”

Olivia tries to get my location out of me, but I tell her I’ve got to go. I’m really not the best liar out there, and the longer I try to cover up the truth, the more anxiety I begin to feel.

Sebastian opens the door to the changing room and lets me exit first.

Once we’re outside, we notice no one there, and I breathe another sigh of relief. This is my life now—hiding and sighing when no one catches me.

However, the peace doesn’t last long because the cheerleading team starts entering the changing rooms. Practice must be over for the night. This also includes Ava, whose smile envelopes her whole face when she sees us.

“Oh my God, Sebastian!” One girl squeals with delight.

“Hi, Sebastian!” Another girl calls.

“This is so cool; what are you doing here?”

He’s bombarded with questions but doesn’t bother to answer a single one. He just stands there, calm, relaxed, collected.

“Hey, we’re having a party tonight, and we’d love to have you join us!” This girl looks to be the captain of the team. Her demeanor seems taller and more mature than most of the others, and she has a large C on her top.

Sebastian shrugs. “I could go for that.”

The whole team starts to cheer—go figure—and they grab my stepbrother by the arms and pull him out. Ava, still smiling, loops her arm around mine. “Come on, you’re invited, too.”

I try to argue, but I know it’s no use. How do I keep getting into these situations?

At the party, held at one of the senior’s homes, Ava finally pulls me aside to ask me the question I don’t want to answer.

“So,” she starts, crossing her arms and giving me a knowing smile. “Wanna tell me why you and Sebastian came out of a changing room together? In the cheerleader’s locker room?”

I’m grateful she’s asking quietly, but I shake my head. “I couldn’t even begin to explain it, honestly.”

My friend raises one blonde eyebrow, but she doesn’t look angry or concerned. She just watches me, and I wonder if she’s trying to figure out the entire situation.

I'm not sure in a million years she’d be able to.

“Hey, let’s play Never Have I Ever!” Another girl calls out, and everyone eagerly begins to sit in a circle on the floor. Ava pulls me down next to her, trapping me from running in the opposite direction.

A few people down is Sebastian, who is calm, cool, and collected. He’s so damn good at flipping his on/off switch when it comes to being with others. It looks like nothing wrong has ever even phased him.

“Ava? Why don’t you go first?” The cheer captain, Bri, suggests to my friend. “Everyone, five fingers up, let’s see who’s got some secrets!”

My heart rattles in my chest as Ava thinks, and then, it nearly stops altogether.

“Never have I ever slept with anyone present in the room.”

I’m going to kill the blonde. I really am. I panic as I shoot daggers at her, asking with no words why the hell she was doing this.

Ava, though, has a meaningful gaze, clearly wanting answers she’ll never get otherwise.

But before I can think, someone gasps in the room. I look around to see Sebastian put down a finger and will not make eye contact with me.

“Come on, everyone. No lying!” Ava emphasizes.

Oh God. What the hell am I going to do?