Chapter 43

Sebastian

I’m probably the world’s worst gift wrapper, and that’s being generous. I have never understood the mechanics of throwing something into pretty paper and calling that a present. That to me, seems like a huge waste of paper when people can just hand the gift over with less fanfare.

“Ah, thank you for this air fryer! I’m so glad it wasn’t wrapped in paper then in a box, then in more paper for me to sift through!” I think to myself as I add a piece of tape to the top of Madelyn’s box.

I’d asked Gregory her favorite perfume and picked up two bottles for her. For Gregory, a few new ties. Simple, yet effective, and he always wore the things, even if they were stupid.

But Evelyn’s gift? I don’t know how this is going to happen.

I debate between the idea of giving her the gift privately or letting her figure everything else out on her own. But I know that’s a bit too difficult to do when I know her mom and Gregory are going to want to sit down together opening presents like a family.

I’ve spent a lot of time since break started training at the track. Evelyn has started to return to her regular self, but she still prefers to be alone in her room for hours, even if I text her to make sure she is still alive.

“There seems to be no sign of intelligent life anywhere,” I texted to her yesterday. She’d just replied that I was funny and that she was catching up on sleep.

I wonder if she’s trying to plot a way of getting Ava back. I’ve done all I can think of to speak to her and talk to Evelyn. But after the first day when I took her out of class, she’s been even better at avoiding me.

I’m hoping that the gift I’ve come up with for Evelyn is something she likes. I struggled so much with the right thing to get her.

Now I wonder if this is something she was dealing with as well.

I pull out my phone, curious as to what she’s doing.

“Earth to Princess, this is F1 Racer, over.”

I send the text, waiting with bated breath as she takes her sweet time to read the message and start typing back.

Almost like I’m still in middle school speaking to my crush.

“Hold on, you came up with both of those nicknames. It’s only right that I name you something.”

I hear her attitude in each word of the sentence. It’s amusing and puts a smile on my face before I’ve even finished responding.

“So touchy,” I tease her in the first message before sending it. Then, the second one. “Still wrapping gifts?”

“No, I finished that like three days ago.”

“Three? Wow, overachiever! No wonder you got perfect grades this semester.”

“It’s not like you did terrible in school, either.” Her tone has shifted to slightly defensive.

“Sebastian Cain can’t live up to the goddess herself, Evelyn Walters, as he fights for the competition to go head-to-head.”

God, what am I even saying right now? Am I just this stupid tonight, or is this whole stupid holiday getting to me?

“You’re in a good mood tonight,” she responds, adding a few emojis.

It’s not so much that I’m in a good mood, more that I’m starting to feel genuine anxiety about my gift to Evelyn.

The more I talk with her, the more I learn about her quirks and habits, the more I find myself wishing I had a plan.

Or an endgame.

No matter how I want to skew it, Evelyn is right about one thing: that even if we want to be together, there’s no world where that could happen that wouldn’t turn everything to shit.

I pick up my phone, shaking my head at the thought of anyone else finding out about us. There’s nothing I can do right now outside of making sure Evelyn is happy.

“Just imagining your face when you open your gift,” I reply, knowing she’ll laugh at my sentiments. If there’s one thing I don’t have to worry about, it’s making Evelyn smile.

I know how to do that as easily as breathing.

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing but about you opening your gift.”

I snort, unable to help myself.

“The only thing I want from you is a Christmas Kiss.”

“What the hell is that?”

“It’s where you get your ass into my room and give me the best kiss for Christmas.”

Where is this coming from, these are such corny romantic comedy jokes. And that shit is fucking stupid.

“Sebastian Cain, are you asking for me to kiss you?” She types back.

Am I? Should I?

Or is that just wishful thinking?

I’m not sure.

“That’s up to your interpretation, Princess.”

I send the message and sigh, looking at the gifts I’ll be giving to everyone tomorrow.

In truth, I do want to kiss her. I want to touch her again. I feel like every instance of us being alone together has culminated in anxiety and anger.

I don’t want her to be with anyone else. At the same time, I question just how far we’ll go to deceive the world.

A knock at my door rips me from my thoughts, whipping my head around to stare at it. I quickly shove all the gifts into the corner and throw a blanket over them, not sure who might be here.

On the other side of the door, to my surprise, is Evelyn.

“What are you doing?” I whisper down at her, looking up and down the hall.

Evelyn shrugs. “You said you wanted a kiss.”

I raise a brow. “You’re funny, Princess,” I say, clapping my hands.

“What do you mean?”

“I know you don’t want to risk getting caught or anything, so you came here to play a silly joke on me, correct?”

I stand there, waiting, as Evelyn stays in her place. The thing is, she doesn’t move.

“How long are you gonna stand here?” I laugh. “You win, I lose, okay?”

But that’s not how she’s doing this. Instead, she pushes me back into the room, and she closes the door quietly.

“You’re serious?” I ask, barely above a whisper.

She stands on her toes, wraps her arms around my neck, and presses her lips to mine.

I think I finally understand why others say they can picture fireworks when they kiss the right person.

Each time in the past that we’ve kissed has just felt…right.

This time isn’t right.

It’s fucking perfect.

How the shit has this become my life? Who am I? I’ve never been one to think about perfection in a woman, to believe that there’s a true love in my life at such a stupid young age.

Yet, here I am, standing in my room, being kissed by Evelyn.

I lean forward so I can take in more of her, giving her more of myself as we breathe one another in. The smell of her conditioner, something lemony, and the taste of her lips draw me in deeper and deeper.

Evelyn seems to be having the same thing happen to her. She slowly begins to melt into my arms as I squeeze her just a bit tighter.

“You’re going to poison me with those kisses, Evelyn,” I murmur against the softness of her lips.

“And I’m going to drown in your arms,” she replies back, so quiet that I almost miss it.

“Sounds like a fair trade, then,” I say, nuzzling my nose against hers.

She giggles, giving me one quick peck before she looks at my eyes again.

“You satisfied with one of your Christmas gifts?” She asks me, searching my face for something.

“One? Are you saying you got me more than the kiss?”

Evelyn smirks. “Such a brat,” she replies, shaking her head.

“Only to you, Princess.”

I look at the door, then over at my bed in the corner of the room.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” I ask her, wiggling my eyebrows.

“You just can’t take one good thing and move on,” she taunts me.

I gasp, pulling back further, much to her delight.

“How dare you accuse me of not appreciating my gift!” I say in mock sincerity. “I’ll have you know that I am heartbroken over this!”

“Drama queen,” she replies with an eye roll.

“So, you’re telling me you haven’t thought about that night again? Even with all the adversity we’ve faced and the battles we’ve limped off from?”

“Battles? What battles, we’re fine.”

“The battles against those who disapprove of us.” I stick out my tongue. “In our fight for happiness.”

She pushes me off, shaking her curls back and forth across her face. “You’re utterly ridiculous.”

I grab her wrist and pull her up to my skin again. I lean down, letting our eyes bare into one another. Those green emeralds pierce through my exterior, and I feel her heart beating heavily.

“You like it,” I reply.

I kiss her again, sticking my tongue in between her lips. We both let out a quiet moan, and my body starts demanding more from Evelyn.

More, not just this game of back and forth with our lips.

But that isn’t going to happen. Because as soon as I sit Evelyn down on my bed, a knock comes from my door.