Page 12

His eyes meet mine, and for the first time all day, I don’t feel completely alone.

The moment lingers too long, and when his eyes drag down to my lips, I remember what we did in those woods last night.

Guilt creeps back in like an unwanted visitor, but one that needs to be there because it stops me from doing something stupid again.

I think of the text I got. The picture that shows proof of my weakness and betrayal. It feels like a bullet to the heart. My breath catches in my throat and suddenly the room feels smaller.

What did I do? And worse, what the hell am I still doing? Looking at him like that? Feeling at peace in his presence? This isn't okay. None of it is okay.

I take a quick step back. "I have to go."

Sebastian straightens. "What? Go where?"

"I forgot I have to get up early tomorrow to shoot before class." The words tumble out like a scramble of excuses. "Archery competitions coming up. I need to train."

Sebastian’s brow lifts, reading between the lines but choosing not to call me out. "Alright. I should get going anyway. The guys wanted to grab a drink, but I bailed. Probably should make an appearance for a beer or two."

I blink. He bailed on them to come here?

That doesn’t track, not for Sebastian Banks. I swallow the lump in my throat. "Why’d you come here, Sebastian?"

He smirks lazily. "To bring your mom candy."

I shake my head. "No. Why’d you really come?"

His bravado falters for a second. "To keep an eye on you," he says finally. "Someone out there wants to hurt us and like it or not, Little Lamb, you’re tangled in that mess now. Can’t be too careful."

I laugh. "I think I’m safe here."

His gaze flicks to my neck and the angry scratch. "You sure about that?"

My spine stiffens. "My mom didn’t mean to…she would never hurt me."

It’s a lie but one I won’t unpack for him.

He slips his hands into his pockets, shoulders hitching up. "Honestly? I don’t know why I do half the shit I do. Impulse control isn’t exactly my strong suit."

"You thought it’d be a fun chance to antagonize me than hang with your boys?".

"Not completely." A faint grin tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Though I won’t pretend it’s not a perk."

I roll my eyes and start toward the door.

"I just wanted to make sure you were safe," he adds.

I pause. "Since when do you care?"

His expression darkens a shade. "Since you stole our secrets," he says quietly. "And now that you know them, protecting you protects us."

My jaw tightens, but I don’t respond because saying I don’t want their protection won’t change anything. I just want this nightmare to end. I want justice and the truth, and I want it before any of us are too far gone to save.

Sebastian follows me as I approach a nurse, letting her know my mom fell asleep in her chair.

Then, even with my heavy sighs and eyerolls, he keeps following me. "I don’t need an escort, you know," I mumble as we push through the front doors and step outside. The air is cooler now, sending a shiver down my back. "I’m perfectly capable of walking to my car without being babysat."

"Not taking chances," Sebastian replies smoothly, hands still buried in his pants pockets. "Could be a stalker out there waiting to attack you."

I shoot him a glare. "Could be someone out there waiting to attack you."

"True. But you’ve got a track record of getting yourself into trouble."

"I also have a track record of surviving it," I counter.

He glances at me but doesn't say anything because he knows it's the truth.

We reach my car, and he stops a few feet away while I pull the door open. "I’m good," I say softly, not looking at him.

"Didn’t say you weren’t."

A beat of silence stretches between us then I gulp, knowing I'll probably regret what I'm about to say.

"Thanks," I mutter, just loud enough to be heard. "For showing up and…for not making things worse. I guess."

He smirks. "It’s a rare skill. Not ruining things."

"You should use it more often."

He chuckles under his breath and steps back as I climb into the driver’s seat. The door closes with a soft thud, shutting out the world. I just sit for a moment, fingers resting on the steering wheel, heart still tangled in knots I don’t know how to undo.

When I lean back against the seat, exhaling slowly, for some fucked-up reason, I smile.

It’s soft and fleeting, but it’s there. And the second I feel it, I hate it. I hate how easy it is to forget how complicated all of this is when Sebastian’s around.

I still haven't told him about the photo that was texted to me, and as more time passes, I know I should.

It still haunts me—still makes me question all my morals and how I can give in to temptation so damn easily.

It's not like that with just anyone, though.

I would never kiss a random hot guy in the middle of the woods.

It's Sebastian. He gets under my skin in ways I can't explain. Those eyes that look like they're staring straight into my soul, his goofy-ass smile, and that cocksure attitude. Not to mention his perfectly sculpted body and dimples for days. He's like a fucking drug.

I guess I just keep hoping that if I ignore the text and the photo long enough, it'll stop meaning something. Like maybe no one will ever know. But I know that's bullshit. This person sent it with an agenda, and it's only a matter of time before they share it with someone else.

I need to tell Sebastian. And I will—eventually.