Page 49 of In the Net (Sin Bin Stories #5)

HARPER

I had a plan.

Once we got back from the wedding, I was going to hold myself back from reaching out to Sebastian for a couple days. To give myself a sort of detox, to see how I feel after having some space and time to process the last several weeks.

I’d pay attention to things like whether or not he still sat next to me in our Short Fiction class, to gauge his attitude toward me now that we’re no longer fake dating.

Maybe in a couple days I’d reach out to him casually, suggest we go for lunch or a coffee.

Try to read his mood. Try to read if there’s still any interest there.

And, if I got encouraging signs, I’d start to build up the confidence to actually ask him out, to suggest we go on some real dates and see where they lead.

Right now, that plan is lying on the floor, shattered into a million pieces.

Because after just one full day without the guy I used to hate, I know that the slow approach won’t work.

I can’t go another week, another couple weeks, feeling the way I am now. I’m already miserable without my fake boyfriend, and the thought of drawing this out makes me sick to my stomach.

That’s why I’m picking my jacket up from the coatrack by the front door and shrugging it on. I’m going to Sebastian’s place right now, and I’m going to tell him exactly how I feel.

Even if I make a fool of myself, even if I get crushed, nothing’s worse than extending this uncertainty.

But when I pull the door open, shock rattles through me.

“Sebastian,” I say stupidly with surprise, blinking at him.

Even with his jacket on, I can tell his chest is expanding with a deep, steadying breath. “I came to talk to you.”

There’s a steely determination in his words that has a column of sparks gliding down my spine.

“I was just leaving to see you,” I say.

A charged anticipation swells in the air between us.

“I have to tell you something,” we both say at the exact same time, our voices mingling in the crisp afternoon air.

Sebastian opens his mouth. “I lo?—”

I cut him off, my hand darting to cover his mouth.

I know what he’s going to say. The understanding strikes me instantly. The relief that washes over me is indescribable. Happiness beats through me.

But he doesn’t get to win this one. He’s been trying to one-up me ever since our first class here at Brumehill. Even in bed, he gets off on keeping the upper hand whenever he can.

I already made up my mind that I was going to be the one to tell him . He doesn’t get to beat me to the punch. Not with this.

“You do not get to say it first,” I tell him.

My hand still covers his mouth. Above it, I watch surprise flash in his eyes, before they get cloudy with relief and happiness, just like I know mine are right now.

It’s been a long time since I’ve hated Sebastian. That’s obvious. But even more, it’s been a while since I’ve only just liked him. I can’t say exactly when it happened, but my feelings for my former fake boyfriend now run much deeper than that.

“I lo?—”

Before I can get out those three words that sit charged and loaded on my tongue, Sebastian grabs me by the hand I’m holding over his mouth. He pulls me close, spinning me around so that he can wrap his arm around me to cage me against his body. His free hand covers my mouth like I just did to him.

“You’re not winning this one, Harper,” he says with a cocky tease. “I lo—ouch!”

I can’t turn around to cover his mouth again with the way he has me restrained, so I have to resort to playing dirty. Before he can get the words out, I stomp on his foot.

“What the hell, Harper!” Sebastian exclaims, now hopping on one foot, though he’s laughing at the same time.

I realize I’m laughing too, the both of us tangled together on my doorstep, laughing like maniacs. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone walking by called the police, but I don’t care.

“I told you, you don’t get to say it first!” I exclaim, finally wiggling out of his grasp now that he’s lost his footing. “I lo?—”

This time, I almost get my front teeth pressed against my bottom lip to form the consonant. But instead, I end up squealing in surprise as I’m suddenly off my feet, Sebastian scooping me up and under his arm, carrying me like an oversized package.

He walks me inside my house, kicking the door closed behind him.

In this position, I have no line of attack when he tries to say the three words we’re battling over, which I know he’ll do imminently.

Can’t reach his mouth. Can’t stomp on his foot.

Maybe I could pinch him, but he’s wearing a jacket over a hoodie, and I don’t know if I could grab a good enough hold.

“I lo?—”

There’s only one way I can deprive him of this victory. Like a bratty kid, I shove my index fingers into my ears.

“La, la, la, I can’t hear you!” I yell, loud enough to be sure I’m drowning out his voice.

I’m glad none of my roommates are home right now. Heaven knows what they’d think. They’d probably file to have both of us institutionalized.

Still chanting too loud to be able to hear anything Sebastian’s saying, I pull one finger out of my ear and grab for the backrest of my couch, trying to pull myself out of Sebastian’s grip. Sebastian and I both end up spilling over it, onto the floor.

Out of his grasp, I jump at my chance. “I lo?—”

He’s too fast, though, springing at me like a cat, wrapping me up in his arms and pressing me tight against him. My face is buried in his shoulder, too tight to get a sentence out, even one that’s only three words long.

“I lo—” he begins, but I’m able to wiggle my head free. This time, I shut him up by pressing my lips to his.

Neither of us can form any words as we both sink into this kiss, our lips sliding, our tongues tangling. I kiss him like I need it to survive. He moans into my mouth like he’s been starving half to death, and this kiss is his only source of nourishment.

Pure contentment like I’ve never felt before suffuses through me.

I slant my lips deeper into the kiss with the boy I grew up with, who became the guy I hate, who’s now the man I need like I need air to breathe.

His lips feather over mine once more before we pull just slightly away, our brows and noses still touching.

“I love you,” I sigh.

Sebastian pulls in a deep, slow breath, like he can smell those words and he’s savoring it.

After a beat of silence, he says, “I let you win.”

I open my eyes to see a haughty look in his and a crooked smirk on his lips. We’re not enemies anymore, but something tells me we’ll never stop trying to one-up each other. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Did not,” I protest.

He shakes his head, smiling like he can’t believe this is happening. Then he presses another soft kiss to my lips. “I love you, Harper. And did too.”

Instead of arguing, I just kiss him again.

“I’ll let you win the next competition,” I say.

He shakes his head. “I’ll win it myself.”

I roll my eyes. “Cocky.”

“Cocky, and in love with you.”

Sebastian gathers me in his arms and marches me upstairs to my room. An hour later, after I’m spent and satisfied and curled up against his body in my bed, I tell my very real boyfriend that I love him once again.

He says the same thing back, and we both know there’s nothing fake about what we have this time.