Page 179 of When We Ignite

Kiss.

I fucking love you too.

Kiss.

“We still can’t tell anyone,” I murmured against his lips.

Ethan let out a breathless laugh, shaking his head. “I know. That’s okay. I don’t fucking care. I just want to be with you.”

As I felt his lips slide over mine again, I accepted the truth I’d been fighting all along: I had lost this battle.

Now, I’d have to find a way to make things right with Oliver before my entire world came crashing down.

Because against all odds, I’d fallen for Ethan too.

And this was only the beginning of the real problems.

CHAPTER THIRTY

ETHAN

Being back in the Hamptons was torture.

The last few days with Sebastian had been incredible. Not that the trip itself hadn’t been great, but being with him without a ticking clock was so different. Even if he didn’t feel the same way I did, he wanted to be with me. This time, it was real. I wasn’t about to start throwing around words likeboyfriendorrelationship, but this was pretty damn close.

After our fight in Barcelona, Sebastian had shifted dramatically, and now I could bask in just how affectionate he could be. My resistance melted every time he pulled me into his arms with no hidden agenda—he just wanted me close. Showering together in the mornings or sitting in the tub late at night had become our rituals, moments of intimacy that pushed him to open up in ways I’d never expected.

The sex had gotten better too—which was earth-shattering.

What started as Sebastian taking the lead in everything had turned into something deeper, something electric. I’d learned how to give him what he needed, and the fact that I could drive him mad with lust for me felt intoxicating. Even things I’d never imagined myself enjoying—like giving head—became something else entirely with him.

But it wasn’t just about the physical.

Even the pressure from school had started to lift. With Sebastian’s help, I’d gone through every option, breaking down my choices the way he approached problems—logically, strategically. And each day, I grew more certain of what I wanted.

Finance.

It made sense now. I loved the way Sebastian wielded power, the way he thought ahead, solved problems, and controlled the room without even trying. I wantedthat.The challenge, the strategy, the control. The idea of building something for myself, of being in that world, suddenly felt right in a way nothing else had before.

I hadn’t told anyone yet. Not even Sebastian. But I knew he would support me—probably even be proud of me for figuring it out on my own.

Being with him was everything. I felt secure, like I was finally stepping into who I was meant to be.

I’d never been this happy. Plain and simple.

Then the wedding neared, and we were back at the Langley house, surrounded by our families. Sebastian in his room, me in mine, both of us sharing with other people, making sneaking out impossible. The physical distance felt as wide as the Grand fucking Canyon, when all we wanted was to be together. And of course, I’d just gotten my negative test results back, with absolutely no way to take advantage of that.

Sebastian’s relationship with Oliver was strained, and I could see how much it was affecting him. Being back in this house only made it worse. Oliver was tense, even if he tried to act normal around Charlotte. Henry kept cracking jokes to lighten the mood, which only made things more awkward. Thankfully, their dad wasn’t arriving until the night before the wedding, sparing Sebastian some of the added pressure.

Charlotte and my mom seemed hellbent on packing as many activities as humanly possible into the schedule, and since my parents’ relationship was still strained, my dad stuck with me through most of them. Sharing a bedroom with him wasn’t a walk in the park, either. Our attempts at civility had their limits.

All I could think about was being close to Sebastian. Having his hand laced with mine, blurring everything else. But finding alone time with him was impossible. Seeing him all day but having to keep our distance was harder than I thought.

Whenever we managed to hang out, it felt like everyone was watching. I understood why Oliver—and even Charlotte—were keeping an eye on us, but my parents? That was unnerving. My dad’s tone turned clipped whenever I was in the same room as Sebastian, his eyes sharp on our interactions.

I wasn’t sure if Sebastian picked up on it, but he made a point of keeping his distance when my dad was around.

The day before the wedding, we sat out on the terrace after lunch. I’d managed to secure the seat next to him, and even though all we could do was tap our shoes together under the table, it felt like a victory. Only three more days until freedom.