Page 181 of When We Ignite

“Sure, Dad.”

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. Bad sign.

I pressed my lips together and waited.

“You’re awfully close with the Langley brothers,” he started.

My heart dropped. I shrugged. “Yeah. We’re friends.”

He nodded slowly, the silence stretching as he clearly weighed his next words. “I can see that.”

I tugged on my clothes and sat on the bed, tying my shoes, trying to appear calm. “Are you coming?”

“I get why you’re close with Henry. He practically acts your age. But Sebastian?” His words were pointed, phrased like a question waiting for an answer.

“Sebastian acts my age sometimes.”

He smiled, but it was tight. “So you’re friends with him, as well? You see him in the city? Go out?”

I kept my expression neutral. “Yeah, Dad. We all hang out sometimes. What’s the big deal?”

“You and Sebastian hang out? Alone?”

The panic surged, but I forced a nonchalant shrug.

He started pacing the room, his tone hardening. “You know, since your sister got engaged, I’ve done my homework. I looked them up, and Sebastian has quite the reputation.”

“Really?”

“He’s a bit of a player, isn’t he? Last I read, he’s gay.”

“Yeah. So?”

His jaw tightened, and he crossed his arms again, standing directly in front of me. “He’s an impressive man, Ethan. Attractive. It would make sense if you admired him.”

My face flushed so hot I thought I might combust. “Oh my God, Dad. Seriously?”

“I know you, son. The way you look at him. You look up to him, and that’s easy to confuse. You don’t want him reading anything into that.”

I frowned, anger bubbling under my skin. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re young and impressionable. Men like Sebastian are predators. They know how to manipulate interest.”

I stared at him, horrified. “Dad, what the actual fuck?”

“Don’t take that tone with me.”

“What other tone am I supposed to take when you’re accusing Sebastian Langley of being a predator with his eyes set on me? Do you even hear yourself? You don’t know him.” I stood, fury coursing through me.

“But you do?”

“Yes! A hell of a lot better than you. And if he likes dating younger people, so what? They’re consensual relationships.”

“A man his age dating someone much younger is an abuse of power, Ethan. It’s called grooming.”

I stood there, stunned, my pulse roaring in my ears. “Dad…”

“There’s nothing you could have in common with him. If he makes you feel safe or understood, it could very well be with another purpose in mind. And as I said, he has a reputation.”