Page 201 of When We Ignite

I weaved through the streets, envelopes in hand, my excitement barely contained despite the vape I used as a distraction. People glanced at me curiously as I smiled, the anticipation thrumming beneath my skin. The doorman held the door open, and I strode through, heading straight to the open terrace where my family sat.

Oliver was pacing, phone pressed to one ear while he shushed and bounced Liam on his other arm. He noticed me first and exhaled in relief as I placed the envelopes on the table and reached for Liam.

“Hey, sweetie,” I cooed, peppering his chubby cheeks with kisses.

He giggled, grabbing at my glasses with his iron grip.

“Thanks, E,” Oliver muttered, draping a burp cloth over his shoulder before diving back into his call.

At the table, Charlotte and Henry were deep in conversation, Amelia nestled between them. Her arms were crossed, her lower lip jutted in an unmistakable pout.

“I don’t like it,” she announced, petulant.

“You liked it yesterday, remember?” Charlotte said, a slight edge of desperation in her voice.

Henry leaned in conspiratorially. “I hear you, kid. Demand ice cream.”

Amelia’s pout twitched into a mischievous grin as she turned her big, pleading eyes on her mother.

“Maybe we need to put your uncle in timeout,” Charlotte mused, narrowing her eyes at Henry, who only snickered.

I dropped into the chair next to them, reclaiming my glasses and placing them on my head before Liam could snatch them away again.

“That’s a no, buddy. Maybe when you’re older,” I told him, booping his nose.

“Yeah, you don’t want to ruin Uncle Ethan’s designer glasses—heaven forbid,” Henry teased.

“I second the timeout,” I shot back, dodging the napkin he tossed at me.

Oliver finally ended his call with an exhausted sigh, dropping into the seat beside me. “Keep them away from him.” He gestured to Liam. “Ash nearly had a heart attack after he snapped a pair last month. Apparently, they were limited edition, irreplaceable.” He rolled his eyes, but the smile on his lips betrayed his amusement.

At the mention of Sebastian’s name, a familiar pang coursed through me. My fingers twitched toward the envelopes.

“I have some news,” I said, holding them up. Liam immediately tried to snatch them from my hands.

“Acceptance letters?” Henry asked, his excitement barely contained.

I nodded, grinning. “Got into all of them.”

Oliver clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Congrats, E. You deserve it after how hard you’ve worked.”

I placed the envelopes on the table, running a hand through my hair as Charlotte beamed at me.

“Allof them?” she repeated, already looking terribly proud.

I nodded again.

“That’s some decision you’ve got there,” Henry mused, meeting my gaze. His smirk wasn’t wide, but it was eager—too eager. I knew exactly what it meant.

The waiter arrived to take our drink orders. Henry ordered his usual—gin, light on the tonic—while I asked for a scotch.

My eyes drifted back to the envelopes, fingers skimming over them until they landed on one in particular. It wasn’t the colors or lettering that made it stand out, just a single word on the return address.

Madrid.

Sebastian’s smile flickered through my mind.

I cleared my throat, shoving the thought away for later, somewhere more private.