Page 79 of When We Ignite

“Not at all,” Henry said, standing, giving his back to his brother and waggling his eyebrows at me. He turned back to Sebastian, his attempt at a straight face failing miserably. “I need to use the facilities.” Clearing his throat, he strolled away, leaving me shaking my head.

“Can I sit?” Sebastian asked.

I shrugged. “You can do whatever you want, Ash.”

His lips twitched into a slight smile at the nickname.

He sat down, leaving some distance between us, and lit a cigarette. “You and Henry have gotten awfully close,” he remarked casually.

I bit my cheek to suppress a grin. “We’re friends, apparently.”

Sebastian nodded, taking a slow drag. “Are we friends?” he asked after a pause.

My heart clenched. “I thought we’d settled on cordial acquaintances.”

The corners of his lips lifted. He looked effortlessly elegant in a dark button-down that was nearly black, his blazer discarded. “Have you two been hanging out?”

If Henry hadn’t pointed it out earlier, I wouldn’t have noticed it. But now, I caught the subtle undercurrent of jealousy in Sebastian’s tone—quiet, almost imperceptible.

“I’m not going to date your brother,” I said, watching as he inhaled around his cigarette, his expression giving nothing away.

“I didn’t think you were.” His shoulders relaxed slightly, his smile loosening just enough to soften the tension.

“So, how’s your date going?”

He chuckled. “I didn’t think you’d get jealous of a cordial acquaintance.”

I scoffed, but my retort faltered when he leaned back, tilting his head to study me. He slid off his sunglasses, and the way the light caught his eyes was breathtaking.

“Besides,” he said softly. “I’d never do something like that in front of you. I know how much it bothers you.”

My chest tightened at his words, and I took a quick drag from my vape to busy myself. “But you think I would? With your brother?”

He shrugged. “When you’re hurt, you lash out.” His gaze flicked to my hair briefly before looking away.

“I didn’t cut my hair to hurt you, Sebastian. That’s ridiculous. I don’t even get why you’re so upset.”

“I like the way you looked. I wouldn’t have changed anything about it,” he muttered, his words so earnest they made me smile despite myself.

“It’s just hair. It’ll grow back.”

“If we were still talking regularly, you’d have told me about it. I could’ve talked you out of it or sent you to my barber. At least they wouldn’t have done something so drastic.”

I stared at him, dumbfounded. “I’m not your toy, Sebastian.”

“I knew you’d say that. I’m not treating you like one. I just wish you hadn’t changed it, and I hate that I didn’t have a say,” he continued, his tone edging on frustration.

“This is the most absurd conversation I’ve ever had. Even if we were still talking, you wouldn’t have a say over my hair.”

He leaned back again, his expression shifting. For the first time, he looked vulnerable—his face open in a way I’d never seen before. “Even if I told you it’s one of my favorite things about you?”

I had no words.

I sat there, stunned, just looking at him. My lips parted, but nothing came out.

“It’s bad enough I can’t touch you. You won’t answer my calls or texts, and now this is gone too,” he said, his voice low and filled with something I couldn’t quite name. He still looked like a spoiled kid not getting his way, but there was something endearing about it this time.

“It’ll grow back,” I said softly.