Chapter 10

Stephanie

Sunday morning, I find myself pacing my living room, having a conversation with myself. Will he come? Will he not? I pick up my phone for at least the tenth time before putting it down again. “I am not going to call Brielle.” I just wish I actually knew if he was really coming to my house to pick me up or not. I mean the man doesn’t even know my address. Of course, he could have gotten it from Aiden. “Ugh.” This is why I’ve been pacing since ten. I’m frustrated and irritated with Sebastian, and he’s not even here!

I debated all morning whether or not I should get dressed and ready like I was going to brunch or just stay in my pajamas. I finally decided to get dressed...just in case. But I didn’t dress up. I”m wearing my dark wash boot-cut jeans with my brown boots that have a heel on them. I’m wearing a bright pink sweater, and I left my hair down. I paired my outfit with my small gold hoops and my gold heart necklace. When ten-thirty comes and goes, I shake my head and drop onto my couch, irritated. I can’t believe I wasted so much of my morning. I huff and stand up, ready to take off my boots when a knock sounds on the door. I march over to the door and open it. Sebastian leans against the frame, looking as relaxed as he ever is. He looks over my outfit and whistles. “You look gorgeous, Doll.”

“You’re late.”

He pushes off the doorframe. “Relax, Doll. I was getting you a coffee.”

I notice the coffee cup in his hand for the first time. It has an Anna’s label on it. “It’s from Anna’s?”

“Yep.” He hands it to me and walks past me, not that I invited him in. “She said it’s one of your favorites. This is a great condo,” he says, looking around at my place. “But it’s small; you should move in with me.” I choke on the sip of coffee I just took and end up coughing like I’m dying. “You okay?”

I nod, blinking furiously. When I finally have myself under control, I lift my head. “Why in the world would you think I would move in with you? What is the matter with you?”

He shrugs. “We’re going to get married, and you’re going to live with me eventually. Might as well get a head start.”

I shake my head. “You are unbelievable.”

He beams at me. “Thank you.”

I take a drink of my coffee, thankfully not choking this time. “All right. Time for you to go. Thank you for the coffee, but it’s time for you to go.”

He grins. “Nice try. Come on. You’re coming with me. We’re going to my parents’ house for Sunday brunch.”

“I’m not going to your family’s for brunch, Sebastian.”

His smile doesn’t waver. “Yes you are, Doll.”

I stand tall, throwing my shoulders back. “No. I’m not.”

His grin widens. “You are so sexy when you fight me.” He doesn’t leave me even a moment to process that comment. “And you’re coming with me because we’re working on your image. Remember?”

I scowl at him. “I’m pretty sure I’m not the one that needs to work on their image,” I say pointedly.

“Me? I hate to break it to you, but I have a great image.”

I ignore his comment. “How does my going to your family’s home help with my image? It’s not like the media is going to be there to take pictures.”

“No, but I will be there. I’m going to take a picture of us with my family. It will show that you’re not actually as bad as people have made you out to be. Of course, if you don’t want to, you can hope that people will just let all this go. Maybe they won’t show up at your school anymore. Maybe they won’t post memes anymore about how awful you are to say no to me, calling you the B word. Maybe—”

“Okay, I’ve got it,” I say cutting him off. “Fine. I’ll go. But just this once and just so we can get a picture.”

“Great!”

“But I’ll drive myself.”

He puts his hands up in surrender. “Fine.”

I stop a moment and take a good look at him. “You’re really going for the casual look.” He’s got a cap on backwards and is wearing a t-shirt that looks so old, it’s threadbare. He’s completed the look with a pair of old gray sweats. “It’s brunch at my parents; there’s no need to dress up.”

I scowl at him before grabbing my purse and my phone. I usher him out the door and lock the door behind me. I stop at the top of the steps. “That’s your car?”

He glances behind him. “Yeah.”

“You have a C8?”

He gives me a slow smile. “You know your cars.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Don’t give me that. It’s a Corvette; I love Corvettes. And it’s a C8?” It’s the car I”ve dreamed about owning, but I don’t tell him that. “My grandpa loved his corvettes,” I say by way of explanation. I stare at the bright blue corvette, trying not to drool.

“Yeah? He sounds like a smart man. Want to drive?” He waves his keys at me, and I stare at him.

“You’d let me drive? Your C8 Corvette?” When he nods, I stare at him. “This car?”

He laughs. “It’s just a car. Catch.” He tosses his keys to me and walks over to the passenger side and eases into the car. It takes me less than a second to make up my mind. If he’s offering, I’m taking him up on it. I keep my steps slow and steady, even though I want to run over to the car. I climb in, handing him my purse. He grins and takes it. I sit in the driver’s seat, taking it all in. I run my hands over the steering wheel reverently.

“You good over there?” Sebastian asks, humor in his voice.

“Shh,” I tell him. “I’m having a moment, and you’re ruining it.”

“Oh, my bad. Please carry on.”

Everything is made of soft leather. All the accents in the car are the same bright blue as the outside of the car. I run my hands down the console that separates us. “There are so many buttons,” I say as I run my finger down the rounded partition between us that’s lined with buttons.

“I like pushing buttons,” he says from next to me.

“Yeah, you do,” I mutter.

“Know how to start it?” he asks.

I level a look at him even as I put my foot on the brake and push the button to start it. The car comes to life, rumbling beneath me. I can’t help the smile that crosses my face. “Are you sure this is okay?” I ask looking over at him.

“Just as sure as I was when I offered.”

I put my seatbelt on and look over at him with a mischievous grin. “Better hold on.” Before I pull out, I reach down and push the button to move the seat forward slightly. Next, I look in the rearview mirror and tip it forwards slightly.

“Are you going to readjust everything in my car?” he asks, sounding pained.

“Nope. That one was strictly to make sure I look good.”

“You need to look good to drive?” he asks.

“Yep.” I level a look at him.

“For me?” he asks with a big grin.

“Nope. For any hot guys that see me when I’m driving.”

“You know what, I think I changed my mind.”

“Hang on,” I tell him. I push the button for reverse, still amazed that it’s a button. As soon as we’re on the street, I push the button for drive and give it some gas. I can’t help the smile on my face at the power beneath my hands.

“Do you even know where we’re going?” Sebastian asks.

“Nope.”

He laughs. “Take a right up ahead, Danica,” he says.

I smile. “I’m not even going to take offense to a compliment like that,” I tell him. “Do we need to go on the highway? Please tell me we do.”

I can see him shake his head out of the corner of my eye. “No, we don’t need to. But for you,” he gives a dramatic sigh.

I grin and head toward the highway. I can’t wait to see what the get-up-and-go on this is. A few minutes later, I accelerate, pushing the pedal to the floor, just for a few seconds. I just want to feel the horse-power. All too soon, he directs me to take an exit; and then we’re navigating through town. It’s not long before we pull up in front of a beautiful home with a wrap-around porch that I’m instantly in love with. I pull behind the other cars on the driveway and shut it down. “That was amazing. Thank you!” I turn to Sebastian with a huge grin on my face. He stares at me. “What?” I ask, suddenly self-conscious.

“That’s what it takes? Letting you drive my car?”

I grin and hold out the keys to him. As soon as he reaches for them, I yank them away and climb out of the car. I walk quickly towards the front steps. He catches me at the top of the steps. He grabs my arm and whirls me around, being gentle with me. “I’ll take those,” he says, reaching forward. I keep them behind my back. There’s no way I’m surrendering them that easy; I want to drive again later.

“Nope. You gave them to me; I’m driving home.” I turn around to knock on the door and shove them into the front pocket of my jeans. Sebastian shocks me by shoving his hand into my pocket, trying to snag his keys. I whirl on him, shrieking. But his hand is still in my pocket, so when I turn, it puts us in a very awkward, tangled position. It’s upon this unique position that the front door opens.

”What are you doing?” a little voice asks, and I jerk around in surprise. Of course, that means bringing Sebastian with me, because his hand is still in my front pocket. My quick movement causes him to jerk forward, stumbling into me. He puts his free hand out and braces us against the siding of the house.

“Hey, Eliza,” Sebastian says casually, like we’re not standing in the most ridiculous position.

“Uncle Sebastian and his girlfriend are here,” she calls out and runs away.

“Would you take your hand out of my pocket?” I demand as soon as she’s gone. “And why did she say I was your girlfriend?”

He finally removes his hand from my pocket, and I nearly jump away from him. “Because she’s smart,” he says from behind me. I shake my head and step into the entryway since Eliza left the front door open. Sebastian comes in behind me and closes the door. I still haven’t moved because I’m taking in the gorgeous home spread out before me.

“Next time, put them in the back pocket, Teach,” he says right next to my ear before walking past me and into the living room. “We’re here,” he calls out loudly.

I take a breath and try to get my face to stop flaming. I can’t tell whether it’s from embarrassment or...something else that I’m not going to let myself ponder. I take a deep breath and follow Sebastian.

“Hi, Miss Winston.”

I smile at Kayla. “Hey, Kayla. How are you?”

She smiles sweetly. “Good.”

Another boy joins us. “Eliza said you were wrestling on the front porch. Is that true?”

Oh boy.

“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” a guy asks, coming into view. He’s wearing glasses, and I remember him from the game.

“Andrew, leave them alone,” a new voice says, coming to join us. I smile at Tina, Sebastian’s sister. “Ignore my husband. Come on in and relax.”

She waves me forward, and we walk into the open concept living room and dining room. Suddenly, Sebastian’s family is everywhere. It’s all at once overwhelming, and I feel so out of place.