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I drop my pastry on my lap.
Sebastian is left speechless, his lips pressed tightly together.
Co
After Co
“She’s fine,” Sebastian says, finding his voice again.
“What are you even doing here?” Co
“I’m monitoring the exams so she doesn’t cheat,” he lies. I want to snort, given the fact that minutes ago he offered to bubble-in my finals for me.
“I can do that,” Co
I hear the crunch and the crackle of papers, muffled but still distinguishable. I close my eyes and count to five in my head. This ca
“Lily,” Co
What?! I open one eye and meet Co
I spent days without self-love or any kind of sex from Lo, trying desperately to return to good faith with him. All of that will be squandered in one moment if he thinks it’s dirty mags. And I’m so sick of lying.
“It’s not porn,” I confess.
Co
He shakes his head. “I knew it,” he says rather calmly, adding all the pieces together so easily. Must be a smart-person trait. I bet Sherlock Holmes was a certified genius.
Sebastian rolls his eyes and takes out his phone, as if this is all very dull for him, but I imagine that Co
I gather up the tests before Co
He returns the cushion to its original state, and before I can offer an explanation, the front door swings open.
“Just because the bike can reach a hundred-fifty, doesn’t mean you should go that fucking fast. You nearly cut off a car behind you.”
“You’re exaggerating,” Daisy says.
“He honked at you.”
“Or he honked at you. You were riding my brake lights.”
“I was ten fucking feet behind you, and next time, I’m taking you to a race track.”
“Really?” I can hear the smile behind the word.
“Yeah, if you want to fucking kill yourself, at least you won’t cause a five-car pileup while you’re doing it.”
When they walk into the living room, Daisy is smiling from ear to ear. Both carry motorcycle helmets under their arms, reminding me that Ryke agreed to Daisy’s offer. About a week ago, he told her he would keep the black Ducati in return for teaching her how to ride safely, which must be a hard job with Daisy as a pupil.
“You were supposed to tutor her,” Co
Ryke and Daisy go quiet by the staircase, realizing they walked in on a…situation.
Sebastian pockets his phone in his blazer. “You and I both know that one is a lost cause. I did her a favor.”
“She doesn’t need another handout.” He invades Sebastian’s space again. “You’re a lazy sanctimonious prick who profits off of apathetic trust fund babies. The students who need those exams are the ones who can’t afford them. You knowingly perpetuate a repugnant cycle.” He stares at him like he’s shit on the bottom of his shoe. “You keep the rich kids stupid and the poor kids poor.”
“What’s going on?” Rose’s voice ices the entire room.
No one moves. She stands near Daisy and Ryke, who must have left the front door open. No one heard her walk in.
Sebastian slips out of Co
Co
Rose glances at Ryke and Daisy for verification.
“We just got here,” Daisy says.
Ryke is not about to vouch for Co
Rose doesn’t even ask me whether or not Sebastian helped me cheat or if Co
But I have to try. “I did cheat,” I tell her in a high voice.
She ignores me. So much for honesty.
My sister approaches both guys and rests her hands on her hips, looking between them. Co
Rose engages with him, not able to tear away.
Sebastian panics and places a hand on her shoulder. “Rose, he’s manipulating you. It’s what he does.”
Rose flinches.
“Don’t doubt yourself,” Co
Rose wavers.
“Think about it,” Co
“The cigarettes—”
“You have known me for almost ten years. I have held you in my arms. I have kissed you. Have you ever smelled smoke on me before?”
Sebastian cuts in, “Rose, he convinced Brad to forfeit his Lambda Kai presidency so someone else could take the position. He can make people do things they would never do.”
Co
Sebastian says, “He dated Hayley Jacobs just so her father would write him a recommendation to Wharton. He’s with you because of your name. How many times do I have tell you that?”
Rose’s eyes narrow at Co
“He offered, yes.”
“And you accepted?”
He says nothing.
“Unbelievable.” Her face twists like he stomped on her heart. I rise, about to go to her side. But I hesitate as she points a finger at Co
“No, I came with you because you’re my girlfriend,” he says, stepping closer to her.
She raises her chin, which starts to quiver despite her strength. “I trusted you. And all this time—”
“I have never lied to you,” he says. “You know more about my life than anyone else. I don’t share things willingly, you know this about me. Why would I let you in?”
Rose whispers, “You’re playing with my head.”
“No,” he says again, forcefully so that she understands. “He is.”
Sebastian’s fingers dig deeper in her shoulder. “You’ve known me since we were children. I only have your best interest, Rose.”
But her eyes stay glued to Co
“Rose,” Co
She takes a deep breath. “That’s just it Co