Page 143 of The Bittersweet Bond

Evin rolled her eyes, but a quiet laugh escaped her. “You’re impossible.”

“I know,” he said, “but you like it. And I like being that way.”

She held his gaze, a soft confirmation in her eyes. She knew exactly what he meant—how easily he let go and just *was*. And she wanted that too.

“Don’t worry, the *bad* Sebastian is still around, in case you were wondering,” he teased.

Evin let out another laugh. “Ha, no, that’s the last thing I’d ever wonder.”

Her words lingered between them, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow down. The sun had set, leaving only the distant hum of streetlights. The whisper of the wind barely registered.

All that remained was the space between them.

“Evin,” he said at last, his voice softer now, almost careful. She could see something shift in his eyes—the playful glint giving way to something deeper, something rawer.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow. To being with you.”

Her throat suddenly felt dry, and her thoughts scattered. It wasn’t justwhathe said, buthowhe said it—as if his words carried more weight than they appeared to.

“I… me too,” she whispered, unsure of what else to say.

Bas stepped closer, and the space between them vanished.

“There’s something else,” he started. “I wanted to—”

Evin didn’t know what exactly he was about to say, but she realized it didn’t matter. Not right now.

So she closed the distance herself, rising onto her tiptoes. Her hands found his chest, where she could feel the steady beat of his heart.

“You talk too much,” she whispered before her lips met his.

The kiss was slow—charged with the kind of hesitation that simmered beneath the surface. His hands slid down to her hips, pulling her against him.

It was a kiss that made everything else around them fade.

When they finally pulled away, their foreheads remained pressed together, his breath warm against her skin.

Her gaze lingered, warm and steady.

“Good night, Bas,” she whispered.

He smiled back, his voice barely more than a breath. “Good night, Birdie. And don’t think too hard about what would’ve happened if your mom hadn’t come home.”

As she watched him walk away, she couldn’t help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. The thought of seeing him again felt like a spark she wouldn’t shake off anytime soon and the lingering sensation of his kiss told her one thing for sure—

She wouldn’t be forgetting this day.

Chapter 41

A Storm Brewing

Sebastian

Bas sat behind the wheel of his SUV, while Bellamy lounged in the passenger seat, aimlessly scrolling through his phone. The engine purred softly, and the heat kept the interior warm—a stark contrast to the crisp morning air outside. Bas drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, his gaze drifting repeatedly toward the front door of Milka’s small, charming house on Willow Lane.

“How much longer?” Bellamy muttered, flipping through his messages.

“Don’t ask. Milka and Evin together? That always takes forever. I gave up getting annoyed about it,” Bas replied dryly, though, in truth, impatience was gnawing at him. He hated waiting, especially when they were already running late.

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