Page 61 of Running With Lions

How could I not see it?

“She’s not the one,” Willie would say, over and over, after Sebastian had a fight with Sam or when she ignored his calls. But, hell, Lily said the same thing, so it wasn’t anything he hadn’t heard before.

But Willie thoughthewas the one.

“Oh, shit,” Sebastian says, smacking a hand over his eyes.

Mason says, quickly, “Don’t make a big deal of it, okay? Seriously, don’t goRiverdaleon me.”

Sebastian’s dazed. Guilt has just sucker-punched him. While Mason shrugs, slurping on beer, Sebastian slumps against the tree.

“What I can’t figure out,” Mason pauses to rub his chin, “is what made him so into you?” With his head bent uncomfortably close to Sebastian’s crotch, he says, “Are you hiding something amazing in your jockstrap, Hughes?”

Sebastian sputters and mashes Mason’s head back. Mason drunkenly stumbles. Jesus, these are his friends?

Mason says, “I’ve seen it, bro. In the shower. You’ve got Thor’s hammer down there.”

Sebastian goes sunburn-hot from his toes to his hairline. He turns away; his eyes flicker to Willie, whose head is in Hunter’s lap. Hunter’s smooths Willie’s hair back. Willie gives a go at an acoustic version of “Uma Thurman.”

“Sorry. I’ve been trying to do this whole ‘be nice’ thing, but how the hell do people do it?” Mason groans, hazy eyes glaring at the fire.

“Is Grey influencing you?”

Mason rolls his eyes.Obviously not. Mason chugs the rest of his beer. “She’s part of the team or whatever, so I can’t bemadat her. Sometimes, she says cool stuff. It’s weird.”

Sebastian’s in awe. In what reality does Mason refer to Grey Patrick as cool? Well, “kinda cool.”

All of that good karma Mason just earned flies away when someone shouts, “Who invited Coach’s daughter?” and, right on cue, Grey smiles nervously while sauntering past the guys hanging by the tree line.

“Holy mother-effin’…” Mason pushes loose locks of brown hair out of his bulging seaweed-blue eyes. Skittish as a goldfish swimming among sharks, Grey collapses next to Hunter. Mason says, “We’re officially going to hell. We’re all getting kicked off the team.”

Sebastian asks, “Do you want me to look after her?”

Mason crunches his empty can. “She’s my problem, isn’t she?”

He can deny it all he wants, but Mason has a soft spot for her. Being an ass is just his way of showing it.

Mason stomps toward the fire, shouting, “Hey, give the brat some space!” and, “Grace, get your hands off that beer!”

“Oh my god, you sound like Coach!”

Mason’s shoulders tense. “And I’ll kick your ass like him if you drink that.” When she flips him off, he gasps as though scandalized. “You’re sixteen, you little troublemaker, so come sit over here—no, not next to me!” Mason nearly shrieks.

Sebastian considers joining the mayhem. He could collapse opposite Zach and sing the team’s off-key version of “Young Volcanoes,” led by Willie’s very respectable strumming. The heat from the fire pit reaches him. Stars wink in the clear indigo sky. The sour flavor of cheap beer collects in his throat.

What kind of future captain wouldn’t want to sit shoulder to shoulder with his troops? Sebastian’s doesn’t know. Are all teens this emo and undecided?

Sebastian hangs back, letting his mind cool down before he turns and disappears into the trees.

18

Sebastian needs somewhere tothink,and the dock at the lake is the perfect place.

During the day, the lake beyond the trees and grass is still, pale blue under a clear sunny sky. At dusk, it’s all indigo slashed with purples and the scent of pine and moss. All the normal noises of camp are muted by the lapping, singing water. It’s the one place Sebastian can have to himself tonight.

Life decides to knock Sebastian on his ass by denying him that moment.

Surrounded by a thin reef of smoke, Emir is huddled at the end of the dock. Sebastian’s not disappointed; he’s floored, but not disappointed. The last rays of sun make Emir’s profile fuzzy. His mouth is thoughtfully pouty. Sebastian ignores his fluttery stomach and lets his giddiness carry him all the way to the wood planks.

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