Page 95 of In the Net
Just how soon will that breakup happen? Immediately when we get back to Cedar Shade later tomorrow?
There’s no reason for it to happen any later than that, I guess. This wedding is the finish line, after all …
I grab a champagne flute from a tray and take a big sip, letting the fizzy alcohol unknot the tension that the thought of breaking up with Sebastian just pulled tight all through me.
Today isn’t the time to try to make sense of my tangled web of feelings for my fake boyfriend.
If I’m worried about how I’m going to feel when Sebastian and I are no longer spending so much time together, I might as well enjoy today as much as I can.
I approach the conversation circle where Sebastian is clearly animated, talking excitedly and proudly about something.
I assume he’s regaling my cousins with stories of his most impressive goals, or maybe the dollar figure of his NHL contract. But as I get closer, I notice that my cousins, who would be hanging on every word of those topics, seem strangely bored.
“I mean, her presentation was justamazing,” I hear Sebastian say once I’m just a couple steps behind him. “Like, I went to presentations by professors from some of the best schools in the world when we were at the conference, and none of them were as good as hers. Honestly, I don’t know how she does it. Her class schedule is insane, and she still manages to read and study enough to put together a research presentation likethat.”
My stomach flips and twirls behind my ribs, like it’s writing a sentence in cursive. Instead of talking sports with my cousins, he’s talking about me?
He’s not just talking about me—he’s bragging about me.
Sebastian laughs to himself. “She had me read over this essay she’s working on for her Russian Literature class, and, man, impressed doesn’t even cover it. I was intimidated!” He chuckles again. “It’s a good thing I’m pretty decent at hockey, because ifthat’smy competition to get into a good graduate program, I wouldn’t have a shot.”
A light, happy feeling bubbles in my chest, spreading warmth through me. Being recognized, being appreciated, being admired for the parts of my personality that I value, that I’m proud of myself … it feels good. Really good.
I can’t bring myself to interrupt Sebastian as he’s gushing over me in a way I never thought I’d hear anyone do. With a big smile plastered on my face, I walk back to our table to get off my feet for a minute, a thrum of happiness still vibrating through me.
When I’m seated, another one of my cousins, Jessica, who’s always been one of the nicer ones, takes a seat next to me.
“Girl, you have to tell us how you found a guy like Sebastian,” she says. He’s turned his charm setting up so high for this event that I’m surprised the knob hasn’t broken. “You need to write an instruction manual for the rest of us or something.”
I just laugh and roll my eyes. “I don’t know how it happened,” is all I can think to say.
Jessica sighs, almost swoons. “He’s gorgeous, smart, nice … you’re just so lucky.”
“No,I’mlucky.” Sebastian’s voice sends a shiver dancing over my skin, only intensified when a big hand falls onto my bare shoulder.
He pulls out the chair next to me and drops himself into it. Our knees touch, and neither of us makes any move to pull away. Muscles pull tight at the peak of my thighs.
Our eyes catch, and it feels like his bright blue gaze reaches right into mine, deep enough to wrap around my heart.
The words Sebastian just said were clearly for show, but something about the way he’s looking at me feels so real that it’s a little scary. But it’s a kind of fear that I want to lean into, like the flutter of nerves before a first kiss.
I’m pulled back to reality when Sophia and Toby—the newly-married couple—stop at our table while making the rounds greeting all their guests.
“Thank you for gracing our wedding with a future NHL star,” Sophia jokes to Sebastian.
He just chuckles, shaking his head while his lips tilt. “No, thank you for letting attend the wedding with the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”
Sophia’s cheeks fill with a rosy blush. She giggles. “Oh, you.”
Toby’s jaw ticks a fraction.
Then Sebastian turns to me, warmth beaming in his eyes. “At least, the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen, until …”
My chest clenches while Sophia and Jessica swoon around me at Sebastian’s clear insinuation.
I try to avoid it, but the scenario of Sebastian and me in the place of Sophia and Toby rushes into my head. Somehow, it doesn’t seem as utterly ridiculous as it would have just weeks ago.
That scary feeling I just had returns, ratcheting up.
