“Oh my God, Sebastian. What are you doing here?” Marissa stands.
Looking over my shoulder, I find her brother standing there, the one she tried to set me up with all that time ago, and he’s rubbing his chin in confusion.
“You invited me,” he says, stating the obvious.
Tina and I burst into laughter. The man has no idea how to be subtle.
I feel him sit next to me on the bench sofa seat, Marissa’s perched on the other side of me.
“Nice one, Sebastian,” Marissa says with an eye roll.
I try not to put too much thought into him sitting next to me and especially this close.
“Thea, Sebastian’s still single.”
“Smooth, real smooth, Marissa,” Sebastian states from next to me. He reaches for a drink and slams it down fast.
“I think she means well,” I say, turning to face him.
He’s grimacing when he says, “Look, I like you and all, but I’m not up for being turned down a second time.” He laughs.
“Well, I think you’re great, from what I know of you anyway.” I smirk. “But I’m not ready for anything just yet. So, maybe Marissa can find you a woman who is.”
He leans in. “I don’t need help finding a woman. It seems Marissa likes to dabble in places that don’t warrant her dabbling.”
“But she means well,” I say.
Marissa lands on my lap, her hands going around my neck. “You should just kiss, see if there’s any spark,” Marissa says, looking between me and her brother.
“You’re crazy,” I tell her.
“Really? Honestly, what harm could it do? Just… kiss,” Marissa says, getting off me after she kisses my cheek quickly. She leans down to her brother and smiles. “Kiss the woman.” Then she pushes his head until he’s facing me and we are inches apart.
“She can be annoying until she gets what she wants,” Sebastian tells me, my eyes dropping to his lips.
Okay, so it’s just a kiss.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been kissed by anyone but Atlas, and pre-Atlas it was even longer. Actually, I don’t even remember anyone before him.
“She certainly is,” I reply, my eyes flicking to his lips again then back to his eyes.
Sebastian leans in, and my breathing almost stops as his lips gently touch mine. Then he applies pressure, but his kiss is soft. Too soft. I press back, and he takes that as an invitation to deepen the kiss.
It’s a nice kiss, but that’s it. Nice. Nothing more.
I’m the first to pull back, my head slightly dizzy from all the alcohol. Marissa cheers next to us, and Sebastian holds his breath, gently biting his lip in hope.
Tina grabs my hand and pulls me to where she’s sitting on the other side.
“You didn’t like that, did you?” I look down at her words as she whispers them to me. “He’s still staring at you.”
Looking up, I see Sebastian is indeed staring at me.
Marissa’s smiling from ear to ear, and I look away first.
“I think I’m gonna go,” I tell Tina, who stands with me.
Sydney follows, and so do Marissa and Sebastian.
“We’re heading out,” Tina announces.
Kiss and run.
Can I do that?
Well, I think I just might.
“Maybe we can—” Sebastian leans in.
“I don’t think so. But thank you for that kiss.”
Oh. My. God. Cringeworthy much?
He looks down.
Marissa saves the day by stepping between us and wraps her arms around me. “I mean… it would have been so cool for you to be my sister-in-law. I guess I’ll just have to deal with you as the boss,” she slurs.
“Boss sounds good,” I tell her. “Always a boss and a friend.”
A week after my birthday, it’s my day to visit Benji. When I arrive at Willow’s house, a car I recognize is already sitting in the drive. I freeze as I slide out when I realize whose it is. As I rush to get back in my car, my name is called.
“Theadora…”
I turn and find Atlas, his hands in his pockets as he stands there in black pants, a black jacket, with a white shirt. “I’m leaving, no need for you to go.”
“Atlas,” I say his name.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen him. He looks good, but then again when doesn’t he look good, though. It’s a curse, to all woman-kind to have to look at someone so exceptionally good looking and not be able to have him, to touch him.
“Benji’s asleep. Do you want to go for a coffee?”
“Coffee?” I ask him in an uncertain tone.
“What I actually had in my mind probably isn’t appropriate. So, yes, coffee?”
“I should just wait to see Benji. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Atlas looks at my car then back to me. “Good choice.” He gives a chin lift to my new car.
I reach out and touch the paint surface mindlessly. I love my new car, it’s black, with sleek lines and a sunroof which is great on those sunny days. The new car smell every time I slide into it, reminds me that I did this all on my own. I was able to purchase my own car with my own money, and I couldn’t be prouder of myself in this moment.