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Sebastian Baxter is holding my hand.
Sebastian Baxter… The undisputed hottest guy in school is choosing to spend time with me over indulging in one of the many girls here tonight that I’m sure are eager to warm his bed. I suddenly feel like I’m living in an alternate reality.
Sebastian leads me down a long, wooded trail that after several yards opens up to reveal a stunning lake view. The sight of the full moon beaming off the water is beautiful, and for the first time since Sebastian opened his mouth and made his presence known on the balcony, I feel myself starting to relax.
To say that going off on my own with a guy who has a reputation like Sebastian’s is out of character for me would be the understatement of the year, but something about the way those hazel eyes look at me has rendered my resolve nonexistent.
“Sebastian, this is incredible,” I find myself saying without even meaning to.
I can’t help it. Not when we approach a long dock that stretches out into the water, two layback lounge chairs positioned at the end. This place is like a dream. Everything is so still and peaceful, the noise from the house a distant memory.
“This is probably my favorite spot.” He throws me a sideways smile, his hand not releasing mine until we reach the chairs.
“I can see why,” I admit, taking the seat he gestures to, pulling my legs up in front of myself as I watch him claim the seat next to me.
“Sometimes the world just gets too chaotic.” He lay back in his seat, feet stretched out in front of him, and arms behind his head as he stares up at the star-filled sky. “This is the only place that makes me feel—normal,” he admits, the vulnerability in his tone taking me by surprise.
“And here I had you pegged for some hot shot who had everything he ever wanted,” I tease, mirroring his action as I lie back in my own chair and focus my gaze upward.
“Trust me, Tessa; my life’s far from perfect.” The use of my full name does something unexplainable to me. It sounds so different coming off his lips.
But I also can’t deny the spark of anger that lights deep in my belly. Some people just have no idea how good they have it.
“Then enlighten me. What more could you possibly want?” I ask, gesturing around. “You’ve got money and all the perks that come along with it. You’re an incredible athlete and will no doubt be able to play for any college you want. Every guy wants to be you. Every girl wants to be with you. Forgive me for saying this, but if you don’t see how incredibly good you’ve got it, maybe you should look a little harder.”
“What was it you said to me earlier—that people aren’t always so black and white?” He turns his gaze toward me. I can feel his eyes burning into the side of my face, but I keep my eyes focused on the sky. “I think you’d be surprised to learn that I’m probably furthest from the person you think I am.”
“Sounds like a bunch of talk to me.” I shrug.
“And you would know this how?” The playfulness in his voice pulls my gaze to him. I suck in a hard breath when I see him staring at me with a look I can’t quite describe—like he can see right through my façade to the weak, scared girl beneath.
“Action, Mr. Baxter. Action.” I grin when his eyes widen, a hint of mischief behind them. “Words are easy, meaningless. But action. Action is what makes you who you are.”
“And what do my actions show you?” He rolls to his side, his eyes now locked solely on me.
“That you’re cocky and arrogant. That you don’t have to wonder if you’re good enough—on the football field or off—you know you are. That you devalue girls to nothing more than what they can give you in bed. That you have the world at your feet and yet have no appreciation for it. You walk around like you own the world, Sebastian. That doesn’t strike me as someone who doesn’t believe they have it all.”
I expect my words to offend him, piss him off even, so when a slow smile creeps across his handsome face I’m left wondering once again if I have just completely misjudged him.
“I like you,” he finally speaks after several long moments.
“Um. Thank you?” I say more as a question than a statement.
“I mean it, Tess. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since someone has told me exactly what they think of me? It’s fucking refreshing.” His smile widens. “Keep going.”
“Keep going?” I look at him like he has five heads.
“I like this game.” He runs a hand through his perfect sun-kissed blond hair, his hazel eyes never leaving mine.
“Are we playing a game?” I question, suddenly more nervous than ever.
“You tell me,” he challenges, that damn smile still etched across his perfect face.
I look at him for several long moments, silence stretching between us. I’m not sure what to say to that. I’ve never had someone make me feel so twisted up inside, and I have to admit as much as I hate that it’s Sebastian making me feel this way, it also feels good just to feel something.
“Can I ask you something?” he asks, reaching between our chairs to retrieve the bottle of whiskey he brought with him.
“Okay.” I stretch out, butterflies swimming wildly in my stomach.
