Very Bad Things (Briarcrest Academy #1)(49)

I changed the topic. “So how embarrassed should I be? Did I win?” I joked.

He thought about it. “It was slightly comical. I’ve seen worst in a Girls Gone Wild video. But my money was on you,” he said, tweaking my nose.

“Thanks for bailing me out,” I said, as we came upon Mila standing by his car. She was drenched in beer but gave me a sparkling smile.

“You kicked ass, Nora,” she squealed and hopped around, obviously still reeling from the excitement. I didn’t agree with her, but smiled anyway, not wanting to dampen her spirits.

Sebastian tossed her the keys. “You drive. I’m gonna sit back here with Nora,” he said. He opened the back door, let me in and then slid in beside me, our wet clothes sticking to the blue leather interior. Mila started the car and turned up Pink in the CD player as we headed back to Club Vita.

“Leo told me about your list,” he said, picking up my cold hands and rubbing them with his. “And maybe it’s none of my business, but I like you, and I can’t keep my mouth shut about this. I don’t want you to waste your time on loser guys like Cuba or Matt. You’re only going to cause yourself more heartache if you f*ck around with them. Save yourself for the one person who will treasure you. And there is someone out there for you, I know it. Someone who will steal your heart and love you right back. Only you.”

I sighed at the thought of someone who would choose me. “You think there’s a guy who will love me?” I smirked at him. “I’ve got some problems, and you’ve only seen the tip of the ice-berg. My crazy goes deep.”

“You’re not crazy; you’re going through some emotional shit. And yes, there is someone out there for you,” he murmured and squeezed my hands.

I scoffed. “You make love sound so easy.”

“When it’s real, it is.”

“Didn’t realize you were such a philosopher.”

“Leo’s young, but he’s a great dad,” he said with a smile.

I nodded. “Okay, let me ask you this: do you believe in love at first sight and soulmates?” I asked, needing another person’s input on what had been brewing in my head since I’d seen Leo at the movies.

“Nah . . . maybe . . . I don’t know. It’s kinda scary to think you only have one person out there who’s your perfect fit. I mean, what if they’re married already or gay or pick their nose in public?”

“Ew, Sebastian!”

“Or, or, wait for it: what if they have a job shoveling elephant dung or what if they’re European and don’t believe in bathing?”

I laughed.

“Or, what if they lived in Antarctica? No way could I live in an igloo. I like my sunshine and Cowboys too much,” he said.

I piped up. “Oh, oh, I got one. What if your soulmate was a Redskins fan?”

Sebastian made a gagging sound and grabbed his chest. “You’re breaking my heart.”

We sat there for a minute, both of us lost in thought, until he said, “Maybe it’s possible. I think my parents had it. What about you?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I believe in soulmates, but it’s up to us what we do with it.”

“Have you ever had a moment you thought could be love at first sight?” he asked with a sly grin, like he already knew the answer.

“Yes,” I admitted.

“Are you going to tell me who it was with?” he teased, arching his brows at me.

“It wasn’t Cuba or Matt,” I said wryly, turning to look out the window as we passed my house. The lights were still on. Odd.

“I tried to be with Cuba, but in the end I couldn’t,” I said, sighing.

“You couldn’t because of Leo,” he said. “I was there the day you guys saw each other, and Leo looked like he’d been hit by a two-by-four. I couldn’t see your face that day, but I see you now. You never stop watching him, Nora.”

My heart stuttered, and I stopped breathing for a moment.

“He’s the one you had a moment with. He’s the one for you, Nora.”

I nodded weakly, not able to stop the tears that ran down my face. He pulled me over to him and gave me a gentle hug. “It’s okay, Nora.”

After a while, he scrubbed my head with his knuckles like I’d seen Leo do to him.

I pulled back to look at his kind face. “I wish you’d been my family,” I whispered, the emotional upheaval of the night catching up with me. “I wish you’d been my brother.”

He nodded. “If I’d ever had a sister, I’d want one just like you, Buttercup.”





Chapter 15


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Nora

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“You gotta know when it’s time to turn the page.” –Nora Blakely

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When we got to the gym, Mila got in her car to go home. Sebastian insisted I come in and crash on their sofa since I was still buzzing from the shots. I agreed. He left me downstairs while he grabbed some towels from the linen closet to dry off his leather seats. When he back went outside, I headed upstairs to his room to change into some of his clothes.

I walked down the hall as Leo came out of his bedroom with his arm wrapped around Tiffani’s shoulders. Her fingers clutched the belt loops on his jeans, like she owned him. As I watched, she smiled up at him, looking pleased. Then Leo kissed her, just like he’d done with me earlier. Her hands roamed all over his back, pressing him close. She moaned a little as the kiss went on and on.