Chapter 5

I braced myself against the table. Confused. "What?"

Sebastian leaned in, caging me. "Sophia. I'm just a little close to her. Did you really need to tattle to my mother?"

"She cried all night. Her eyes are still swollen."

I tried to follow the logic. But I hadn't slept properly in days. I was just exhausted.

I forced words out. "So—your mother went after Chloe?"

He didn't deny it.

I kept my voice calm. "Did she say why?"

Sebastian's mouth curved into a small, dismissive smirk. "Sophia. Drop the act. It's beneath you."

"You did it. Just admit it."

He stared down at me. Handed down the verdict. No appeal.

So I tried again. "I didn't."

Sebastian was done being patient. His brow twitched. His voice edged with anger. "Chloe isn't like you."

"She's not angling for my protection. She's just lonely. She wanted someone to talk to."

"She's not trying to marry into money."

Sebastian pulled me into his arms. His voice dropped into that patient, teaching tone he used whenever he thought I was being difficult. "And I'm not going to marry her. Mrs. Blackwood will only ever be you."

"So why are you making this uglier by involving my mother? Sophia. Apologize to Chloe."

I couldn't stop shaking.

I used everything I had to push him off.

Gulped air.

Something startled flashed across Sebastian's face. His lips parted, disbelieving. "You—you pushed me?"

My ears rang. I crouched down to steady myself.

After a long moment, Sebastian sighed. Dropped down beside me, softened. "Forget the apology."

"But Chloe's in a bad place. I want to take her away for a few days. Just to clear her head, so it doesn't affect her performance at the competition. Okay?"

A hand closed around my heart.

I forced my breathing flat.

Sebastian didn't move. He just waited.

I gave up. I nodded.

Sebastian smiled. He lifted me up and bent to kiss my forehead.

I turned my head.

He missed. But he wasn't angry. Just gave a resigned, amused laugh. "Place is spotless. Did you call a cleaner?"

He moved toward the living room.

I opened my mouth to stop him. His phone rang.

One glance at the screen and he stopped dead.

Silence in the apartment. Just the phone, ringing cheerfully.

I smiled. Kept my voice soft. "Go. You have things to do."

Sebastian hesitated.

I made up a reason. "Madeline asked me to lunch. You don't need to stay."

Sebastian exhaled.

He fussed with the collar of my jacket. Jealous. "Don't wear skirts this short anymore."

I didn't argue. I let him do it.

He tugged the strap of my bag. Looked at me with a small smile. "You still have the St. Christopher medal I gave you?"

I looked down without meaning to.

A flash of red dangled from the side of my black bag.

Sebastian picked it up and turned it over in his fingers. His voice went tired.

"I gave you this freshman year of high school, right? It's gotten old."

Freshman year of high school.

I'd been constantly sick and accident-prone. After my seventh near-miss with a car, Sebastian took three days off.

When he got back, he tossed me a small medallion. "Found it somewhere. It's yours."

Mrs. Blackwood bit back a laugh. "Don't let him fool you, Sophia. He drove three hours each way to St. Jude's monastery. He knelt on the stones for hours to get it blessed."

Sebastian had coughed, the tips of his ears going red.

Maybe it was moments like that, small and impossible to pin down, that had made me believe he loved me.

I reached over and unclipped the medallion.

"You're right. It has been a long time."

Long enough that I'd thought it was mine.

Then, with Sebastian watching, I dropped it into the trash.

He froze.

After a long pause, he laughed, light. "Okay. That's fine. When I'm back, I'll get you a new one."

I took a cab back to campus. On the way, Mrs. Blackwood called.

Her voice was gentle. "Sophia, darling. How are things between you and Sebastian these days?"

I didn't answer. I asked softly, "Mrs. Blackwood, is something wrong?"

She laughed, quiet. "Yesterday, a girl named Chloe Mercer called me. Said she wanted to marry my son."

"Can you imagine? I had to give her a piece of my mind."

So that's what it was.

I tightened my grip on the phone. "Mm."

"But Sophia, darling. Keep Sebastian in line for me. Don't let some little social climber drag him off."

I answered, quiet and steady. "Yes."

She sounded pleased. "Our families have been neighbors for more than a decade, sweetheart. I know you. I've raised you both. A Blackwood daughter-in-law can only be you. That's the only thing that lets me sleep at night."

The cab stopped. I ended the call.

I dragged my bag up to the dorm.

Madeline had a sheet mask on her face. The second she saw me, she jumped up. "Sophia! You're back!"

She threw herself at me. We laughed into each other's shoulders.

After a minute, she pulled back, her face going serious. "Are you really done with Sebastian?"

I nodded. "Really."

Worry flickered in her eyes. "Are you… okay, though? That many years together. It must hurt."

My head went blank for a second.

Eleven years. That wasn't easy to let go of. My chest did ache.

But I believed I'd be okay. Even if it took time. Even if it hurt for a while.

I smiled, airy. "He doesn't photograph well. I never really liked it."