page14 (1/2)

Sebastian’s head tilted to the side and his nose brushedthen, because I sucked in a shallow breath Was he going to kiss me? Harder this time? Deeper?

He suddenly jerked his head back, and before I kneas happening, I was onanymore I started to speak, to say what, I don’t know My brain had co

And then it struck me—what had happened

Sebastian hadn’t kissed me

I kissed him

I kissed him andand for the tiniest oing to kiss me back That was how it felt

But he hadn’t

He’d durass beside him

Oh my God, what had I done?

My heart lodged soh h I had no idea what to say

Sebastian jumped to his feet, his face pale and jaw hard “Hell I’m sorry”

I snappedhim?

He swiped his hat off the ground and pulled it down on his head He wasn’t looking at me as he took a step back “That wasn’t—It wasn’t supposed to happen, right?”

Slowly, I liftedme that? I had no answer, because it wasn’t likein a shallow, burning breath, I focused on the bright green grass My fingers curled into the blades as his words sank in

A sharp slice of pain lit up the center ofintomy insides

“I, uh, I forgot I’m supposed tosideways “We’ve got to head back”

That was a lie

It had to be

He wanted to escape I wasn’t stupid, but damn, that hurt, because I couldn’t remember a time when he’d ever wanted to run away from me

The pain inme A prickly heat hit my face as deep-rooted embarrassment welled up

Oh God

I was going to face-plant in the lake and just let myself sink under

Nurass off my shorts We didn’t speak on the way back to the Jeep, and oh God, I wanted to cry The back ofIt took all ht there, and my heart ached in a way that was far too real for it not to have cracked open

Once inside, I buckleddeep, even breaths I just needed to hold it together until I got hoot there, I could curl up in bed and sob like an angry baby

Sebastian turned the Jeep on and the engine rumbled to life The radio kicked in, a low hum of words I couldn’t make out

“We’rewe’re okay, right?” he asked, his voice strained

“Yeah,” I said hoarsely, and cleared my throat “Of course”

Sebastian didn’t respond, and for a few seconds I could feel his gaze on ood chance I would start crying

He shifted the Jeep into Drive and pulled off onto the road

What in the world had I been thinking? Never once had I acted on anything I felt for Sebastian For the most part, I played it cool But now I’d kissed him