Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
I nodded, still a bit dazed as I scanned the room in search of my friend.
Zac suddenly appeared in front of me. Sebastian’s roommate grinned as he pulled me into a tight hug. “Lil, you made it.”
“I did.” I returned his embrace before pulling loose, too hot in my coat.
“Let me get that for you.” Zac gestured as I hurriedly unbuttoned it. “Did you come alone?”
“No, I came with Jan. She’s …” I glanced over my shoulder into the kitchen where my sister was already laughing and chatting away with some cute guy. That was fast! “Getting us a drink. Or supposed to be.”
I shrugged out of my coat and Zac reached for it. My cheeks heated at the hungry expression on his face as his eyes swept down my body.
“You look gorgeous.” He gave me another quick grin before he strode off with my coat. I watched him throw it into his bedroom and tried not to overanalyze the overt appreciation he’d shown me.
Smoothing my hands down my dress, I searched the main room again. Where the hell was Sebastian?
My outfit was armor. After the sting of his rejection, I needed to feel good about myself. Sexy. In control. Nobody’s reject.
However, my plan failed. As I took in the female guests dressed in similarly sexy party attire to my own, I felt stupidly self-conscious. There were so many überslender beauties in the room. I’d never have gently sloping hips and elegant curves. The dress I wore was body-forming, accentuating my exaggerated curves. I had boobs, an arse you could sit a coffee cup on, and hips in abundance. Jan called my figure an “hourglass.” She reminded me famous people paid surgeons to make their body look like mine. I held on to that thought as I took in the stunners who made up half the guest list.
Zac’s compliment did give me a boost, but I couldn’t help but wish I’d worn some jeans and a cute top.
“Here.” Zac appeared with a bottle of chilled beer. “Your sister is preoccupied.”
“Thanks.” I looked back into the kitchen to find Jan shoving her male companion playfully as they flirted. “Less than a minute.”
“What?” Zac leaned in, his brow wrinkled with confusion.
“My sister. It took her less than a minute to find a bloke to snog at midnight.”
He snickered. “That’s like Harry. The guy is charmed.”
I snorted because I didn’t know how. Harry had all the subtlety of a battering ram, but I guessed some girls liked that sort of thing. “Where’s Sebastian?”
Zac wouldn’t meet my eyes as he took a swig of beer.
My gut knotted. “Well?”
He glanced at me before searching the room. “He was introducing some girl around.”
The beer I’d sipped sat unpleasantly in my belly. Before I could find an airy response to the implication in this information, Sebastian’s bedroom door opened, and he stepped out.
He was accompanied by a tall, beautiful strawberry blond. She was dazzling. As tall as Sebastian in her glittering heeled sandals. Her dress was sophisticated and sexy at the same time. Modest neckline with bell sleeves, but a mini-miniskirt and cutouts at the waist so everyone could see her torso and waistline were as toned as her long, long legs.
Thankfully, neither of them appeared disheveled and her lipstick was still firmly in place.
That didn’t alleviate the crushing sensation pressing on my chest.
I wanted to burst into loud, messy tears.
I wanted to leave. Immediately.
“Lily!” Sebastian’s voice boomed over the music seconds before he crossed the crowded room. His arms came around me as he embraced me tightly, lifting me off my feet a little. “Christ, I missed you.” His words were growly and full of sincerity.
His welcome made me want to cry even more.
Instead, I pulled out of his embrace and explained hurriedly, “Don’t want to spill my beer all over you.”
Sebastian’s hand lingered on my waist, so I stepped back, bumping into Zac who stayed put, like a supportive wall.
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Then he grabbed my free hand, apparently forgetting about the strawberry blond at his side. “Come with me.”
Discombobulated, I let him tug me toward the exit. I caught January’s eye as I passed the kitchen, but she merely grinned evilly at my silent plea for help. Sebastian’s hand was strong and warm in mine, his fingers flexing in tight wee squeezes as he guided me out of the apartment and into the quiet hallway.
I took a fortifying swig of beer as he turned to face me, dropping my free hand. His gaze swept down my body and back up again. The little flush high on his cheeks wasn’t my imagination, nor was the way his eyes lingered on my breasts before he swallowed hard and looked back into the flat.
“What’s up?”
Sebastian turned to me, those startling eyes roaming my face. “I haven’t seen you in a while. I missed you.”