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 was an A student.
The essay was a B.
I really needed to pull myself together. My career would be there long after some guy who …
Throwing Sebastian from my mind, I tried to focus on Professor McAvoy. But my mind kept going back over the events of the last few days, including getting a B on an essay.
I’d been staring dazedly at my tablet, so it took me a second to realize someone had interrupted our class.
My classmates’ murmuring brought my attention to the front of the class and my heart faltered in my chest.
The sight of Sebastian standing next to Professor McAvoy caused a flush of heat through my body so strong, my palms started sweating.
What the …
“I’m in the middle of a class,” Professor McAvoy stated impatiently, as if it was not the first time she’d said it to him.
“I understand.” Sebastian’s voice carried upward through the smaller lecture hall. “And I respect your time, but this is incredibly important. And possibly educational for any would-be therapists in the room.” There was a teasing note in his words.
Professor McAvoy, it seemed, was not immune to Sebastian Thorne’s charms. “Fine. Enlighten us, Mr. …?”
“Thorne. Sebastian.”
“The floor is yours, Mr. Thorne. I’m eager to hear what is so important that it warrants interrupting my fourth-year class.”
I sat upright, as if my body was preparing to flee before my mind even considered it.
However, Sebastian nodded and turned forward, his eyes finding mine immediately, like he’d known where I was from the moment he stepped into the room.
My breath caught.
He’d shaved his beard since I’d seen him a few nights ago and I could see now in the sharp angles of his handsome face that he had lost weight.
What the hell was he doing? My eyes widened with the nonverbal question.
His lip curled up in one corner, but there was a panicked edge of sadness in his expression that made my chest throb. “Hullo, Sawyer.”
The physical evidence of the impact our estrangement had on him, along with the gently affectionate words, made me want to burst into tears.
I couldn’t speak around the thickening in my throat.
“I’m sorry for interrupting your class, but I didn’t think I could get you to listen any other way. I thought about calling into the podcast, but you could easily walk out or hang up … and really, I need to say this face-to-face. Also, apologies to your classmates.” He gestured to them. “But hopefully, no matter which way this goes, they’re thoroughly entertained. I’m about to get metaphorically naked in front of them, after all.”
“Literally would be better!” a girl shouted from the back, and everyone tittered but me.
I was too much in shock.
Sebastian grinned. “Sorry, but I only have plans to get naked for one woman for the rest of my life … if she’ll have me.” His gaze returned to mine and softened with such tenderness, I swear I heard the girl two seats down from me sigh cartoonishly.
What … what … I think my brain exploded.
Why wasn’t Professor McAvoy putting a stop to this?
Instead, my lecturer sat on her desk, smiling like she found my ex-best friend incredibly amusing.
Sebastian moved slowly toward the stairs. Toward me. “Lily Sawyer, I have been a thickheaded, stubborn, unforgiveable moron. You know this. I know this. Our friends know this.” He waved to the room as he climbed the auditorium stairs. “And now this room of complete strangers knows this.”
More tittering.
Again, not from me.
I glared at him, my cheeks flushed hot. I was stuck between being infuriated with him for making me the center of attention and furious with him for making me feel hope.
“You were right. I thought I didn’t deserve you.” The teasing note left his tone. “I thought I didn’t deserve anything that made me truly happy.” Sebastian stopped a few steps down from my row so we were on eye level. His were pleading. “Lily, I … I didn’t think I’d ever meet anyone like you, so I wasn’t prepared for you or what you make me feel.”
“Dude, what the fuck?” a guy behind me sniggered.
“Shut up!” someone hissed.
Sebastian ignored them. “I thought I could have just enough of you for it to be okay.” His expression was meaningful, and I understood even though everyone else around didn’t. “It wasn’t fair to you, and I ended up hurting the one person I never want to hurt.”
“Sebastian…”
He took the rest of the steps up to me but lowered onto his knee at my side. “I’m done being a masochistic arsehole. You are so much more important than some stupid vow I didn’t even know I made to myself. If you … if you think I’m worthy of you, then who the hell am I to disagree?”
Oh my goodness. Oh my … I was having difficulty breathing.