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Sebastian had done that Many, h the balcony door unannounced, and soet so ht down on the bed and not leave

“But when you broke up with him, it wasn’t just relief I felt Hell no I was happy When I heard you and Abbi out here talking about breaking up with hi, ‘Now’s my chance’”

Everything in“Butbut you ith Skylar—”

“It’s why I broke up with her She was right aboutmore about ht It was because I cared ht about you the way I should’ve been thinking about her”

My lips parted

“But I never believed for a second you felt the sa our friendship” Sebastian leaned close again, his head not very far from mine “When you kissed me, I Hell, I panicked Kind of feel like a coward now I should’ve said soe that, but I want you to know that I didn’t regret it I regret not being the one to do it”

Sebastian took in a deep breath “I wanted to talk to you about this that night That’s why I said I needed to talk to you And looking back, I should’ve told Skylar she could wait God, I wishI’d done that, becausebecause I don’t think you’d have been in that car Who knoould’ve happened? But I like you, Lena You know that” There was that self-conscious laugh again “I Well, I really like you and I wish I had kissed you by that pool I wish I’d told you how—” he cleared his throat “—how badly I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time How I don’t look at you as just one of my friends”

Was this a dream? It had to be, because this felt like one These were the words I’d lived for what felt like forever waiting to hear

“I think I think I kno you feel, but I don’t expect you to say anything right now,” he said, his eyes findingintently “I just needed you to know”

I stared at hi

Ito That he liked me liked me And had for a while I was shocked, stunned into silence I’d hit the jackpot of fantasies co what I so badly wanted handed to me on a silver platter? Nohen one ofwith her, because II didn’t stop them?

I shook my head “Whywhy now? Why would you—” My voice cracked “Why would you wait until after that, after everything that happened, to tell me this?”

“I shouldn’t have waited”

“But now is, like, the worst ti” I loweredto put space between us The abrupt move, Sebastian”

“Or it’s the best tiis too risky There’s no bad time to tell someone you love them”

Sebastian loved me Like lovednow Not when it should’ve happened before

I started backing up toward ainst the door I reached behind me but froze as he stalked around the chair

Stopping in front of me, he planted a hand on the space beside my head “The only better time to have told you this was thehis head to mine My heart turned into a jackhammer “I’ve had a million moments since then”

“I can’t even process this right now” My voice was thick, my eyes wide as I stared up at him

“You don’t have to I just needed to get it out there” Sebastian leaned over, pressing his mouth to my temple My heart thundered as I closeddo? None of us are promised a toet a later” He kissedlike we do”

CHAPTER NINETEEN