Chapter 7 SEBASTIAN

I shut the door to my room so hard the hinges threaten to come right off. That feels like something in this house that I actually control.

I cross to the dresser and pull open the top drawer. My watch isn't where I left it. Of course it isn't. The housekeeper moved it again probably to the "correct" spot according to some invisible standard only she understands. I find it in the second drawer, exactly where it shouldn't be, and fasten it around my wrist angrily.

It's not really about the watch. I could care less if I found it in my underwear drawer if I had my freedom.

My parents have moved from fake date the pool boy to now babysit him through a wardrobe fitting like I'm his handler. Like I don't have better things to do that sit through the whole process and put up with him.

I change into a clean shirt and dark jeans, check my phone, and immediately regret it. Thirty missed messages-- some group chat memes about the kiss from last night. There is one from Hayden that just says "nice boyfriend". I ignore it.

Another from Alaina makes me pause, feeling guilty. "Are you really officially off the market? I didn't even know you had started dating again". Of all my racer friends, she is the one I'd say I'm closest to. I ignore that too because I don't want to explain myself right now, don't even know how.

Dad is heading out with the driver when I step outside. He pauses like he remembered something when he sees me, rummages through his pockets and flashes a black card toward me.

"Here, for you and your boyfriend. You can keep it for the rest of the summer."

"Seriously, Dad?" I huff. "All my life, you never let me touch this but now because it's serving your fucked up decision over my life, you are giving it to me freely?"

"Not freely," he counters. "You want to show responsibility, earn your freedom by showing me you can."

He is gone before I can say anything else.

A few minutes later Kai appears, wearing the same clothes he had on during breakfast. I think they are the nicest clothes he owns. They are clean, but they still don't belong here. The jeans are faded from too many washes. The sneakers are scuffed at the toes. The t-shirt...

Yeah. He really does need an entire wardrobe upgrade.

We get in one of the family cars and I pull away from the estate. Barely a minute passes before he props both feet onto my dashboard like it's the most natural thing in the world.

Hot air fills my lungs, threatening to blow up. God, how could someone be so uncivilized?

"Feet," I say roughly, my gaze still fixed on the road.

Kai looks over. "What?"

"Off the dashboard."

He glances down at his sneakers. "They are clean."

"I don't care if they have been blessed by the Pope. Get them off."

He lowers them with exaggerated care. "There. Your royal dashboard survives another day."

"Congratulations," I mutter. "You have discovered basic manners."

The rest of the ride is quiet as I focus on driving. He watches the passing scenery like everything is new and interesting. I catch myself glancing at him more than once.

My eyes drift to his mouth before I can stop them. I remember exactly how those lips felt against mine at the gala... soft, warm... Ridiculous.

I force my attention back to the road. What the hell is wrong with me? Five minutes ago, I was wondering whether I could drive him across the border and leave him there.

Thankfully, the rest of the drive passes in silence.

The boutique is exclusive. The moment we walk in, every employee recognizes me. One of the senior stylists steps forward with a polished smile. I'm sure Mom called prior to the visit.

"Welcome back, Sebastian." Her gaze shifts to Kai. "And this must be your boyfriend."

"Kai," he jumps in to say as if invited.

"You guys look so good together."

Kai just smiles, looking at me. "Guess we are working."

I close my eyes for half a second, willing to be anywhere else. Too bad it's just the beginning.

The fitting itself is an exercise in patience. Helen, who has dressed me since I was twelve, takes one look at Kai's current clothes and starts pulling options with the kind of focus usually reserved for natural disasters.

Kai stands on the platform wearing bright blue SpongeBob boxers without a hint of embarrassment. Something tells me SpongeBob isn't even the worst pair in his drawer.

He is chatting with her like they are old friends about the clothes on the racks. "I'm afraid to ask how much this costs," he says, touching a cashmere sweater nearby.

Helen just smiles and replies, "Probably for the best."

At Helen's instruction, he pivots so she can take measurements. My gaze catches on the line of his back, the easy definition across his shoulders, and the narrow waist disappearing beneath those ridiculous boxers. Then, he turns again and my eyes are stuck on his front view.

My attention catches on the subtle definition across his chest, the toned stomach, the faint lines of muscle that speak more of physical labor than expensive workouts.

Enough. I look away before my brain wanders somewhere it has no business going, gritting my teeth as I look toward the racks instead. Two minutes later, I'm noticing how he tries everything on with genuine curiosity. He is not playing it up for attention. He is actually interested and thanks Elena every time she brings something new. That's... disarming.

I catch myself noticing how the tailored shirts fit his shoulders. The darker colors make the honey flecks in his eyes impossible to miss.

One fitting turns into another. Helen barely gives him a chance to catch his breath before handing him the next outfit, pinning a sleeve here, adjusting a collar there. He is enjoying every single second of it and surprisingly has very good taste. Somewhere along the way, I stop pretending I'm not paying attention.

By the time we are done, he has a full wardrobe. Helen looks exhausted but satisfied. Kai looks like he just won the lottery.

Then he wants to go to the actual mall.

I should say no since my mother isn't here to make me. Instead I find myself following him through the crowded food court while he loads up on snacks like a kid turned loose. Three different kinds of chocolate bars, ice cream, even pretzels. All that is nothing compared to the massive cake he decides to get at the bakery. I stare at him in disbelief.

"What? I love cake."

"Don't you think that's a bit too much?"

He doesn't even think about it. "Nope," he shrugs and pushes the cart off to an empty aisle where he hops right on and rides it laughing.

People are staring, some taking photos. I can already see the headlines and this certainly isn't something I want to be trending with. I hurry after him and grab the cart before he crashes into a display.

"Get down," I mutter, pulling it to a stop.

He just grins at me, completely unbothered. "Come on. When was the last time you did something stupid just because it was fun?"

I don't answer. I can't. Part of me, a small, stupid part wants to climb in the cart with him and ride off to the parking lot. That's when I know I need space from him, at least for as long as I can before I'm forced into another public appearance with him.

When we finally finish, I call a cab, load the bags into the trunk and pay in cash, giving the driver the address. Kai raises an eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to drive me back?"

"I have better things to do."

He studies me for a second before giving a small shrug. "Alright." He takes a step toward the cab, then pauses. "Almost forgot."

Before I can make sense of it, he leans in and presses a quick kiss to my lips. My brain blanks. By the time it catches up, he is already opening the cab door like he didn't just rearrange my head.

I watch the cab pull away before turning toward my own car, letting out a long breath.

Distance. That's all this is. The sooner I remember he is only here because of a contract, the better.