“What if I don’t want to ride with you?” I whisper.

“You misunderstand me, little bird. I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.” Pulling back, he presses a kiss to my cheek and then lifts the empty plate from in front of me. “What would you like for breakfast?”

I want to rail at him, to tell him to go fuck himself but we’re not alone, we’re in a room full of my mom, his parents and all of his friends’ parents too, so I bite the inside of my cheek and swallow my words.

“Try the French toast, honey, it’s unbelievable,” Mom gushes.

I open my mouth to suggest it was probably about time we left, when her attention is pulled away by the man sitting on her other side. Sebastian mentioned it was Evan’s dad, but I wouldn’t have needed to be told that because he’s very clearly an older version of his son.

Laughter lines crinkle at the corners of his eyes, but he’s still handsome, even though his hair is peppered with grays. Within seconds of him engaging my mom in conversation, both of them are laughing and talking animatedly while I look on. My mom is an introvert, she’s a writer who is happier living in the fantasy world she brings to life on paper than in the real world that’s going on around her. When she’s forced to interact with humans other than me, she’s normally quiet and awkward, but right now she’s bright and vivacious and fitting right in with the other adults in the room.

I want to ask her what the hell is going on right now, but instead I take the plate of French toast Sebastian has made for me and thank him when he hands me a cup of coffee made just the way I like. I should ask him how he knows, but I’m starting to understand that he’s taken the time to find out. I wonder what else he knows about me, or more appropriately, if there’s anything he doesn’t know.

“It’s so lovely to finally meet you, Starling, we’ve heard so much about you,” Mr. Lockwood says.

Almost choking on the bite of toast I’m eating, I try to force a smile to my lips but it comes out as more of a grimace.

“Dad, you’re embarrassing her,” Sebastian smirks, resting his arm on the back of my seat, watching me eat while he sips at a glass of juice.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, it’s just that Bastian’s never brought a girlfriend home to meet us before. You must be very special and I’m excited to get to know you and your mom better.”

“Cassidy, we’re having a girls’ night on Saturday, you must come with us,” Mrs. Lockwood says excitedly.

I expect my mom to turn her down and when she parts her lips, I anticipate her awkward excuse, but instead she smiles. “Oh a girls’ night sounds wonderful, I’ve been so busy finishing my most recent novel it feels like I’ve barely left the house in a year,” Mom laughs. “I tend to get a little absorbed in my work.”