“I prefer your smile to your wide eyes, and wobbling bottom lip.”

“Whatever.”

Sebastian chuckled, and turned when Rory came closer, and looked down at the wing.

“You ready for it?”

“For what?” Rory asked.

Sebastian pointed, then smirked, “The reunion.”

The gate opened, and Teddy stepped inside with his bag of clothes clutched to his chest. He froze, and his eyes fixed to Ollie awkwardly standing in the middle of the wing. As soon as Teddy smiled, Ollie rushed forward and gave him a hug.

“Aww,” Sebastian said. He pouted his lips, and said in a forced voice, “Isn’t that sweet.”

“Hope you’re not expecting me to do that.” Rory muttered.

“No. I want you to drop to your knees and scream your thanks at god.”

Rory laughed, shaking his head, and Sebastian’s deeper tone added to the rumbling.

“You know what I hate…”

“What?” Rory asked.

“I hate that I like the sound of your laugh.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“I’ve only heard it a few times, but I like the sound. I wish you had a cackle, or you snorted like a pig, just something to make me hate it.”

“Why—why do you want to hate it?”

Sebastian shrugged. “I dunno.”

Rory didn’t think he’d say more, and smiled when Ollie glanced their way, and gave them the thumbs up.

“I guess, it’s because I don’t wanna miss it when I get out of here.” Sebastian pushed off from the railing. “Speak to you later.”

“Yeah, later.”

****

Rory lay in bed, rubbing the heels of his hands into his eyes. He couldn’t sleep, no matter how hard he forced it, it wasn’t happening. The reason for his insomnia lied underneath him, deadly still, not even a slight whistle or snort as he slept.

He liked Sebastian. He liked being around him. He liked the way he looked, and the way he smiled, and the way he made Rory feel safe. But Sebastian Claw was a monster. He was in prison for murder, but he’d done worse. He’d made deals with terrorists and gangs, sold them despicable weapons to torture and kill. Not to mention he seemed hellbent on getting revenge on Hamish. Hamish, who rightly locked Sebastian up for murder.

Rory couldn’t wrap his head around it. Even though he knew Sebastian’s dark side, he couldn’t hate him. Somehow, in five weeks, he’d started to like him.

Chapter Nine

Hamish looked at Rory expectantly. “Well?”

“I haven’t heard anything else.”

“It’s been a month since we last visited.”

“I know that.” Rory sighed.