♡AN ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS ROMANCE♡
Attending the same college is the only thing Sebastian Hutches and Tara Van Doren have in common.
To Sebastian, Tara is a rich, spoiled girl, obsessed with her looks and status.
To Tara, Sebastian is a rude, arrogant...
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As soon as I press the cell to my ear, Tara takes off toward the staircase. I suppose it's to give me privacy, and everything about the situation feels wrong.
"Hi," I say, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.
Cars honk in the background, and the howl of wind muffles my father's voice.
"I can't hear you, Dad."
A car door slams, and he sighs into the phone. "Sorry. The traffic's crazy. I need to see you. Are you home?"
I swallow, glancing at Tara, who's examining the old stairs. "No. Can't it wait?"
"I wouldn't have driven all the way here if it could. I'll wait for you at a coffee shop."
Having a busy father comes with the knowledge he wouldn't waste time for nothing. What if it's about money? Or even worse, what if something's wrong with Mom? I slump against the wall and run a palm over my forehead. "Okay. Text me the location."
Dad hangs up, and my eyes dart to Tara.
"I love this place," she says. "I wonder how old it is. Is everything okay?"
"Yes. No." I groan, throwing my head back. Light filters through the small windows, and I don't hear the rain, meaning the storm has calmed.
I should've left my cell in the car.
"My father wants to see me now. I guess it has to do with Mom," I say.
"Don't worry." Tara clutches the straps of her purse and gives me a smile meant to reassure me. All it does is make me feel like a dick.
A dick who still wants to kiss her. Badly.
I can't think about her lips or how she felt pressed against me. That's a different level of masochism. But not touching her is even worse, so I cross the fuck-knows-how-many inches separating us and cup her face, rubbing my thumbs over her flushed cheeks. "Wait for me at home, okay?"
"Okay," Tara whispers. "Let's go?"
I keep my arm around her as we stroll to our cars. She says goodbye to me with an awkward kiss on the cheek and gets into her Maserati.
I fucking hope whatever Dad needs to say is important.
♡♡♡
Dad changed his mind. Instead of meeting at a warm coffee shop, he asked me to drive to a park — the same park where I convinced Tara to be my roommate.
As soon as I get out of the Mustang, I pull the hood of my parka over my head and glance around.
"Bast."
Dad strolls toward me, carrying two cups of coffee, and nods at the wrought iron gates
"Over there."
Bare trees line the deserted alley, and wind threatens to break the thin branches. "What's so important?" I ask, shivering.
