On the first day after the break, Leah is back from her trip to Mexico, and chatting with her before our first lecture keeps my mind off Bast. 

I wish focusing on General Psychology were easier. While a very sleep-deprived Leah yawns, taking notes, I blankly stare ahead of me and only start writing things down when the class is nearing its end. 

I'm tempted to borrow Leah's notebook as soon as the lecture is over, but professor Lee's voice rings in the lecture hall. "Miss Mitchell, please stay."

Leah grabs her purse, glancing at me. 

"Later," I mouth and dash down the steps to exit the room. We only have one class together, but she'll tell me everything during our usual Monday meeting at the coffee shop.

The buzz of students' chatter in the hallway isn't loud enough to silence my thoughts, which keep returning to last night when Bast slept in his room again. He behaved as if the hand-holding and star gazing didn't happen, and I pretended that the change in him didn't affect me.

"Tara!"

I turn at the sound of Sadie's voice and plaster a smile on my face. She's not the cause of my moodiness, and I feel guilty for not having coffee with her earlier.

"Hi." I give her a brief hug. "How was your break?"

"I have news." Sadie beams. "How about coffee?"

"Sure. I'm free until eleven, and I need to wake up."

"We should be allowed to have a mini-break to recover from winter break." She grimaces. "Post-vacation Mondays are brutal."

I laugh. "They so are. Canteen?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

The crowd in the hallway dwindles, and only a few people are ordering when we take a table at the canteen. Sadie gets lattes for us and gives me mine before sitting across from me.

"So, what's your news?" I ask. 

She twirls a strand of her blond hair around her finger. "Connor asked me out, and we started dating a few weeks ago."

Connor, as in one of Sebastian's friends, a premed student like Sadie. 

"He seems to be a good guy." I take a sip from the cup and look at Sadie over the rim.

"He's great. Talking about guys, guess who I ran into right before the break?"

The possibilities are endless. Sadie and I have lots of acquaintances in common. 

"Tell me," I say.

She curls her hands around her cup. "Your friend Maverick. I was at the pharmacy, and he was there with his mother. I think it was his mother, anyway. I said hi to him and called him by his name, but he didn't seem to recognize me, and I made a fool out of myself."

Mav wouldn't forget the girl he called pretty, but keeping quiet is very much like him.

"I'm sure he remembers. It's just that he's got issues, and interacting with other people makes him nervous."

"I figured," Sadie says. "It's all good."

I bring the cup to my lips, but a thought zips through my brain, and I put the latte down. "Sadie?"

"Yeah?"

"You said you saw him before the break. Was it on the last day of class?"

"Yeah, in the afternoon. Why?"

"I stopped by his place then, but he wasn't home."

I was right — Mav was out with Blanche. I can't help but wonder whether Bast saw someone else and mistook them for Maverick. 

Sadie tells me about her boyfriend and shows pictures of the clothes she bought, and my thoughts are less gloomy when we say goodbye. 

I head to the lecture alone, wishing I could go home instead, but Accounting is too important to miss. Plus, having to ask someone for their notes doesn't sound appealing.

Only a few steps separate me from the lecture hall, but my legs refuse to move when I see Sebastian leaning against the wall next to the classroom.

I stop, and he swivels his head as if feeling my presence. Anchoring my gaze to his, I approach him and stand by his side.

"Hi."

"Hey," Bast says, straightening. "I was starting to wonder if you decided to skip."

"I wouldn't. Accounting is important."

"Yeah." He runs his palm over the back of his neck. "Anyway, I have Bio now. You left this at home, and I just wanted to give it to you."

He thrusts my pink notebook into my hands and pivots. His boot-clad feet thud against the recently washed floor, and my eyes refuse to stop staring at his broad back. 

Sebastian halts, pulling me out of my ogling, and glances at me over his shoulder. "I also have one lecture left. The weather's great. You know where to find me after."

His parting words still ring in my ears when the crowd engulfs him. Notebook pressed to my chest, I enter the classroom after my classmates and plop onto the first vacant seat I spot, leaving the Ethics notes on the desk.

Ethics notes. Why would I need those today if we don't have Ethics? Bast knows my schedule, but he gave the pink book to me anyway.

Before the break, I would've thought he planned a prank, but now, there's a tremor in my fingers as I open the notes and flip through the pages.

Nothing unusual catches my eye at first, but then a postcard-sized piece of paper falls on my lap.

I flip it over. Hues of orange and red blend together to create a stunning watercolor sunset. Gray skyscrapers rise in the distance, adding a somber touch to the scene. 

But it still feels warm. So does my chest because I took that picture and sent it to Bast. 

I examine each detail and notice the inscription I'd missed. 

My pulse quickens its throb, and a mix of excitement and wonder expands through my center.

Two words are written in black ink.

Still nothing.

***

My red coat doesn't do a great job protecting me from the biting wind as I park close to the beach and head down the wooden walkway. 

Waves roar in the distance, and seagulls fly in circles, piercing the air with their cries.

When my feet touch the sand, I stop to survey the beach. A lone figure stands by the water, and butterflies tickle the insides of my stomach.

I pick my way toward Bast, stuffing my numb hands in the pockets of my coat. Breeze blows in my face, pushing my hair back and nipping at my cheeks the closer I get to the water.

"Is this what you call great weather?" 

As soon as Bast hears me, a smile jots across his lips. "Yeah. Look at the sky. So many shades."

I stand a few inches from him, shifting my weight. I could ask him about the painting, but I want him to be the one to speak.

"Let's walk," Bast says. "Making you freeze wasn't my intention."

He tugs at my sleeve and takes my hand in his warm one, threading his fingers through mine. 

"You paint." I study his profile.

He smirks, meeting my gaze. "You think so?"

I lower my eyes to the mix of seashells and sand under our feet. "The sunset painting is amazing. I can't believe I hadn't realized you knew how to paint. The works at The Hideaway are yours, aren't they?"

"The sketches? Yeah. And just like that," Bast's thumb glides over the back of my hand, "the mystery of my job is solved, but only for you. I trust you to keep it secret from the rest."

"That's what you do in your room."

"I mean." Bast scratches the back of his head. "I do other things, such as studying, staring at the ceiling, thinking about you, but those don't help me pay for stuff."

"Thinking about me," I mutter, angling my head so Bast wouldn't see the grin crawling up my face. "I had my doubts after yesterday."

"I needed to finish painting the sunset for you. I could've done it earlier, but I didn't have my cool pen to complete the work."

"So, I'm the only one who knows," I say as we stroll in the direction of the lighthouse. "Your parents don't?"

"They don't. I drew as a kid but then stopped."

"What made you draw again?"

Sebastian lets go of my hand and hugs my shoulders instead. I lean into the warmth of his body, relaxing in his hold.

"I couldn't sleep once, so I grabbed my old pencils, and the rest is history. The owner of The Hideaway saw me sketching at his restaurant and offered to pay if I drew something for him. He spread the word, and I got a few more clients. It's good money, and I can work at night."

"So, you just draw whatever the clients want?"

"Unfortunately," Bast says under his breath. "People can be weird."

I focus on the walk, mulling over what I learned. A cold drop smashes against my cheek, and gusts of wind from the ocean send chills through my body. 

More and more droplets fall, and Bast quickens his step in the direction of the lighthouse. As soon as we're next to the weather-beaten tower, he pushes the wooden door open.

"Come on in." He grips my hand. "We'll wait until it stops raining."

 Once we're inside, the door closes with a screech, and silence ensues, broken only by our footsteps and breaths.

I glance at the spiral staircase and the stone walls.

"There's a room on top," Bast says. "We can see it later."

"We could." 

His gaze clamps onto mine. A flood of goosebumps scatters across my skin, and my breaths quicken when Bast steps forward. 

Instead of moving toward him, I do the opposite. 

Maybe it's because I know what he wants. Perhaps it's because I want it too and fear losing control. 

My back presses against the cold stone. Sebastian crosses the last of the distance separating us, and the fresh scent of his cologne wafts over to me, making me want to breathe him in. Bury my face in his neck. Touch his skin.

I look down. Bast puts his thumb under my chin and lifts it, but I can't muster the courage to meet his eyes. The tips of his fingers caress my jaw and cheek, and he leans his forehead against mine.

Our noses touch. So do our chests. Bast's breathing quickens, and he slides his hand into my hair, cupping the back of my head.

His mouth brushes mine once and then again. My lips part, welcoming him, and he captures the bottom one first, lightly grazing it with his teeth. 

The need to touch him propels me to wind my arms around his neck. I bring him even closer, and he tightens his grip on my hair as his lips explore the shape of mine with slow, lingering kisses.

Bast glides his tongue into my mouth, and my core clenches with painful need. He angles his face to kiss me deeper, and as I tease the tip of his tongue with mine, he undoes the buttons of my coat.

Warm palm strokes the curve of my waist under my sweater and moves to the front of my body, settling on my stomach. 

I kiss Bast harder, rubbing my tongue against his. He nips at my lips when we slow down but doesn't stop touching me. His fingers dance across my skin, and each nerve ending of mine throbs.

I feel him long and hard against me. Feel his heat and skin when I mirror his caresses and explore the ridges of his muscles under his shirt.

He breaks the kiss, groaning. "I can't stop."

"Then don't."

Bast fuses his mouth to mine again, but this time it's wetter. Hotter. More desperate.

I don't remember the last time someone kissed me like that. I don't think anyone has ever kissed me like he does.

"Fuck."

Bast presses his forehead to my shoulder, and I instantly miss his lips. 

He exhales and reaches into his pocket, fishing out his phone.

His buzzing phone I was too distracted to hear.

My stomach churns. Taking advantage of Bast's distraction, I pull the hem of my sweater down and button my coat.

"It's my father," Bast says, staring at the screen.

I'm relieved it's not Elena, but the moment is broken, regardless.

"You should take it," I say to Bast when he ignores the call. "It might be something important."

His hazel eyes roam my face. I give him an encouraging smile, and he sighs, putting his phone to his ear.

It happened. How was it?

P.S. I never know. Posting this fast so I don't delete it.