It caught me completely off guard. Up until now, it had all felt like a joke, a flirtation, part of the night's easy laughter.
But now... he was serious.
"I like you," he said again, his voice steady.
"I think you're very beautiful. And amazing. And I want to get to know you better...more."
He leaned forward slightly like he wanted to make sure I understood.
"I'm not doing this because of Leana. Or because it's funny. Or because it's convenient. I'm asking because of you."
At his words, Leana coughed loudly — but this time, she didn't interrupt.
And for the first time in a long, long time, I felt a part of myself — the part I had locked away — flutter awake.
Maybe... it was okay to let someone try to know me.
Saying yes was right at the tip of my tongue. I was about to agree, about to let myself fall into the fun, when I caught a glimpse of Leanna.
She gave me a look — that unmistakable don't make it too easy for him look. The kind of look only a best friend could give without a single word spoken.
So, with a sly smile, I turned back to Seb. He was already watching me, amused, expectant.
"Uh-oh," he said, pretending to brace himself. "I'm in trouble."
I laughed softly.
"Well…" I teased, leaning back against the booth cushion, "You're going to have to earn it."
Sebastian rubbed his hands together like a boxer warming up before a match.
"Alright. What's the test? What do I have to do?"
I hadn't thought that far ahead. Panic flickered for a second as I quickly scanned the room, searching for something — anything — to say.
"First," I said, gathering my wits, "you should pay for our drinks."
"Done," he said instantly, without even blinking.
I burst out laughing at how quick he was, but he wasn't laughing — he was serious.
Dead serious.
He wore a determined look, one that said he wasn't playing games anymore.
God, this was the most fun I'd had in years.
Still grinning, I looked around again for another challenge.
"Um... Leanna, help me out here."
Leanna raised a shoulder lazily, clearly enjoying herself.
"No way. I'm staying out of it," she said with a mischievous smile. "I don't want Seb putting ideas into Charles's head. I'm playing Switzerland."
I turned back to Sebastian, trying not to laugh at how much he looked like he was waiting for a referee to blow the whistle and let him sprint.
Then an idea struck me, and I smirked.
"How do I know you can dance?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "How good of a dancer are you?"
Sebastian's face lit up instantly.
"Trust me," he said, leaning in, a wicked glint in his eye, "I can dance your pants off."
My mouth dropped open. My cheeks exploded in the heat. And then I was laughing — hard.
"I can't believe you said that!" I gasped between laughs.
Sebastian only grinned wider, looking smug and far too pleased with himself.
"If you want!" he teased.
"Oh my God," Leanna groaned, dramatically covering her ears. "I shouldn't be hearing any of this! La la la—"
She fake-sang to drown us out, which made us laugh even harder.
Sebastian placed a hand over his heart, pretending to make a solemn vow.
"I can dance. I can flirt. I can take care of you. And if you don't believe me, you can ask Leanna — money's not a problem, looks are not a problem."
He gave me a dazzling, cocky smile.
"I got the charm. I know how to take care of a woman. And..." — he leaned closer, dropping his voice low — "I can make you laugh like no one else."
He held my gaze for a moment, no games this time.
"Just give me a chance, Casey," he said.
"Let me rock your world."
And for a wild, thrilling second... I really, really wanted to let him try.
An uninvited thought floated through my mind, clear as day. Leanna's voice echoed in my head, warning me he was a player.
I stared at Sebastian, smiling, charming and wondered, Was he just another version of Caesar?
Without meaning to — without even wanting to — I found myself comparing them.
Sebastian and Caesar.
The past and the present.
And then, I nearly kicked myself mentally. Wasn't comparing them already proof that I should be careful? That maybe Leanna was right?
I mean, if she said he was a player, she probably knew something. Leanna didn't lie. If she said he had issues with women... he probably did.
But then again, did I really believe that I was going to meet some gorgeous, magnetic guy at a bar and — what? — fall in love, get married, have kids?
The absurdity of it made me laugh out loud before I could stop myself.
Sebastian caught the laugh and tilted his head, watching me with a mix of curiosity.
I didn't even understand why I was laughing. Maybe because in my head, I was talking myself through it.
This is harmless. It's just a date.
Maybe that was what I needed — to be with someone who wasn't supposed to mean anything.
If he was a player, at least it would be clear.
No false promises.
No heartbreak.
Just a moment, a bridge to somewhere else.
Maybe Sebastian was the one who would finally make me feel something again, even if it was only for a few weeks, a few months.
I glanced towards Leanna. She was watching me too, her expression unreadable.
Was that worry? Amusement? Resignation?
I looked back at Sebastian.
He leaned closer and said, his voice lower, coaxing, "Just focus on me. Forget that Leanna's here."
I took a breath. And I thought, What the hell?
"I'm new in the city," I said, shrugging. "It's, what, my second month here? I haven't even been on a date yet."
Leanna snorted and chimed in without missing a beat, "She's never been on a date."
I turned and glared at her, mock-exasperated, while she took a smug sip of her drink.
Facing Sebastian again, I laughed and said, "So what the hell? When's this date?"
"How about tomorrow?" he said immediately, catching me off guard with his quickness.
"Tomorrow?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes.
He grinned like he was already winning.
"Leanna's engagement party is on Saturday," he reminded me. "And the sooner I see you again, the better — before you change your mind."
He winked.
"I gotta hit while the pot's hot."
I couldn't help but laugh again. God help me — it felt good. And for the first time in a long, long while... I thought maybe this was exactly what I needed.
I smiled, a little dizzy from everything happening so fast, and said, "Okay, I'll go on a date with you."
Sebastian immediately threw a fist in the air, grinning like a boy who just scored the winning goal.
"Yes!" he cheered.
Leanna narrowed her eyes at him, unimpressed with the victory dance he was doing in his head.
Sebastian stood up, stretching his arms out like he was getting ready for bed already.
"I drank a lot tonight," he said, shaking his head. "Gotta be sharp for work tomorrow and look my best when I take this beautiful lady out."
He winked at me, and even though I rolled my eyes, I couldn't fight the smile pulling at my lips.
"So, I'm gonna call it a night," he said. "Are you ladies leaving too, or are you staying to continue drinking?"
Honestly, my feet were killing me. I was tired. And Leanna looked like she was two seconds away from falling asleep on the booth.
We glanced at each other — just one look — and burst out laughing, both knowing the answer without saying a word.
Sebastian, confused, raised a brow.
"What's so funny?"
I wiped a tear of laughter from my eyes. "Okay, okay, we're leaving too."
"Perfect," he said, grabbing his jacket. "I'll meet you ladies out front. Or — is someone picking you up?"
"No," we both said at the same time.
"Alright then, see you on the other side."
He threw us a lazy salute and made his way out.
As soon as he left, I spun toward Leanna, dropping all pretence.
"So... tell me about Sebastian."
Leanna raised an eyebrow, taking a long sip of her drink.
"Did I just make the worst decision ever?" I asked, half-laughing, half-serious. "Is this going to come back and bite me?"
I grabbed my drink too, trying to play it cool.
Leanna chuckled low in her throat, shaking her head as she swirled the last drops of her cocktail.
"I don't know," she said casually.
I gaped at her.
"What do you mean you don't know? You're the one who basically threw me at him!"
I made a mock-strangling motion at her across the table.
She laughed, but then her face sobered.
Leaning in closer, she said,
"I mean... he's a really good guy."
I frowned.
"He has a... habit," she said, cringing slightly. "Kind of dates like he's changing clothes."
The word hit me like a cold splash of water.
And before I could stop myself, my mouth did the work for me,
"Like Caesar?" I blurted out.
Leanna's entire expression changed. Her eyes narrowed.
"Caesar?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Cesar Blackwell."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I wanted to hit myself.
Again