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  But then, he'd never liked her, he'd wanted to fuck her. And they had fucked.

  All that he had to think about her now was anger for lying to him.

  She sighed and turned to leave. "See you tomorrow."

  "Jasmine." She stopped, but didn't turn back around. "I just wanted to let you know that my dad is still going strong. If you wanted to visit him one more time or anything, I'd be okay with that. It's not fair when you spent all that time with him."

  Jasmine finally turned, tears misting her eyes. "I don't want to make anything worse for you."

  "We think that he might have had a negligent diagnosis. We're taking him back to the hospital this weekend to talk to another doctor. He should have been... gone by now, and he's not even bedridden. So, if you wanted to see him, I think he'd like that. I don't think I can sell you having gone on vacation for more than a couple of weeks."

  She smiled automatically. "That'd be really nice, if you're sure you don't mind. And good luck with the doctors."

  "Thanks. I'll be in touch."

  "Oh, yeah, keeping me back after class is a bad idea. I'm an angel around here, you know."

  For the first time since that first day back at school, Sebastian really grinned at her. It lit up his face, his eyes gleamed. Her heart beat faster, and she swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'll bear that in mind. See you later."

  "See you."

  Thirteen

  Sebastian

  Another two or three months. The doctors hadn't just got it wrong, they'd got it badly wrong, and Sebastian was grateful.

  Three more months with his dad. It was more than he could have hoped for. He'd gone through so many emotions the past month, and now he got another three to spend making sure his dad went out with a bang.

  But Jasmine was there, taunting him in the back of his mind.

  He'd fucked up, big time, thinking that a fake girlfriend was the way to go.

  Now he had to tell his family something. They already loved her. His dad asked after her every day.

  She was his beacon of hope for Sebastian, and, despite everything, he was unwilling to do anything that might stress out his dad and worsen his condition.

  Sebastian had dug his own grave here, and it was his responsibility to lie in it, no matter what the consequences for his job.

  It wouldn't be so hard to put them off for the most part: to them Jasmine was a busy student heading into her difficult final year and working a part-time job on the side, of course she didn't have free time to just pop round and see his family whenever.

  He'd figure something out.

  He’d figure out something that would include his older sister’s return to Madison for her wedding in three weeks’ time.

  ***

  Sebastian remembered Jasmine's advice and didn't invite her back after class to speak to him. Instead, he sent her a text asking if she'd go for coffee with him. It was an awkward situation, but he couldn't think of another way.

  They were forced to drive to the other side of the city, well away from St. Joseph's, to make sure they wouldn't be seen.

  He longed to spend the drive talking to her, catching up with what she'd been up to, ask her why she needed the money when the house she lived in meant that her parents were plenty well off.

  Instead, he turned up the music and refused to look at her.

  He was still angry, and he wasn't going to let himself fall back into that hole.

  He refused to admit that since meeting her, he barely even thought about Callie. She was everything now: his next obsession, and he knew it wasn't healthy.

  In the small, rundown diner that he picked, Jasmine ordered a chocolate milkshake, and him a cappuccino.

  A small smile quirked at the corner of her lips. "You remember the first time we got coffee? I ordered a coffee because I wanted to impress you. I can't stand the stuff. It was physically painful to sit there and drink it without pulling an awful face."

  He laughed in spite of himself. "I don’t judge people on whether or not they drink coffee."

  She drew her fingers through the condensation on her glass. "What is this about?"

  "My dad's diagnosis was negligent. He's got another two or three months."

  "Oh! That's amazing. I'm so glad."

  His smile was weak. He was over the moon, but right now that wasn't his immediate concern. "Yeah, but it brings up problems, for us."

  "Oh, right. I mean, I guess I could be having an extended vacation."

  Sebastian chuckled. "I'm thinking that a supposedly busy college student working a part-time job won't be so much of a big deal to work around, but there's a big wedding coming up soon that I have to attend, and that I kind of need you to attend with me."

  Jasmine's eyes widened. "Is that a good idea?"

  "No, it's a horrid idea, but it's the only one I've got. Look, my sister is coming back to Wisconsin from Australia to get married here and so I need to be there. I want to be there, obviously, but I can't tell my dad that we've broken up, it'll crush him. He loves you. I just, it'll be one weekend. It's out in the wilderness, so there's no reason anyone should see us. I'm not pressuring you into doing it or anything, but that's why I'm asking you."

  "Of course I will. Just as long as you're okay with that."

  His smile was weak. "I can make myself be okay with it, for dad."

  "I'm really sorry I've put you in this position."

  "I wish you wouldn't keep apologizing."

  Her gaze was downcast. "I mean it, though."

  "Look, I'm not mad anymore. There's no point in being mad, I'm your teacher—" he lowered his voice "—and that's all there is to it. I just want my dad to be happy. That's all."

  She nodded, but he knew he hadn't made her feel any better. He toyed with the idea that she was sad about the entire situation; that she was struggling with the fact they could never test out the connection they'd forged because his professional life was now in the way.

  "And about coming to see him some other time, I still want that to happen. Do you have any idea when it might be a good time for you yet?"

  "Erm." She grabbed her phone from her back. "Yeah, I made a note of a few dates that I'm definitely not working." She handed it over to him. "Are any of those good for you?"

  "We're going to the art museum on the twenty-seventh, if you wanted to come, too? My dad hasn't been for years and years, he said he'd like to go one more time."

  Jasmine's smile was fond, and it made his chest hurt. There was no denying that she'd fallen in love with his family just as much as they'd fallen in love with her. It made him wonder why on Earth she'd agreed to enter into this arrangement in the first place; what she could possibly need money for. "I'd like that. Just send me a text or something closer to the date."

  "I will do. It'll just be us, I think. Blake and Sarah have some kind of business meeting that night."

  "No worries. That'll be nice."

  They both looked at their half-drunk drinks and let out collective sighs.

  "This is depressing," she said, frowning at the table. "I can't believe how easily it all changed. I mean, I know it's all my fault." She was hasty to make sure he understood, and by this point, he felt guilty for being so angry at her.

  She'd been right: she'd done what she could, asked what school he taught at, and technically he'd lied to her as well.

  "It's pretty shitty," he agreed, running a hand through his hair.

  "How do you like St. Joseph's? Anyone giving you hassle?" Jasmine's class were a pretty calm lot, just endless chattering when they were supposed to be listening, and she wasn't much better herself. She was part of a trio that sat in the back and were constantly trying to hide their giggles behind their hands.

  It was endlessly distracting, seeing the joy light up her face.

  He hated that she'd be laughing, look up and catch him watching, and sober up in an instant.

  "It's nice there, actually. I really like it, a lot better than St. Catherine's."
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  "Not on your list of schools to make a miraculous recovery with you as the head, then?"

  "Definitely not. And how am I teaching? Do people like me?"

  She grinned. "Never ask what the gossip mill is saying."

  He quirked an eyebrow, wide smile on his lips. "Does that mean everyone hates me?"

  "I think that the guys aren't too keen on you. All the girls are too busy ogling to notice whether you're teaching or not. They probably can't remember what subject you teach."

  His cheeks turned pink, and he knew it was making her grin harder. "Maybe I should grow an ugly mustache or something. I’m not sure that’s the reputation I want. I was going for the intellectual, friendly guy.”

  “Oh, you’re those things, too. But above all, you’re just hot. Please don’t get an ugly mustache.”

  His lips quirked, and he tightened his hold on the mug, hating how laid back and easy this was. “Okay. I’ll hold off on the mustache, just for you.”

  Jasmine slurped the last of her milkshake, and it took everything in Sebastian not to run his thumb against her bottom lip, pouted and wet from the drink.

  “We should really get going,” he said, abandoning the rest of his coffee. He needed to get away from her before he snapped. She consumed him, all innocence and happiness still, despite the situation they’d ended up in.

  It was impossible to deny how much he’d fallen for her, and he hated that.

  Her expression dropped, and she nodded. The emotionless mask she was going for didn’t hide the disappointment in her eyes, and it tugged at Sebastian’s will once more.

  When he got home, he was going to remember every single piece of hurt that Callie had put him through, and then he was going to forget about Jasmine, because he’d sworn off relationships for a reason, and this was one relationship that could only ever end in a world of hurt on both sides.

  Fourteen

  Jasmine

  "You're sure you don't want to come?" Evie asked, the sound of her bustling around her room coming through the phone loud and clear. "It's going to be really fun."

  "I've got a horrid headache," Jasmine lied, trying to minimize the sound of her own rummaging. "Have fun, though. Eat all the cotton candy you can get your hands on."

  Jasmine loved the carnival, but she wanted to see Sebastian and his dad more. They were only going to the art gallery for an hour, and she probably could have just met her friends at the carnival later. It was possible they wouldn't have even set off until she was finished, but she knew she wouldn't be in the mood after spending an hour with Sebastian. He left her feeling drained and empty, and all she wanted to do was curl up with a tub of ice cream.

  "Okay, if you're sure. If you make a miraculous recovery, then just send me a text and I'll let you know where we are."

  "I will do."

  "See you later!" Evie called, clicking off the phone call before Jasmine could even reply.

  Jasmine checked her appearance in the mirror. Just a standard pair of jeans and a blouse; her brown hair fell in waves down to her waist. She forced a smile.

  She was excited, to be seeing Sebastian, but she also knew how bad she'd feel afterward and it put a dampener on the whole thing.

  This wasn't even about Sebastian: she was going to see his dad, who she'd grown to care about.

  There was a car horn from outside the house, and she grabbed her purse, hurrying down the stairs.

  "Jasmine!" A call came from the kitchen and she groaned, going to the doorway and bouncing on her heels to show that she was rushing.

  "What's up, mom?"

  "Where are you going?"

  "Out."

  Her mom frowned, looking Jasmine up and down as if her appearance might give her some clues. "A date?"

  "Yes, a date. A date who is currently outside. I need to go."

  There was a sigh, as if it was completely reprehensible that Jasmine didn't want to have a conversation the first time that her mom had decided to speak to her in about a week. "Be safe."

  Jasmine rolled her eyes and didn't respond, leaving the house and hopping into the back seat of Sebastian's car.

  "Sorry, my mom was being irritating."

  "No worries."

  His dad was in the front, and Jasmine sat in the back with his mom. "You're living with your parents?" she asked, skeptical.

  Jasmine shrugged a shoulder, having slipped up for the first time since meeting them. "I'm trying to save money, so it's been a lot cheaper to do it that way this year."

  "Sensible," his mom said, and Jasmine's shoulders deflated with relief.

  They rode with the normal camaraderie Jasmine had come to expect. She and Sebastian didn't really speak to each other directly; there was no need.

  Once again she missed their rides to events when it was just the two of them, and rested her head back against the seat.

  "You're looking tired, hon," his mom said, sending her a sympathetic glance.

  Jasmine forced a smile. "Going back to college is always a bit of a shock for the first few weeks. I just need to get used to it again."

  They pulled up outside the art gallery and piled out. Sebastian paid the entry fee, and guilt tugged at her. She was the one who'd requested this meeting. She'd have to give him the money after, even if it was only ten dollars.

  This time, Sebastian and Jasmine didn't walk hand-in-hand as they walked around the gallery. They stuck close to each other's sides, but somehow holding hands felt like it was too far now, too intimate.

  It would be against his code of ethics, too, she knew. So she didn't push him. His parents never said a word about it.

  "It's so beautiful," she said, head tipped back to admire a landscape that stretched nearly two meters across. "I can't even imagine what it must feel like to be able to paint something like that."

  Sebastian hummed his agreement. "I mean, you compose, right? Sometimes it must come close."

  "I've never composed anything that even comes close to being that beautiful."

  His lips quirked. "I doubt that. Do you compose often?"

  "It's quite a big part of my degree, and I do it in my spare time, too—" her eyes widened as she caught sight of someone on the other side of the room. "Shit. I think that's Henrietta."

  He stiffened, sending an obvious glance in her direction and then paling. "Shit."

  Henrietta was a girl in their History class.

  "I'm going to use the bathroom," Jasmine decided, putting some distance between the two of them. They'd been practically shoved against each other's sides.

  "Good idea," he agreed. "And maybe you can get lost trying to find us again." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, keeping himself firmly turned away from Henrietta. "I'm sorry about this."

  Jasmine shrugged. "Not your fault. I'm going to run. See you in a bit. I'll stand by the exit and come find you when she's gone."

  They exchanged a nod, and Jasmine slinked away, unseen by Henrietta. Her heart continued to pound a mile a minute until she was three rooms away from Sebastian, and there was no reason anyone should suspect they were here together.

  It was her first taste of the reality of what their relationship would be like if her dreams came true, and Sebastian decided to say fuck it and let them be together.

  They wouldn't be able to leave the house together. Not for a good year, until graduation had settled, and it had been a couple of months so there were no grounds for insinuating a relationship had existed beforehand.

  She sighed, the amazing art she was surrounded by losing its wonder.

  She did go to the bathroom, and sat in a stall for ten minutes scrolling her social media and trying to block out the fear that they'd be caught.

  It was his job on the line. His career. His dreams of becoming a principal.

  How could she have been so selfish?

  Why hadn't she realized that being in an art gallery in the center of the city was a horrible idea?

  But then, he hadn't realized it, either.
r />   They were both too blinded by the thought of seeing each other again. Of the need to make sure that his dad was happy.

  She ran a hand over her face and flushed the toilet, even though she hadn't used it.

  Working her way back through to the final room near the exit, Jasmine took a seat in the center of the room and pretended to be having a rest. The art in here wasn't her favorite style: lots of impressionist works that she couldn't decipher.

  It took Henrietta fifteen minutes to appear. She was here with what looked like her parents, and Jasmine turned to look the other way, having no desire to actually speak to her.

  Luck was never in her favor.

  "Jasmine!" she called, grinning. "Nice to see you."

  "Hi," Jasmine greeted, awkwardly, realizing that it looked like she was here on her own.

  Henrietta leaned forward conspiratorially. "You know that Mr. Lane is here?"

  Jasmine raised a brow. It wasn't a secret that everyone in his class had the hots him. "Really? Damn, I haven't seen him. Might have to have another walk around to get a glimpse."

  Henrietta chuckled. "It's totally worth it, I promise."

  Three people entered the room, and Jasmine was forced to turn her back so that Sebastian's parents didn't recognize her.

  "Henrietta!" A shrill voice from beside the exit called.

  Henrietta jumped. "Oh, I have to go. It was nice to see you. Good luck on your Mr. Lane hunt!" she called before jogging over to her parents.

  Jasmine watched her leave, before taking a deep breath and turning back around. That had been a close one. Sebastian was watching her closely, and she gave her most reassuring smile, even though her mood was feeling black.

  They'd never be a couple. Even if it got to the end of the year and neither had found someone else, she and Sebastian would never escape people's prejudices when they found out how they'd gotten together.

  There wasn't a chance in hell Sebastian would ever risk it being accused that he touched her when she was still his student.