Dinner did not happen for at least a week, because of work and a special project the sisters got sidetracked on but on the evening of the tenth day, Wylder was making the time.
She would glimpse Sebastian in and around the hotel, most people recognised him but left him alone for the most part, to enjoy his privacy. Oliver was seen with him a few times; they have taken to each other so easily.
‘Here how do I look?’ Wylder twirls for her sisters, all dressed up for dinner with her date downstairs. She is wearing a sweet pink tea length slip dress with white Supergas. Her wild hair is tamed in a bun, and she has on no makeup, it is too warm for anything other than lip balm.
‘You look lovely. I would prefer you wore some lipstick and but you look lovely babe.’ Willow says.
‘I’m only going downstairs and we are going to be indoors for the evening. He doesn’t even know I am coming.’
‘I can’t believe you are just going to turn up without even…’ Lilou shakes her head.
‘Stop giving her ideas to run. Scoot you. Go on your date.’ Willow shoos her out the door.
Armed with her picnic basket from the kitchens, a bottle of Dom Perignon 2008 and a bottle Pappy 23, the drink that bonded them, she makes her way downstairs, taking the actual stairs and not the elevator.
…
Sebastian called it an early night, indulging in TV before heading to bed, he’d spent the day catching up on work, true to his word Dexter has not bothered him about racing, not even a little bit. He is distracted from scrolling his phone, reading their messages, by the knock on the door.
‘Breathe Wylder. Just breathe.’ Wylder says waiting for the door to be answered.
‘Hi.’ Sebastian is immediately charmed seeing her there.
‘Hi. I come bearing food and drinks and I promise I was not avoiding you. We’ve been working on a special project for River.’
‘I know. He told me when I ran into him and Ralph earlier. Come on in.’ He stands aside for her to walk in.
‘Are you coming to dinner?’
‘He invited me. Is that okay with you?’
‘Of course it is.’
‘Here, let me take that.’ He relieves her of the picnic basket, and she takes off her shoes, placing them in the entryway cloakroom.
‘How do you like the suite?’
‘It’s beautiful, the views are stunning. My mum is kicking herself because there are no vacancies at all, all season, which is perfect because I don’t want her crashing my holiday. I expressly forbade from coming to the village whilst I’m here.’
‘She’s your mother.’
‘I know. That’s why.’
Wylder sets the table on the balcony for dinner, she hadn’t noticed how spacious it was until now. How impeccably beautiful it is. Her handiwork and here he is in the space she built, as if it was all for him
‘Dinner is served. Please join me.’
‘Thank you.’ Sebastian takes the chair opposite her.
The night is perfect for dining out, every night has been perfect so far, every time he saw her was a perfect moment and he relishes this time with her.
‘So, we need to talk?’ Wylder starts, digging into her roasted chicken and salad. Martinique makes magic with food.
‘Why are you doing that thing you do?’ Sebastian takes the lead.
‘Because I’ve overanalysed everything which is what I do when something feels bigger than I can manage, and I like to manage my emotions. I love you. I am still in love with you.’
‘My feelings haven’t changed either, which is what I think is part of what you’ve overanalysed. What if? Right?’
She nods.
‘I’m still in love with you Wylder. And I would like it if you were my girlfriend.’
Wylder cannot help the smile on her face, she expected they would just do this thing and see where it takes them, she was prepared to be up for the ride, but he has other plans.
‘Look, I get it the racing, the publicity, my family, everything… it is overwhelming, the press is what it is, but I will protect you as hard as I can from all that and when the dam breaks, because there will be times it does, I will still protect you, but please don’t hold it against me.’
‘Sebastian I would never do that. You can’t help how people react to you and your family. I don’t care about any of that, I only care about us. The world and its noise don’t feature here. Boyfriend.’ She adds with a sly smile.
‘Yeah? We’re doing this?’
‘We are.’
‘And that means no more doing that thing you do?’
‘No more. My sisters might kill me.’
‘I’m glad I have people on my team.’
‘And Oliver. He’s in awe of you.’
‘He’s an awesome kid, and yes before you ask, I do mean it, I want you to come see me race in Amsterdam.’
‘The rough patch? Was that me?’
‘I’ll put it how Dex did, my head’s not right because my heart’s not right. We told each other how we feel about each other, but then we went into this weird static and I couldn’t stop thinking about you.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be. I get it.’ Sebastian says before standing to pull her up and seal them with a kiss. ‘Wanna go for a drive?’
‘Let’s.’
They walk up to the harbour a mere five minutes from the hotel where yachts are moored, a navy blue one with tan interiors with the name Lola, gleams on the edge and a skipper appears from it, smile on his face as he sees them approach.
‘Ai cap.’
‘James! My man.’ Sebastian and the skipper greet each other fondly before introductions are made. ‘Wylder this is my skipper James, whenever I visit the village, he is captain of the vessel.’
‘It’s lovely to meet you.’
‘Enchanté ma chére.’ James takes her hand and kisses the back of it.
‘Okay calm down, she’s my girl and you have the night off.’
James chuckles, they are clearly friends. ‘It’s good to see you brother, she’s a beauty.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Good to meet you again Miss. Have a lovely ride, it’s a good evening for it.’ James walks the other way away from the harbour. With the picnic basket in one hand Sebastian helps Wylder into the vessel and quietly pulls away from the dock. The waters are calm and the air is just the right slant of warm. They are the only ones out at sea, the endless night before them filled with promises. He stops the boat when they are directly opposite the hotel on the far side of the water.
‘Hey, look at what you did.’ Sebastian says motioning at the hotel beaming back at them.
Wylder had never seen if from this side, and it is in this moment she realises the vastness of what she did, the sheer magnificence of it.
‘I’m so proud of you.’ He pops open a bottle of champagne and fills a flute for her and one for himself. ‘So damn proud.’
‘Thank you.’
They clink glasses and she takes a large gulp, wherever the night leads, she’ll gladly follow…
7am.
‘There she is.’ Luella and Ava are waiting in the hotel lobby when Wylder and Sebastian, walk in; bright eyed and bushy tailed and is she sporting a hickey?
‘Talk about a walk of shame.’ Ava says with a little laugh.
Sebastian brings his arm around Wylder as if shielding her from their teasing.
‘Were you waiting for me?’ Wylder asks her sister and cousin who were quite clearly doing just that.
‘Well, you didn’t come in last night so…’
Wylder shakes her head, with a roll of her eyes.
‘I suppose you should go to bed then.’ The other two walk away giggling. ‘Some of us have tennis lessons.’
‘Some of us already had a workout.’ Wylder replies with a little sass before walking the other way impervious to their giggles. ‘Sorry.’ She adds for Sebastian’s benefit.
‘Don’t be.’ he pulls her closer, ‘they’re your family this is what they ought to do.’