Chapter 31: The Christmas Eve Reunion, Part I


2 Months Later

Snow on Christmas eve. The epitome of every cliché from every Christmas movie he's ever had to suffer through. It was a lie of course. It almost never snows on Christmas, even in New York. But here they were, a foot and a half on the ground with another two predicted to fall by tomorrow. Sebastian usually detested snow and really, anything having to do with the holidays. However, as the town car made its slow ascent up the long drive to the Rosemond estate, he gazed out the window at the falling snow blanketing everything it touched, and Sebastian had to admit it was beautiful.

Truth be told, he was in a disgustingly good mood. He supposed it was likely attributed to his reprieve from Braxton Hill, the military academy he had been exiled to, a shiny miserable hellhole that made Manchester look like a luxury resort in comparison. And yet, even old Braxton Hill would normally have been preferable to spending Christmas with his family. Sebastian usually dreaded the holiday get togethers at the estate, everybody miserable and more caustic than normal. His stepmother picking fights, Aunt Helen pretending to ignore it and forcing everyone to put on their best company face. This year however, he predicted things would be different.

As the looming estate came into view, Sebastian felt his heart jump into his throat and his pulse quicken. Sixty-seven days. It had been sixty-seven days since he last saw her and during that time there hadn't been a minute where she wasn't close to his thoughts. Kathryn. It was strange to think that three months ago he would be indifferent to seeing her again, maybe even dreading it.

It was funny how one night could change everything.

They spent the whole night fucking and laughing and talking. It had never been like that between them before, easy that is. No head games, no bullshit. Not to mention the sex, which had been nothing short of epic. There had been nothing acrobatic in their lovemaking, he didn't even get to fuck her in the ass, but it had none the less been a perfect night.

Of course, all nights end. Although Sebastian hadn't anticipated his ending quite how it had…

"Going somewhere?"

Sebastian startled at the sound of his father's voice and turned around to find him emerging from the shadows of the dark hallway. Closing his bedroom door, to make sure Kathryn wasn't awoken he hissed, "Jesus. I'm just going to grab some breakfast. Why are you lurking in the dark?"

"We need to talk. You broke the rules son."

Playing dumb he remarked flippantly, "No I didn't. I never left the house."

"Oh, I'm well aware. The entire household is well aware. You two weren't exactly subtle."

Shit, he should have gagged her. "I don't know what you're referring to."

"Uh huh. Look, you promised me that was a one time thing between you two."

Sebastian shrugged by way of answer.

"Not good enough Sebastian."

"Oh, what do you want from me?" he snapped irritably. "This isn't any of your business."

His father let out an incredulous laugh, "You're my son. She's my daughter—"

"Stepdaughter," he corrected. "And please spare me the parental lecture, you're not impressing anyone. What goes on between me and Kathryn is none of your concern."

Sebastian started away, hoping to end the conversation but his father was quick on his heels grabbing his arm. "We had a deal son. If you couldn't keep it in your pants, no car, so winter break."

"Fine." Sebastian fished out his car keys and handed them over. Edward appeared genuinely shocked. "Keep it. As far as winter break is concerned, well I'm sure Aunt Helen will have something to say about that. I just have to get through a semester and a half of military school and then I'm on my own. We're not Kathryn and Tiffany, dad. I won't let you dictate my life."

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were in lo—"

"Please don't finish that thought."

"Son be reasonable," his father sighed. "Are you really willing to risk your reputation, your future, all for a relationship, that let's be honest, has slim to no shot of actually working out. She's your goddamn stepsister and more importantly she's a Merteuil. There's no scenario here where you end up with happily ever after. You know that."

Indeed he did. He wasn't so head-in-the-clouds happy that he didn't recognize the reality of the situation. One night wouldn't change everything. Still, he had to believe the dial had moved at least a little bit in his direction. "Nothing you say dad, is going to change anything. Now, I'm going to grab some breakfast. Let me know when the plane is taking off."

Sebastian turned to leave only to stop in his tracks when his father called out, "What if I told you I could make it so you didn't have to spend all of your senior year at Braxton Hill?"

Slowly he turned. "How?"

"Look, you're going to have to do at least a couple months there. But provided you behave and if you promise to end this thing with your sister, I'll bring you home permanently after winter break."

"Tiffany will never agree."

"Let me handle her," he told him. "But if you agree, you cut things off with Kathryn now. No goodbye, no further communication and when you do return, you keep your hands to yourself. I catch you two together, I'll tell Tiffany and she'll end it—permanently. I think it's safe to say none of us want that."

Tiffany would likely try to send Kathryn away or worse. Sebastian wondered if he didn't agree if his father would do it anyway. Probably not, he decided, but he wasn't about to call his bluff.

"Come on son, do you really want to spend your senior year at an all-boy's school? Martyring yourself on behalf of a Merteuil is right up there with shoving your dick in garbage disposal—pointless and painful. I know you're smarter than that. You know if the roles were reversed, Kathryn's wouldn't hesitate."

He made an excellent point. Glancing forlornly at his bedroom door Sebastian sighed and asked, "Do I get to keep my jag if I agree?"

Well, he'd be an idiot not to take the deal. Of course, he had no intentions of actually keeping his part of the bargain. Sebastian did as his father requested and didn't say goodbye to Kathryn, he didn't even write her a note. In hindsight he probably should have at least sent a text, but he didn't want to risk it. Besides, he couldn't help but think this might be a good test of whether that night meant the same to her as it did to him.

Two months later he couldn't be sure as they hadn't spoken. The academy didn't allow cell phones and the only people they were allowed to contact was their parents. Sebastian wasn't sure what he would say to her even if given the opportunity. He had attempted to write her, but everything he wrote sounded trite and inadequate. Kathryn would only laugh at him. She had written him only once, a long erotically charged letter and then nothing. He didn't hold it against her, knowing she likely got bogged down with school and end of the year bullshit.

Or else she got herself another Court stand-in or worse, reunited with Hargrove. Sebastian tried not to dwell on that.

They eventually arrived at the house, with Sebastian exiting the car before the driver could open the door. As was tradition, the house was all done up for Christmas. A giant decorated tree in the foyer, garland wrapped around the buster. Poinsettias everywhere. It was as it always was only it was missing the usual hectic energy that encompassed it. No frantic servants running about, no cheery Aunt Helen to greet him, not even the sounds of his bickering parents. Huh.

He headed into the quiet parlor, half expecting to find them all gathered but it was empty as well. Sebastian was about to call out for a servant, when he looked up and noticed Kathryn standing at the opposite entrance of the room. She was scowling. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Sebastian blinked, taken aback by her hostility. Right then his anticipation for their reunion deflated like a birthday balloon. "Well Merry Christmas to you too, sis," he drawled sarcastically. "Where are the parentals?"

Kathryn expelled an annoyed sigh as she flounced further into the room. As always, she looked beautiful wearing a cream cashmere body hugging dress. This was the only time of the year she rejected her usual dark color pallet in favor of white's and neutrals. Sebastian suspected it went back to her childhood and her trying to snow Santa into putting her on the nice list by appearing more angelic.

"They're still in the city with Aunt Helen. They got stuck on account of the weather, they won't be here until tomorrow. I was under the impression you were with them."

"Sorry to disappoint you."

"It's fine. I'm used to it where you're concerned."

Sebastian's brow lifted at the bitchy comment. He watched as she took a seat at the piano and began tinkering with the keys, some familiar melody forgotten during his piano lesson years. Standing over her he demanded, "What's up your ass?"

"Nothing."

"I get the feeling you're angry with me."

Kathryn looked up and flashed him a mocking grin. "No one's ever accused you of being stupid."

"Oh, that's not true. Your little girlfriend accused me of it quite frequently."

She stopped playing, ending on a sour note, then glared at him. Clearly it was still a sore subject. Sebastian didn't give a fuck. "Did you two get back together? Is that it?"

"No"

"Then what's wrong? I was actually under the impression that you would be happy to see me." His mind immediately flashed back to his last memory of her, curled up against his chest, smiling up at him coyly as she told him some anecdote from her childhood.

"You would think that, wouldn't you?" She began playing again, this time Deck the Halls. Speaking over the piano she explained, "You leave without saying goodbye, never contact me and ignore my letters, but you expect I'll drop to my knees at the sight of you? Tell me, when exactly did you start confusing me with those insipid girls you manipulate into sleeping with you?"

Sebastian gaped at her, genuinely caught off guard. His mind struggled to keep up. The incessant music wasn't helping any. "Hold up." He sat down beside her on the bench and stopped her hands. "You can't be mad at me for that."

Kathryn's eyes widened and she let out a disbelieving huff. "Is that so?"

"I mean there's a valid reason I ghosted you."

"This should be good."

"I made a deal with my father. If I agreed to end things with you, he'd let me come home after winter break."

He anticipated her going off on him again, so he was genuinely surprised when she sighed, "I assumed it was something like that."

"Then why the hell are you being such a bitch?"

"Because you never so much as called me or wrote or texted. You completely blew me off."

She resumed playing forcing Sebastian to talk over it. "I tried to write you but nothing I wrote was adequate."

"And yet you have no problem being prolific when you're tearing me down."

He looked upwards, his frustration mounting. "I wanted to call you."

"Uh huh"

"You don't believe me?"

She smiled big. "Nope."

Sebastian reached over and once again stopped her hands, halting the music. "Well believe this: in the sixty seven days I've been gone, you're the only thing I've thought about. The only thing that got me through waking up at five am every morning, asshole drill sergeants, no sex, no booze, was knowing I'd get to come home to you for Christmas."

It was a little corny, but it seemed to do the trick. He watched with a small measure of satisfaction as the softness returned to her face. Pushing his luck, Sebastian cupped her cheek and leaned in. Just as his mouth was brushing hers, she murmured, "Nice try." Kathryn pulled back, that sharp set of her mouth returned. "Edward told me about that girl you got caught messing around with. The sergeant's daughter, wasn't it?"

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "That was nothing—less than nothing. In fact, it was the very definition of a one and done fuck."

"How romantic"

His gaze narrowed at her when he recalled a nugget of info his father dropped during one of their calls. At the time he hadn't really thought anything of it and it probably was nothing, but he was desperate for something to rub in her face. "You know you weren't exactly celibate when I was gone. My father mentioned something about finding you messing around with Hunter Mattison during the Crenshaw wedding. Care to elaborate sis?"

"Not really," she replied with a mysterious little smile. "After all, someone had to pick up the slack after you abandoned—"

He cut her off before she could finish the sentence, grabbing her face he kissed her hotly. Kathryn groaned against his mouth and gave a halfhearted attempt to push him back before giving in, kissing him back in equal measure, her small hand fisted in his shirt. Sebastian broke away just long enough to murmurer, "I missed you like crazy."

"Hm," she hummed between kisses.

"There's no fucking way I'm keeping my hands off you."

"It's a shame I haven't made up my mind on the matter."

Sebastian smiled against her lips. "Bitch."

They kissed again—and kept kissing until Sebastian heard the softest little gasp in the world. He looked up to find Annette standing at the threshold of the room. Eyes wide, mouth a hard line. Sebastian tried to make sense of her presence until his gaze fell on Kathryn. She did not look surprised, not even a little bit.

Sitting back Sebastian released a sigh. So much for a drama-free holiday.


Annette fucking hated the holidays. She hated all the cheap sentiment, the false cheer, the rampant consumerism. Worst of all though, she despised being forced to spend time with her family. For weeks, she had been dreading getting dragged back to Kansas for Christmas, trying to think up ways to get out of it. When her father announced they had been invited to spend the holiday at the Rosemond's Annette was ecstatic.

That of course was before she discovered she was walking into a trap.

"Fucking idiot." Grabbing a handful of clothes from the dresser she tossed them unceremoniously into her suitcase. Marching around the decadent guest room, the same one she stayed in last summer, Annette continued to empty out the closet she just filled not an hour ago, cursing under her breath the entire time, lamenting her stupid decision to show up early to 'surprise' her ex.

These past couple months had been a slow torture for her. Following her breakdown outside the Valmont residence, Annette pulled herself together and ignoring Trevor's advice to try to talk to her, decided to push all her messy emotional shit under the rug and follow her original course. As painful as it was, she had to accept that they were over.

Meanwhile, Kathryn continued ignoring her in private (she indeed did change her number) but in public, when surrounded by their peers, she was polite and friendly, never without that fake debutante smile. Annette somehow thought this was worse than being ignored. Realizing she had made her bed, she tried to move on. She had a few private dalliances but all they managed to do was remind her what she was missing.

As the weeks passed, Annette came to realize she couldn't keep this up. What was the point of this bright, shiny future if she was going to end up miserable? Being with Kathryn, even when they were driving each other crazy, had been the best time in her life. And she had let it go all because she was too chicken shit to follow through.

She wanted to talk to Kathryn, fantasized about dragging her into an abandoned classroom, like she used to do or cornering her near her locker, but she was too afraid of being rejected. Instead, she observed her from afar, looking for signs that she was just as miserable as her. Annette even tried to talk to her friends, which as expected went nowhere. Ainsley just pretended she didn't hear her, while Jack had been kinder but offered no help, assuring her Kathryn was fine and it was best if she left her alone.

Finally, Shiv, who had putting up with her moody ass for months, offered to go talk with Kathryn and suss out (without revealing Annette's feelings) what was going on with her or if she was seeing anyone. However, she came up empty handed.

Annette was starting to think it was a lost cause, when Shiv dragged her out one night to some party at a townhouse in the city. Annette was on her way to getting good and wasted when she collapsed in some random bedroom. She was starting to drift off when suddenly Kathryn was looming over her. Honestly, she thought she was imagining it at first.

"There you are." Kathryn brushed the hair from her face, laying down beside her.

Annette blinked, wondering if she was real. Slowly she reached for her, curling a hand around her neck and pulling her closer. She kissed her and Annette felt as if she just remembered how to breath. She kissed her back, sloppy and eager until her lungs began to burn with the need for oxygen. Panting against her mouth she asked, "Where have you been?"

Kathryn smiled. "Waiting."

She fucked her there, her hand working between her legs as her mouth feasted on her neck and lips until she came panting against the hollow of her neck. Annette had tried to touch her too, but when she had pulled away and without a word started fixing her clothes. When she asked where she was going, Kathryn coldly responded without so much as a glance back, "This never happened."

Annette had been left hurt and confused by her seeming rejection, until her father came home one evening and told her about the invite to the Rosemond estate. Just like that, her stupid hopes soared even though that small voice in the back of her head told her to be on guard. Still, it felt like an olive branch. Then when she called the house the day before and was told Kathryn was already at the estate, Annette was sure this was her way of luring her there so they could have some privacy. She arrived at the estate earlier that afternoon and had purposely not gone looking for Kathryn. The house was so big people could come and go all the time without no one even realizing it. She had planned to surprise her at lunch, but it was she who got the surprise when she wandered into the drawing room to find Kathryn making out with her stepbrother.

Suddenly everything seemed to make a sort of sense (as much as it could were Kathryn was concerned). This was all part of some game she was playing, whether it be for revenge or just to mess with her. She wanted to rub whatever it was she was doing with Sebastian in her face. Annette resented being made a fool of or even worse one of her puppets. There was no way she was spending another minute in that house with the two of them.

"Going somewhere?"

Annette paused and looked up to see Kathryn leaning against the doorframe, her expression coolly indifferent. "Yeah." She resumed her packing. "I'm heading back to the city."

"And after you wasted so much time sneaking in her in the first place. When did you arrive anyway?"

"A couple of hours ago. As if you didn't know."

"I didn't actually."

Kathryn stepped further into the room, arms crossed to her chest, hip cocked against the dresser. Annette was disgusted by how pleased she was to talk like this with her again. It just fueled her indignation all the more. "Whatever. I'm on the next train out of here."

"How dramatic," Kathryn mocked. "What, do you expect me to chase after you like he did, meet you in front of the escalator at Penn station? Good luck with that. And by the by, you'll never get a train on Christmas eve in this weather."

Annette glanced out the window at the falling snow that was easily coming down twice as hard as it was when she arrived. Shit. Trying to save face she argued, "I don't care. I'll sleep at the train station. Anywhere but here. I'm not playing this game with you."

"I wasn't aware I was playing a game."

"Cut the shit Kathryn. I'm not doing this anymore."

She straightened up, her eyes becoming sharper. "What exactly is it you think I've done?"

Annette really didn't want to get into it with her, at the same time the thought of not talking to her again like this, even if they were just trading insults, made her want to die. "You seduced me, make me think that we still had a chance, then invite me to spend Christmas with you all so you could make out with your brother in front of me. As far as revenge scenarios go it's a little amateur hour don't you think?"

"Yes…it also has no basis in reality."

"Oh?"

Kathryn edged closer to her and Annette realized for the first time that Kathryn wasn't just annoyed with her, she was furious. Practically shaking from it. "One, I never seduced you. I was drunk and didn't know who I was fucking until half way into it." Annette flinched at this, but before she could really contemplate it Kathryn continued. "Second, I didn't invite you to Christmas, that would be my mother. She thought it would be a good look, sooth some of the bite from the scandal. As you weren't expected until Christmas your arrival here is somewhat of a surprise. Lastly, as for what you walked in on, it's fair to say it's none of your business. If I choose to hug, kiss or mount Sebastian on the fucking piano it's no longer your concern. I'm not playing any games with you Hargrove. When I said I was ripping off the Band-Aid with you, I meant it."

Annette lamely let go of her suitcase as she took this all in. She had never felt more foolish in her life. "Kathryn, I'm sorry, I thought—"

"I really don't care," she snapped, then turned on her heel and headed for the door.

Annette came after her, grabbing her arm. "Kathryn please, can't we just—"

Kathryn whirled around, yanking her arm out of her grip. Her eyes were wild in fury, her mouth a hard thin line. "Let's get one thing straight. You're the one who broke my heart. You no longer get to claim the moral high ground. Save your righteous indignation for someone who gives a shit."

Taken back by her hostility she uncharacteristically stammered, "I-I'm sorry. You're right, I have no right to accuse you of anything."

"Save it," she sneered. "I don't give a fuck about your sorry's. Too little, too late. Have a nice trip back."

With that she strut out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Annette shut her eyes, reveling in her own stupidity. "Well done Hargrove."


"Well, aren't you going to inquire how it's going?"

"Honestly, I'm a little afraid to ask."

Jack's warm laughter on the other end of the line, did the trick of soothing her earlier irritation. Reaching for the glass of wine, Kathryn sunk further into the arm chair, her heels propped up the table in front of her. "Everything is going to plan. Sebastian is so confused he doesn't know his ass from his elbow and Annette is practically on her knees begging for forgiveness. I have them right where I want them."

"Confused and apologetic?"

"No dummy, at my mercy."

"I see."

"Now I just have to see which one breaks first."

There was a long pause on the other end. Kathryn knew he was gearing up to say something she wouldn't like. "I know you don't want to hear it, but has it occurred to you there's a possibility this might blow up in your face? What if they—"

Kathryn rolled her eyes, cutting him off. "I don't need your Jiminy Cricket bullshit right now," she snapped meanly, before instantly regretting it. She honestly adored Jack she didn't know why she was always compelled to say the cruelest thing that popped into her head. Too many years of dealing with Sebastian she supposed. She didn't apologize (because with Jack she never had to) and instead, quietly argued her case. "After what they put me through, don't I deserve to get what I want?"

Thinking back on the past couple months, Kathryn scowled at how pathetic she'd been. After Annette had dumped her, she cried for days, didn't eat, didn't want to see anyone. She had never felt a loss like that in her life. Kathryn had pulled herself together long enough to say goodbye to Sebastian. The fact that the encounter had been more profound that she was expecting came as a nice surprise. She fell asleep that night with the hope that maybe she could put Annette behind her with the help of Sebastian. However, in the harsh light of day, she realized how completely moronic that scenario was when she woke up alone, no good-bye note, no nothing. When she wrote her stepbrother and received no reply in return, she decided to chalk the whole episode up to one more stupid mistake on her part.

Kathryn tried to move on, or at least give the impression that she had, but she felt as if she was going through the motions. Not only was she bored with her social calendar of society brunches and committee meetings. She was lonely. She tried to busy herself with her many obligations and the occasional lover she picked up in clubs, but it all felt so phony and mundane, there was no excitement in it anymore. The only bright spot at the time was her friendship with Jack. Kathryn tried to persuade him to take their relationship to another level, but he refused until he was sure she was over Annette and Sebastian. Fat chance.

For awhile she waited in a sort of limbo, waiting for whatever was coming next. She dutifully ignored Annette at school and pretended not to listen when her stepfather brought up Sebastian's dalliances at school. She thought if she could go on ignoring the two of them, maybe she'd get over this.

And then it happened. She started to notice Annette watching her at school. Occasionally she'd catch her out of the corner of her eye, watching her from the other side of the room, or from down the hall. She didn't think much of it at first and then Ainsley came to her one day reporting Hargrove tried to speak to her and what should she do? Jack told her the same thing. Kathryn coolly ordered them to do nothing, tell her nothing, she no longer mattered. Then after gym one afternoon, Siobhan cornered under the guise of wanting to know about the French mid-term. Kathryn saw right through her bullshit. Like all women who were desperate to learn something, she told more than she learned. Kathryn of course gave nothing away.

So the obvious conclusion of all of this was Annette wanted her back. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't intrigued by the possibility. She was also more than a little resentful, still smarting from the pain she caused her. Around this time, her mother revealed to her that Edward was planning on letting Sebastian stay in New York for good when he came home from Christmas. Her mother was fuming while Kathryn was secretly elated while also itching for a little payback for how he ghosted her. In the coming weeks a plan began to take form in her devious brain on how she could get exactly what she wanted.

Naturally, Jack didn't approve.

"Kathryn, I think this has real potential to blow up in your face. Would you like me to remind you how?"

"Nope, I think I got it the first five hundred times. Face it, it's going to happen and all of your pearl clutching won't change my mind." Kathryn finished off the rest of her wine she changed the subject. "How's Connecticut?"

"Boring. I wish you were here."

"I'm sure Penelope would love that."

Jack had been seeing Penelope Pope for about a month now. She was beautiful and sweet and everyone adored her. Everyone with the exception of Kathryn of course. She made no secret of this to Jack.

"Contrary to what you believe, she doesn't have a problem with you or our friendship. I don't think that girl could hate anyone."

"What a saint," she sneered. Shifting in her chair, Kathryn smiled into the receiver. "Tell me, does she get you as hard as I do?"

She pictured Jack blushing at the question. "No," he admitted softly. "She's a great girl," he told her lamely. "But, uh, she's not you."

"Yeah, no shit. Look, I've been thinking…"

Kathryn trailed off when she got distracted by music coming from the speaker beside her bed. It was Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker suite, specifically the Russian Dance. It started off barely audible and soon got so loud she could barely hear Jack on the other end.

"What is that?" he practically yelled. "Are you at the theater?"

"No." She rose to her feet, rolling her eyes. "I believe I'm being summoned. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye."

Hanging up Kathryn headed out of her guest bedroom and down to the first floor to the indoor pool. She had a pretty good idea who was behind this nonsense. It reeked of Sebastian's immaturity. Throwing open the door to the pool room, she squared her shoulders, gearing up to put him in his place. "You really think you're clever, don't you asshole?"

Kathryn came to an immediate halt when she spotted Annette, sitting on the edge of the pool, wearing a small robe. "I have my moments," she replied, her grin saucy and confident.

Shaking off her surprise Kathryn sneered, "Cribbing from Sebastian now? It's a little juvenile, don't you think?"

"Maybe, but it is effective. Did I interrupt something?"

She thought this was her roundabout way of asking if she was with Sebastian. For a brief moment Kathryn considers lying. "Yes, actually, I was in the middle of a phone call."

Annette tilted her head coquettishly. "Join me for a swim?"

"I don't think so."

Kathryn turned and headed for the exit, curious to see how far she'd let her go. Immediately the music changed from Tchaikovsky, to Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You. Kathryn wheeled back around, rolling her eyes. "Subtle." Annette dropped her robe revealing a very tiny black bikini, not at all her style. The few times they had gone swimming over the summer, she usually donned a one piece Kathryn had come to label her Amish bathing guard. Eying her full breasts and the smooth dip of her stomach, she vowed to find that suit and burn it. Shaking off her momentary lust she replied haughtily, "Or maybe just desperate."

Annette made a playful face before slipping into the pool. "Get in the water."

Kathryn frowned. "Not a chance."

"Come on, don't be a pussy."

"Well, when you put it like that…"

Annette swam towards the edge and when she was close enough, she started splashing her. Kathryn squealed as she was pelted by the cool water. "Stop it! Knock it off! FINE!" Acquiescing she stepped back and ripped her dress over her head, leaving her in a cream, bra and panty set. She let Annette ogle her a moment before diving in the pool.

"You're a fucking child, you know that?" she spat as she rose to the surface.

Annette shrugged, unbothered. "You got in, didn't you?"

Kathryn rolled her eyes. As they treaded water an odd tension filled the gaps between them. Annette swam closer. "So, who were you talking to?"

"Jack." An idea came to her then or rather a lie. "He's trying to get me to join him in Greenwich. I'm thinking of trying to sneak out of here before the adults arrive."

As always Annette saw right through her bullshit. "You wouldn't dare. Your mother would throw a shit fit and you know it. If you're trying to make me jealous of Jack it won't work. I know you're not seeing him. He's dating that Penelope chick, and everyone knows what a boy scout he is."

Kathryn bristled under her cool assuredness. "He's in love with me."

"I'm sure he is." Annette swam even closer her, Kathryn watched the water bead around her lips as she murmured, "But you're not in love with him."

Kathryn swam away, putting distance between them again. "I forgot. Little Hargrove knows everything. Are you keeping tabs on me or something?"

"Of course"

"I can't see why," she sighed.

"Can't you?" Annette bobbed in the water, her expression losing confidence. "Are you going to make me say it? I fucked up, okay? Breaking up with you was the stupidest thing I've ever done."

Somehow Kathryn thought this would feel more monumental when she admitted it, like some kind of weight would be lifted from her. Instead, it just felt like words. "Oh? What about your grand future? The one you wanted without me. What about us being too toxic for each other?"

"I got…spooked, okay? Things between us were getting so intense it scared me."

Kathryn floated along. "I'm starting to think you were right," she mused. "Maybe I am too selfish to love anybody."

"That's not what I said."

"It's what you meant." She bobbed closer to her in the water. "So, what is this Hargrove, you're feeling lonely this holiday season, so you want me back? What, should I drop to my knees in gratitude?"

Annette shook her head. Kathryn found a small measure of pleasure in the panic she saw rise up in her eyes. "That's not what I—"

"Has it even occurred to you that maybe I might have moved on from our little relationship?"

She flinched. "With Sebastian?"

Kathryn rolled her eyes. "That wasn't what I meant, but, in the interest of full disclosure, I did sleep with him before he left. It…changed things between us."

Annette didn't react to this. "It couldn't have changed things that much if you're here with me now." She swam closer until she was fully invading her personal space. "I don't care about him or Jack or whomever else, they don't count. Only you and I count."

Kathryn forgot how intoxicating Annette's confidence could be. It could rival her own on occasion. Trying to hold her ground she replied curly, "There is no you and I."

Her answering smile was faint. "Oh baby, haven't you figured it out by now? You and I are never over, even when we are."

Before she could argue this familiar statement, Annette lunged forward, grabbing her by the back of the head and kissing her fiercely. Kathryn was momentarily caught off guard. Her first instinct was to shove her off, maybe laugh at her, tell her how clueless she was, make her feel as small as Kathryn did that day in her bedroom. Instead, she gave into that small, irrational part of herself that got off on doing something she knew was bad for her. She kissed her back just as eagerly, just as she had Sebastian. Her hand slid down her body, groping her ass, then her hip before finally sliding between her legs.

"Is this what you want?" she asked, cupping her cunt. "You want to fuck me?"

"Yes," Annette gasped, arching against her.

They were pressed up against one side of the pool, Annette against the wall, Kathryn working her hand against her as the blonde peppered open mouthed kisses against her neck. "What if I told you that's all it would be?"

Annette tilted her head back, her gaze questioning. "What do you mean?"

"I'll fuck you, I'll enjoy it," Kathryn stated plainly, swimming out from under her, "But that's all it can ever be."

"You don't mean that."

"Of course I do. When you left me, it hurt more than anything—worse than Sebastian even. I thought it would kill me, but it didn't. So, I vowed no one would ever hurt me like that again—especially you. Don't you see? We can never be what we once were."

Annette rushed towards her. "Then we can be something different, something better."

Kathryn opened her mouth to object when someone else did it for her.

"Jesus Christ Hargrove, get the hint already. She isn't interested."

They both spun around just as Sebastian emerged from the sauna, a towel slung around his neck. Thankfully, he remembered his bathing suit this time.

Annette rolled her eyes upwards and huffed, "Fuck off military boy, isn't there a maid around for you to molest?"

"Sebastian, how long have you been eavesdropping?"

"Long enough."

"It's a little tacky."

He grinned. "That's funny coming from you." Gripping the towel in both hands, he cockily swaggered towards the edge of the pool. "I hate to bust up this little reunion, but I'd thought you like to know I just hung up with my father. He told me something curious."

Dread gathered in the back of her throat. That was a little too ominous for her liking. "Oh?"

"Yes, it seems the parentals were never due to come down here until tomorrow." He looked at Annette. "Don't you get it? She lured us here on purpose."

Annette blinked, taking this in, then just as quickly dismissed it. "No, she didn't. I followed her down here."

"Uh huh, and who told you she was staying here?"

"Mai-Lei." She winced as soon as the name left her mouth and shook her head. "I'm such an idiot. Of course you were playing me."

"I did no such thing," Kathryn replied primly as she swam to the edge of the pool.

Sebastian watched her as she lifted herself out of the water, clearly trying not to ogle her. "What are you up to?" The question was more curious than accusatory.

"God," Kathryn huffed as she snagged Annette's towel sitting idyll on a deck chair. "You're acting as if I'm holding you hostage. You're both free to go at any time. I don't care."

"She's definitely up to something," Annette remarked, glancing over at Sebastian, ignoring her indignation.

Kathryn saw no reason to continue on with her denial. She'd show her cards—partly.

"Alright, fine. You're right Nancy Drew, I did lure you here on purpose."

"I knew it," Sebastian sighed. "So, what is it, are you going to murder us and bury our bodies in the snow?"

She smiled wanly at the imagery. "Tempting but no. The truth is there was something I needed to tell both of you and I wanted to do it before the festivities began. I was going to wait until after dinner when everyone was significantly drunk, but since you forced my hand here it is: I'm leaving New York."

Sebastian appeared non-plussed. "What, are you going to sun yourself in Bali for the rest of winter break?"

"No, I'm going to France to stay with my father. It's a permanent move. I'm leaving New York for good."