Chapter Seven - Sebastian
CHAPTER SEVEN
Sebastian
I SET THE rest of the plates on the table gingerly because I’ve already been scolded by Kiera for mishandling them once tonight. To say I’m excited for tonight would be like saying I enjoy all the press and attention I get for playing for the Panthers. Just like it was wrong for feeling jealous when I learned Thalia was bringing Eric. I have no business being upset because I’m with Kiera, but Eric? Of all fucking people, she’s with one of my college teammates? I know they previously dated, but I wasn’t any happier then about it than I am now. Except, I have no right to be pissed about it—actually, I’m upset about a lot of things I shouldn’t be.
I set the table for six because thanks to some last minute pleading, I was able to convince Kiera to let me invite Owen and Blake. Now I’m wondering if it’s such a good idea.
I wish I’d never fucking agreed to tonight.
Maybe if I tell Kiera that I don’t feel good, she’ll cancel and tell everyone to stay home. She’s been so excited, though. I don’t have the heart to tell her I have zero interest in seeing Thalia and Eric together tonight.
I really shouldn’t care. But I do .
“Kiera…” I start to say, bracing myself on the table because I know she’s going to be upset, and maybe even mad.
The doorbell rings before I can speak again to suggest canceling, and Kiera claps excitedly. “They’re here! This is going to be so much fun!”
Great.
I grab the good whiskey from the cart, and pour a glass to immediately throw back before moving to get the wine Kiera picked for tonight out of the fridge.
This is fucking awesome.
I hold my breath as Kiera comes back with Blake and Owen, and the relief I feel is short-lived when I note that Owen looks as ready for this shit show as I am. “I’m not doing tonight sober,” he says briefly, grabbing the same bottle of whiskey I just drank from.
I shrug and grab my glass I’d set down so I can have another round. Maybe if I get shit-faced, everyone will leave early. “That was my plan too.”
Zeus comes trotting out from the mudroom where he was eating dinner, and I’m guessing the doorbell must have gotten his attention. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to see Thalia when she gets here.
Blake wanders over to us with a tired expression on her face. “This is going to suck.” She takes Owen’s glass before he can down it, drinking it herself, only to place the empty glass back in his hand. “You’re an asshole for agreeing to this. I hope Thalia punches you because you definitely deserve it.” She glares at me as she turns away to help Kiera.
“Blake’s not very happy with you,” Owen says matter-of-factly, pouring himself more whiskey .
“No shit, Sherlock. Join the club, it’s going to be a long night,” I mumble under my breath as the doorbell rings again. My grip on the glass tightens, and Owen tosses a worried glance my way.
“Keep your shit together. You have no right to be upset she’s bringing Eric when you’re the one that ended things with her, and now you’re flaunting your engagement in her face,” Owen warns quietly, and I bite my tongue to keep from smarting off because he’s right.
He’s always fucking right, not that I’d ever tell him that.
Kiera returns moments later with Thalia and fucking Eric behind her. My breath hitches at the sight of her in this house again. We didn’t live here long together, but the intention was to build our future here. I didn’t ever expect to see her here again.
Thalia’s wearing a black off-the-shoulder shirt, her waves have been tamed into straight hair, but the shortness is still catching me off guard. My attention is drawn to the faint scrawl along her collarbone that I don’t recognize from before. I don’t know how I missed it the other day.
I hate that the thought crosses my mind, but she looks beautiful.
Her green eyes shine brightly against the makeup accentuating them. Eric drops the hand that he’d had wrapped around her back as Zeus charges her excitedly. He all but ate out of her hand as a puppy.
When Thalia laughs at Zeus’s excitement, instinctively I turn away, feeling a painful squeeze in my chest because it’s too familiar. It’s too much having her here. What the fuck is wrong with me? I told her to leave. It’s my fault she doesn’t live here .
I feel Kiera slip her hand through my elbow, pulling my attention back. “Seb, be nice and say hi,” she whispers. I wish she knew how much I don’t want to be nice. Why can everyone else see how much this sucks but Kiera can’t?
But for her, I push a pathetic smile on my face. “Hey, Eric. It’s good to see you again. You too, Thalia. Thanks for coming.”
Thalia smiles tightly, staring directly at me. It’s almost like she can see straight through me, and what I’m thinking. “Thanks for the invitation. I’m glad we could make it.”
“Congratulations on the engagement; you guys make a nice couple. It’s been a while, Bash,” Eric says with a kind smile, but I’d have to be stupid to miss the claim he makes on Thalia by resting his hand on her back again.
Zeus whines at Thalia because she stopped petting him, and it hurts to see her smile at him. “Oh, bubba, I’ve missed you so much. Have you been a good boy? Of course you have.”
I think it might kill me to be nice tonight.
“Does anyone need a drink?” Kiera offers, reminding me that my fianceé is standing at my side. I am the worst.
“Yes, please,” Blake says, moving to grab the wine glasses from the counter herself. “Lia? Do you want one?” Blake laughs before Thalia can respond. “Just kidding, I don’t need to ask. Everyone will need to be drinking tonight.”
“None for me,” Eric interjects, laughing kindly. “Someone has to be able to drive us home.”
“Bash has good whiskey, you’re missing out,” Owen says, and Kiera rubs my arm.
“Please help yourselves to whatever you want. Dinner will be ready in just a minute if you want to find a seat after getting a drink?” Kiera suggests, untangling herself from me. “Eric, I do have drinks other than alcohol if you want to come look in the kitchen?”
“That would be perfect, thanks.” He smiles appreciatively at her, and on their way into the kitchen, she gives me a wide smile over her shoulder.
Blake stares me down, pouring more wine in Thalia’s glass, leading her to the table as my stomach twists.
Owen goes for the whiskey cart, shaking his head. “Suck it up, buttercup.”
I drag a hand over my face, following his lead. I’m convinced there’s not enough whiskey to get everyone through this night without a disaster.
I can’t help glancing over my shoulder at Thalia, feeling like I’ve been transported back in time. It doesn’t feel real having her here.
Once we’re all seated at the table, I’m having a hard time not looking in Thalia’s direction. I’m trying not to, but it seems to be useless. At one point I’ve been staring too long I guess because Blake kicks me hard under the table. Thalia was trying to hold in a laugh as Eric whispered something in her ear. I should have looked away, but I couldn’t.
The tension in the room is unimaginable, but I’m holding my tongue. I refuse to ruin tonight for Kiera.
“I hope you all like chicken,” Kiera says, laughing nervously. She uses the tongs to drop some of the salad on her plate before passing it to Blake.
“Chicken’s great.” Thalia smiles, but I hate that I know it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“I love chicken,” Owen adds, causing my attention to be pulled his way. His eyes narrow in warning at me as he takes a sip of his whiskey. I end up doing the same, the burn a welcome feeling as it does down.
“Owen made this new recipe last week where he marinated the chicken before stuffing it with gouda and honey crisp apples before baking it in the oven,” Blake explains and Owen smiles triumphantly, taking the welcome distraction.
“That sounds delicious!” Kiera says, smiling widely. “You’ll have to send me the recipe.”
“Hang on, since when does Owen know how to cook?” Thalia teasingly asks, causing Blake to laugh as Owen frowns.
“Why else do you think I married him?” Blake snorts and Owen rolls his eyes.
“Here I was thinking you married me for my awesome personality and rocking body, but I guess I was imagining the way yo—” Blake slaps a hand over Owen’s mouth to shut him up as Thalia, Eric, and Kiera laugh heartily at the exchange. Kiera gives me a questioning look because normally this interaction is something I’d laugh at. I don’t know how to make my brain work right now, but I know I need to say something.
“How long have you guys been together?” I ask, trying to be polite, but the tone of my voice is anything but. Fuck, I should have said literally anything but that.
Thalia’s vibrant green eyes snap to look at me for the first time since we started eating, and if looks could kill, I’d be dead on the spot. “We were together last year for almost five months. We broke up a few weeks before Mimi’s funeral. We’ve been back together for a couple of weeks.”
At the mention of Mimi’s funeral, I look down at my food, and Kiera, being the goddamn saint she is, rests her hand on top of mine. I’m upset, but not for the reasons she thinks. I’m ashamed of how I acted that day, but will I tell Thalia that I’m sorry? Nope .
Her touch momentarily grounds me and a little of the unexplainable anger I feel starts to cede. I take a deep breath, missing Eric’s response, but I don’t care to hear about how they got back together. I don’t want to hear about it at all.
The conversation switches to a more neutral one as I resume my silence, but my leg won’t stop bouncing under the table with all the energy I have pent up. I ran for a long time today, but it doesn’t seem to have done anything to take the edge off. I thought having Thalia here would make her uncomfortable, but the reality is that it’s making me uncomfortable. It feels like yesterday the first time I brought her here.
~
“Bash, what are we doing here?” she asks, looking around the empty house that is larger than my grandparent’s home. I’ve been here more than a handful of times since I put an offer on the house, but I got the keys last night and wanted to surprise Thalia on her weekend trip to come see me.
“This is mine.”
Her jaw drops in disbelief, and Thalia shakes her head. “No, you’re fucking with me.”
“I promise you, love, I’m not,” I say, pulling her close to me by her hips. “Move in with me. I bought this place for us. I mean, I certainly can’t live here alone.”
A radiant smile peels across her beautiful face. “Are you sure? I’d just be here part time on the weekends until I start my online classes next semester. ”
That sounds perfect. I lean down, kissing Lia unhurriedly. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than here with her. “Of course. I was thinking we could start slow and get a dog too. I’ve always wanted one.”
“I love you, but if you pick out a small yippy dog, I’m breaking up with you,” she teases before nodding quickly, her emerald eyes shining happily. “Of course I’ll move in with you, but shouldn’t we have looked at something a little smaller? Bash, I make good money freelancing, but I don’t know if I can afford this.”
I shake my head because I already took care of everything. “No, I don’t want you to worry about that. The ad campaign I did for that bodywash commercial almost paid for this place in cash. There’s enough room for everything we could ever want: a dark room for your photography, a huge master, a big yard for our kids and dog. I want everything with you, Thalia. This can be our future.”
“You’re such a dork,” Thalia says, rising up to kiss me again. “I think I like the idea of that future, Sebastian Walker,” she mumbles against my lips.
“Oh, I think you’re going to enjoy christening every room in this house more.”
She pulls back to look at me, her cheeks flushed. “Just a quick question, but how many rooms are in this house?”
I grin cheekily at her as I guide her into the dining room with large bay windows looking over the massive deck. “More than I can possibly remember.”
“I guess we better get started then.”
~
I can hear Kiera talking next to me, but the words aren’t registering because all I can hear is the ghost of my memories, coming back to haunt me. I set my fork down on the plate, pushing my chair back. “Excuse me,” I say quietly, unable to take my eyes off Thalia.
Fuck.