Chapter Twenty-Eight - Thalia
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Thalia
“THAT ONE!” HENRY points excitedly to a portrait from the time I spent in Africa when I happened across a herd of elephants. I’m helping Chris out today by keeping Henry while he meets with his divorce lawyer, so we’re hanging out at the gallery for a few hours to pick out new portraits to replace the one’s I’ve sold.
I ruffle his hair as he claps happily. “And where do you think it should go?”
He’s a sweet kid, and I don’t mind watching him when Chris needs me to. With the current agreement, Allie gets him for one week out of the month, which, with what I’ve learned about their marriage, is one week too much.
“Over here, Auntie Lia!” Henry calls out, pointing to an empty spot on the wall. My heart nearly explodes as he beams at me. I love being Auntie Lia.
“Looks good, buddy. I think you’re right.”
Man, I really love this kid.
I walk to grab the portrait, carrying it carefully to the corner Henry is waiting for me in. “What do you think, little legs?” I ask, taking a step back to look at it hanging, but his attention has already been drawn to something else.
I turn to see what’s captured his attention, only to find Sebastian Walker standing there. I rub my eyes quickly to make sure I’m not hallucinating him really being here. I haven’t heard from him since that last night before he went to training camp early, but it’s annoying how much I think about this man.
“Who is that?” Henry asks, tugging on my hand as he moves to hide behind my legs.
I’m at a loss for words. His dark hair is cut shorter than it was the last time I saw him, he appears to be more muscular if even possible, and Sebastian looks as devastatingly handsome as always. My heart stutters happily in my chest. He’s here.
Henry tugs on my hand again, and I crouch down to his level. “That’s Bash. He’s one of Daddy and Auntie Lia’s friends.”
“I’m hoping to be more than just a friend to you…if that’s okay?” Sebastian asks behind me, and my head snaps quickly to find him.
“Do you mean that?” I ask, my voice shaking with nerves.
He nods, a slow smile curving his lips I desperately want to kiss. “I don’t need more time. I think we’ve had plenty of space the past few years that it feels a little pointless now to deny you all this.” Bash flexes jokingly, and Henry giggles. I didn’t think it was possible to fall more in love with this man, but I was wrong.
A smile peels across my face because I’m so done with space. It’s been good to clear my head, but all that showed me was how much I wanted to be with him. “Are you serious?”
“One thousand percent.”
I let go of Henry’s hand, closing the distance between me and Bash to jump into his arms, wrapping my legs around his trim waist. I don’t hesitate pressing my lips against his as he holds me up. “Thank fucking god,” I whisper against his mouth before kissing him again.
Oh shit, Henry . Fuck. I pull away, keeping my arms looped around his neck as I reluctantly unwind myself from Sebastian, planting my feet on the ground. Bash’s eyes flicker to Henry as slow clapping starts from the front entrance.
“Really? In front of Henry? You’re such a great babysitter, Thalia,” Chris muses sarcastically, and Henry yells happily.
“Daddy!”
“In my defense, it was only for a couple seconds before I remembered I’m babysitting,” I try to defend myself, but I know it’s a weak attempt. What are the odds that Bash shows up today of all days, and then Chris is here to witness our moment while I’m watching Henry.
Sebastian shifts awkwardly next to me, and it dawns on me that they might not have spoken since their argument a few months ago. Between Chris and the divorce, and Bash with training camp plus all the Kiera shit, there’s been a lot going on. He lifts his arm to scratch the back of his neck, and my mind squirrels to zero in on the tight fit of his shirt. He definitely has more muscles. Hell, I didn’t think that was possible. Is it possible for muscles to grow muscles?
“If you’re done ogling him like a piece of meat, I’d like to talk to you about something, Lia,” Chris says, and I can feel my cheeks grow red hot. Sebastian looks down at me, smirking triumphantly.
“I wasn’t ogling Bash, I was simply observing differences from the last time I saw him.” I scoff, trying to play it off. “Whatever, let’s go talk.”
Chris kneels down to speak softly to Henry, who turns to look at Bash as if he’s walking on water. “Can he stay with you for a minute?” Chris asks, and Bash smiles warmly at Henry.
“Of course.”
Chris motions for me to follow him to the other side of the gallery as Henry leads Bash to the stack of portraits we were going through before. “So what’s up?” I ask nervously, a little afraid that he’s going to chew my ass out. It’s something he’s good at, and probably something I deserve right now.
His shoulders slump in defeat as he turns to watch Sebastian and Henry together. “I don’t know what to do, Thalia.”
“How bad?”
“She’s using him as a bargaining chip,” he admits, exhaling slowly as tears form in his eyes. “I don’t know how we got to this point.”
“Chris…I don’t even know what to say.”
He blinks rapidly, shaking his head. “There’s nothing to say. I can’t lose him, though. Henry is everything to me, but Allie knows that. She’s threatening to sue for full custody if I don’t give her what she wants.”
My heart drops to my stomach. “Can she even do that?” I ask in disbelief, but I can’t even imagine how Chris is feeling right now .
“I don’t know. My lawyer says that if it goes to trial, it’ll get ugly, so it’d be better to settle.” Chris drags a hand over his face tiredly. “The worst part is, I don’t want full custody. I want Allie to be in Henry’s life because I know what a kind and loving person she can be…but now I’m starting to wonder if I ever knew her at all.”
That might be the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever heard.
My loyalty will always lie with Chris, but I’m honestly surprised to hear that Allie would even threaten to sue for full custody of Henry. Last time I was around them, Allie acted like Henry was more of a nuisance than a child she’d want full time. Chris loves being a dad; it’s obvious just by the way he looks at his son.
“You’re a good father, Chris. He knows you love him,” I say quietly, hoping that Chris believes me.
“Thank you for watching him today,” he says after a moment, his voice thick with emotion.
“Anytime. Seriously, I love spending time with him. Please let me know if you need anything, okay?”
Chris forces a sad smile that only breaks my heart further. “Thanks, Lia. I just can’t believe it’s coming to this.”
“Me either,” I say, wrapping an arm around his back as Henry’s contagious laughter rings from the other side of the gallery. Henry is now sitting on top of Sebastian’s shoulders with a wide smile on his face.
“So I take it you’re back together?”
“I think so—pretty sure, at least.”
It feels wrong to be happy right now when his marriage is falling apart .
“For good?” he teases, and I laugh quietly. It’s a valid question, considering how many times Sebastian and I have gone back and forth.
“I think so. That’s the plan anyway.” I nod, unable to keep the smile off my face. “Is the beard gone for good?”
Chris shrugs. “I might grow it back, but I didn’t want to show up to my lawyer’s office with it. I understand why men grow them; it grew on me not having to shave every couple of days.”
“You looked like a woolly mammoth. I’m glad it’s gone.”
“You’re so fucking dramatic, Lia.” He snorts, and I playfully stick my tongue out at him. “It’s about damn time you’re together again. Bash almost bit my head off last time I saw him, but he’s never not loved you. I’m just glad you two idiots could finally figure it out; we’ve all been waiting a long time for you to get back together.”
“I think we both had some growing up to do before we could get here.”
“I’d have to agree with you,” he says, smiling genuinely this time.
“Shut up.” I shove his shoulder as Chris laughs deeply. His smile remains as Henry’s laughter echoes again. Bash definitely won him over. “It’s going to be okay, Chris,” I say reassuringly.
He smiles uneasily. “I hope so.”
Henry points at us, and Sebastian tilts his head questioningly to ask if they can come over. Chris nods, pulling me to meet them in the middle. “I’m a giant!” Henry exclaims, laughing contagiously.
“Yes, you are, buddy,” I agree as Bash crouches down to let him climb down .
He throws his arms around my leg, beaming up at me with a toothy grin. This kid could ask me for the moon and I’d find a way to get it for him.
Chris is watching him sadly, and I hate the fear in his eyes. I wish I knew what Allie was thinking so I could do more to help, but unfortunately, I can’t do anything more than I’m already doing. Allie and I were never the best of friends.
Sebastian wraps an arm around my shoulders as they wave at us on their way out the gallery.
Shaking off the pit in my stomach about Allie, I indulge selfishly in my own happiness by looking up at the man I love. “So where were we?”