Page 108 of The Dating Pact

Trying and failing to wipe her mouth clean with my fingers, I searched for something to help, and Jude held out a napkin. I took it with a quiet thanks and wiped Amelia down before standing up straight to finish the rest of the treat. Holding it out to Jude, I offered him a bite, which he declined.

His focus pinned on my mouth as I finished the rest, licking my lips, and he shook his head as if coming to. He blinked down to Amelia. “Didn’t you say you had something for Brooke? What did you do with it?”

She held up one of her unicorns—Purse, I believed—but didn’t have whatever the thing was she’d apparently brought for me. “I-I-I think I forgot it at your table.” She stuck her finger up at me. “Be right back.”

“Amelia!” Jude took off after his sprinting daughter, leaving me with only Sebastian.

He pointedly ignored me, his foot scuffing the macadam, so I tried an easy greeting. “How’s it going, Seb? Do you like fifth grade so far?”

He nodded, answering with a mumbled, “It’s good.”

“Good. I’m glad.” After a few moments, I tried again. “You didn’t want a cupcake?”

He shook his head.

“Why not?”

He combed his hand through his hair the same way Jude did and chanced a peek at me. When I offered a small smile, he told me, “Dad said I could have a cupcake now, or he’d take me out later, just me and him, for something.”

“Oh? That’s great. Where are you going to go?”

“Probably for ice cream.”

“That’ll be nice. I’m glad you are having some one-on-one time with your dad. I think you two need it.”

He studied me under dark, thick lashes, frowning. I started to turn away since, obviously, today was not the day to bury the hatchet, when he said, “I’m sorry.”

I flicked my gaze up to find Jude and Amelia on their way back to me, but when he caught my pointed look, he stopped to check out Sarah Ann and Tori’s soaps, easily redirecting Amelia.

I gestured for Sebastian to follow me behind my table, out of the way of people, and we sat on the two folding chairs while Nicole took care of any customers. Facing each other now, Seb couldn’t avoid me. I leaned forward, lightly tapping his knee. “I’m sorry too.”

His throat bobbed on a swallow, his gaze down at where he picked at his thumbnail. “What are you sorry for?”

“I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable in your own home. That is the last thing I want to do, and you’re smart, so I won’t pretend like you don’t know what it means that I was in bed with your dad.”

He folded his arms, nodding a few times, and when he didn’t respond, I figured I could keep going.

“I want you to know that I love your dad. I’ve loved him like a friend for a very long time, and I recently realized that I love him as more than a friend. I also want you to know that I understand you and your sister are a package deal with him. I would never ever want to hurt you, not only because you’re part of the package deal, but also because I really like you. I think you’re a pretty cool kid.”

He finally lifted his head, reluctantly meeting my gaze. I considered that a win.

“I like that you’re a great big brother, protective and kind. I also think you’re brave for going after what you want and trying out for the baseball team.” When he opened his mouth to speak, probably to argue that point, I stopped him with my hand on his shoulder. “It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there. A lot of people won’t try things because they’re afraid to fail, but you tried. I know you were really upset you didn’t make it, and I was upset for you too. I wish you would have made the team, but I also know you’re going to try again next year, and I’m really proud of you.”

He seemed amazed that I knew all of that.

I smiled. “Your dad told me you’re still practicing in the backyard, and that Uncle Dylan is coming over to help sometimes.”

He nodded. “Yeah. I have to work on my mechanics.”

I didn’t know what that meant, but I was happy he was even talking to me. “Well, good for you for doing that.”

He sat up from his slouched position and rubbed his hand over his jaw, exactly like his dad. I imagined Sebastian twenty years from now, rubbing his hand over his bearded jaw. “Did, uh, did my dad tell you that he’s making me talk to a therapist?”

“He told me you all are.”

“Yeah, but it’s mainly me.”

“That’s okay, though. Lots of people go to therapy. I did. It helped me a lot.”

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