Page 45 of From Fake Dates to Forever Goals

“Wine?” he asks, gesturing to the waiter.

“I’m okay, thank you,” I say, covering my glass with my hand.

Sebastian looks at me, then at the waiter, sensing something is off.

“Could you give us a moment, please?” he tells the waiter, who quickly steps away.

An awkward silence falls between us.

“What’s going on, Ava?” Sebastian asks, leaning forward, his brows furrowing.

“I have something to tell you,” I begin, rubbing my hands together nervously.

“Tell me what?” he presses.

“I’m pregnant,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. My fists clench under the table.

“You’re what?” he chokes out, his voice cracking.

“I’m pregnant,” I repeat firmly.

“You’re joking,” he says, letting out a nervous laugh.

“I took a test this afternoon,” I explain, feeling my hands tremble in my lap.

Sebastian pinches the bridge of his nose, exhaling loudly.

“This isn’t great timing, Ava.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. My heart races faster at his reaction.

“And you think it’s good timing for me?” I snap, anger flaring in my chest.

“What do you want me to say, huh?”

“I don’t know!” I catch myself before my voice rises. “I guess I was just hoping for a different reaction.”

Sebastian sighs deeply, his frustration visible.

“I’m at the peak of my career, Ava. I can’t have a kid right now.”

I take a moment to absorb his words, feeling my emotions swell.

“I’m not forcing you to do this,” I say, my voice trembling. Tears threaten to spill, but I fight to keep them at bay. Right now, he doesn’t deserve my tears.

Sebastian leans in, his hands resting on the table.

“Ava, you don’t have to do this either,” he says. His words hang in the air, heavy with implication. “You can get an abortion. This doesn’t have to derail either of our lives.”

I let out a sharp breath and cross my arms.

“No,” I say firmly, meeting his gaze.

“Have you even thought about how much this will change your life?” His voice rises, louder than he intended. “Think about it, Ava.”

“All I’ve been doing is thinking about it, Sebastian,” I say, my voice steady but laced with emotion. “Since the moment I saw those two lines, I’ve thought about nothing else. How this would change my life. How this would changeeverything. I’ve made lists, weighed my options, and tried to envision every possible outcome. But you know what? I’ve made my decision.”

Sebastian stares at me, his expression unreadable.

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