Page 47 of From Fake Dates to Forever Goals

She came to me for help and support, and instead, I let her down miserably. I wasn’t the man I wanted to be in that moment. My insecurities got the better of me. I felt trapped, as if I were being forced to choose between her and my career. But that’s not true—she never asked me to choose. I could have my career and still stand by her, the woman I love, and take responsibility for our child.

What have you done, Sebastian?

I feel lost and alone, knowing I’ve just ruined the best thing in my life. Ava wasn’t with me because of my fame or money. She loved me for who I was, for the potential she saw in me. That kind of love is rare, and I threw it away in a single moment of fear.

When Ava told me she was pregnant, I didn’t know how to process it. For as long as I can remember, my career has been my top priority. I’ve worked tirelessly to get where I am, and I’ve never even considered the possibility of becoming a father—especially now, when my career is finally taking off.

But I love Ava. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. She’s like a breath of fresh air, a warm blanket on a cold, stormy night. She made me face my demons and become a better version of myself. The day we made our agreement, I never thought I’d fall for her. I thought we were just using each other to get what we wanted. But the more time I spent with her, the more I realized I couldn’t stop myself from falling.

Even though we’ve declared our love for each other, I never imagined we’d be talking about starting a family so soon. I thought we’d have time to enjoy being together, to build our lives. I never expected this, and I wasn’t ready.

But now, as I sit alone with my thoughts, I realize something important: Idon’twant to lose Ava. Knowing she’s carrying my child, I can’t bear the thought of not being by her side.

She came to me, confident and hopeful, and I pushed her away. I made her feel like she was alone in the world. I hate myself for it. Ava deserves someone who will stand by her, someone who won’t falter when things get tough.

Needing to clear my mind, I decide to head back home to Chicago. Maybe being with my mom will help me figure things out.

The next morning, I take the first flight back.

“Shouldn’t you be back in California? Or did the team give you more time off to see your dear old mother?” Mom asks as I walk through the door.

I set my bags down, feeling the weight of everything pressing on me. “I just missed home,” I say, avoiding the real reason I’m here.

“Well, it’s always a treat to see you, son,” she says, pulling me into a hug.

“How have you been feeling?” I ask, genuinely concerned.

“Oh, a silly old heart attack isn’t going to keep me down,” she jokes. “I’m doing just fine, honey.”

It would take a hurricane to knock her down. My mom has always been the strongest person I know, with an iron will that’s carried her through life’s storms. She’s always been my rock.

That evening, we sit together looking at old photographs.

“I was quite the head-turner,” Mom says with a sigh, holding up a picture of her younger self.

I nod, smiling. “You were a diva.”

She clears her throat and gives me a look.

“I mean, you still are,” I quickly correct myself, and she laughs.

“Look at this one,” she says, handing me a photo. “Your fifth birthday at Grandma’s.”

As I sift through the photographs, I notice something strange. My father is hardly in any of them.

“Why aren’t there any of Dad?” I ask, flipping through the piles.

Her expression falters for a moment. “Your father wasn’t around much then,” she admits quietly.

The sadness in her voice cuts through me. I realize I’ve touched on an old wound.

“It must have been hard for you,” I say, my voice soft.

She looks at me, her strength shining through even as the pain lingers in her eyes. “It was,” she says simply.

And in that moment, I realize that strength isn’t just about pushing forward—it’s about enduring, about facing life head-on even when it doesn’t go as planned. And if my mom could do it, so can I.

I’ve never really thought about it, but my father was in and out of my life, while my mother was always by my side.

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