Page 130 of Sebastian's Baby

I laugh at her denial and tell her, “Liar. I can see that you do. Posso baciarti?”

“Anche no.” Lita shakes her head.

“That’s a shame; I miss kissing you,” I tell her honestly.

I let go of her face, but softly brush her lips with my fingers before I drop my hand, missing the feel of her lips against mine. I’m surprised when Lita reaches her hand up, places it on the back of my head, and pulls my face to hers.

Her lips press against mine, and it’s only a few seconds before she parts her lips and allows my tongue to explore her mouth. I take full advantage of this; I kiss her passionately, and it’s the best feeling in the world. It’s as satisfying as if I’ve been walking through a desert and suddenly been offered a drink. Lita’s kiss soothes the deep and intense ache that I’ve had since Saturday, and everything is right with the world again.

We’re both breathless when our kiss ends, and we stare at each other. Lita’s desire is obvious, but I see the moment that it disappears and it’s replaced by a look of deep regret.

“Seb, I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I’m the one who made the rule.” She cringes and repeats, “I’m so sorry.”

The sting of her rejection causes the ache I’ve had to come back ten times worse than before, and I sigh. “Way to ruin a great kiss, princess.”

It’s a good reminder that she doesn’t want me, and I find that I can’t bear to be around her again. So I decide to go out clubbing tonight. I say goodbye to her before I leave, wanting more than anything to spend another night sitting with her to watch Netflix instead.

I go to a different club this time. It’s a more popular one, and the paparazzi catch me on the way in.

“Sebastian, where’s Lolita?” someone calls.

At home, not loving me.

“Are you going to sleep with someone tonight?”

No. Because Lita doesn’t want to fuck me.

“How is the baby?”

I smile because the baby is the one thing that isn’t fucked up in all of this. I love our baby, and Lita loves our baby. Nothing can ever fuck that up.

Daryl gets me into the club, and I drink away my sorrows. I dance with a woman but don’t do anything more than that before I leave and head to a hotel, unable to face going back to the apartment with Lita once again.

* * *

I head back therethe next morning and find Lita working in her office. She looks so beautiful with that frown on her face as she stares at the characters on the screen that mean nothing to me, and I can’t help but smile at the sight of her.

“Morning, princess.”

Lita looks up and gives me a smile that takes my breath away. “Hey, Seb.”

“I’m going to look at more apartments with Vince today,” I tell her.

“Cool, let me know how it goes.”

I agree and go to the guest room to shower and get changed. I sit on the bed and put my head in my hands. I think that on some level, I’ve been resisting the idea of settling on any of these apartments we’ve seen because I wanted to stay here with Lita, and it gives me an excuse to do that.

You’re pathetic.

I can’t do that, if only because it’s not fair to Lita. I know she wants her own place, somewhere that she can settle and have her things. I’ve already broken the lease on her old place, paying for two months more of rent so we wouldn’t have to move her things twice. It also gives me a deadline.

I’m determined to look at the places today with an open mind. I think that going back to Chicago might help my frame of mind because I won’t be forced to be around Lita all the time. By the afternoon, I’ve found an apartment that I think is perfect, along with two other options—one new one from today and one from Tuesday that I think Lita could choose from, so I send her a text.

I’ve found some apartments. You cool to come to see them tonight?

It doesn’t take long for her text to come through.

Sure. Sounds good.

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