Page 157 of Sebastian's Baby

“No. The sentence was announced?”

“Where the fuck have you been? It was announced hours ago.”

Whoops.

Amidst the binge drinking I’ve been doing today, I forgot to check for the news.

“I’ve been at Hayden’s,” I say defensively.

“Are you drunk?” Heather asks, sounding suspicious.

“Maybe. What’s the news?”

I desperately try to get her back on topic and away from my messy lovelife, because there are a thousand things I want to say to her right now, and I’mjustwith it enough to know that I shouldn’t say any of them.

“He got sentenced to forty-four years in prison. Four years for everyone except Cooper. It was five years for him, plus the extra three years for great bodily injury. Victor’s lawyer already announced that he’s going to appeal, though.”

“Of course he will,” I snort. “I hope that fucking asshole loses every fucking appeal.”

“Me, too. So, anyway, what are you and Hayden up to tonight?” she asks casually.

“Going to Club Delirium with Blake.”

I use Blake as a shield against Heather coming with us because I know she won’t want to come if she knows he’s with us.

“I see. Do you have a moment to talk? You haven’t been answering my messages.”

“I’ve been busy, but I can’t really talk at the moment. We’re almost there, so I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

I end the call and swallow heavily as I look at the screen. It’s strange to try and avoid Heather, but I know exactly what she wants to talk to me about.

“Trouble in paradise?” Blake asks with a smug grin at me.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I say casually.

“Normally, you’re drooling all over her and calling her your lover. What’s wrong?”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “What’s wrong is you being here, I think. Hayden, can we have Jesse pull the car over and kick Blake to the curb?”

“No, Sebastian, we can’t. Blake, that’s enough. We’re going to have a good night, remember?”

Hayden stares at Blake, who holds his hands up. “Fine, fine. We won’t talk about Sebastian being obviously weird, and we’ll have a good night.”

I’m relieved when the car pulls up at the club. We head inside and get drinks before we go to the VIP area. I don’t know why I keep coming here, because it reminds me of Lita. Maybe that’s why I keep coming here, though. I pull out my phone and open her messages. I want to message her, but I don’t know what to say.

She doesn’t love me, and sending her drunk texts won’t change that, so I slip my phone into my pocket and finish my drink.

“I’m going to go dance,” I tell Hayden and Blake.

They look at me, and Hayden frowns. “Are you sure?”

“What else would I do at a club?” I ask with a shrug of my shoulders.

I leave them behind and make my way to the dance floor. It’s hot here, and the music is loud. I end up dancing with a hot brunette woman who approaches me after less than a minute. She reminds me of Lita, and I don’t want this woman. I want Lita.

We dance for the length of a song, but people are looking at me, and I feel sick from the combination of the heat, the noise, and the alcohol. I also don’t want anyone to take pictures of me with this woman. As hurt as I am, I promised Lita that I would be discreet, and being pictured dancing with a woman might start rumors.

“Thanks for the dance,” I say with a smile as I turn and walk away from her.

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