Page 212 of Sebastian's Baby

“Yeah, well, I thought that I might do an offshoot of Serenity for maternity clothes. Those clothes in the stores were mostly awful. I figured that I could try out lots of different styles and see what looks good, what feels comfortable, and what works. Some of these might not be great, so I was hoping that you’d be willing to give me feedback on them.”

Lita shakes her head, looking amazed. “Of course, Heather. I’mmorethan happy to do that.”

“I wish we’d started earlier in your pregnancy when your bump was smaller, so I could design for the whole pregnancy. I think that some styles will work better toward the end, but if you’re willing to keep trying out different styles for me, I’d appreciate it.”

“Would I like to wear a Heather Fletcher original design every day of my pregnancy? Um, fuck yes,” Lita laughs.

“Well, go try them on, then.” Heather smiles at Lita.

Lita takes some of the clothes and disappears into a small changing room that’s at the side of the big room. I’m left alone with Heather, and it actually feels awkward between us for maybe the first time ever.

“Are we okay, Seb?” Heather asks me.

I look at her and bite back a sarcastic reply before saying, “Sure, Heather.”

“Stop calling me that.” She frowns at me. “It doesn’t seem like we’re okay.”

There are so many thoughts running through my head. Over a decade of things that I want to tell her, but I won’t. I’m a complete pro at not saying things to Heather.

“Sorry, lover, we’re completely fine.”

It’s a lie, and she probably knows it.

Sure enough, she narrows her eyes at me and says, “I don’t believe you.”

I can’t resist laughing because she does know me too well. “Well, that’s what I’m telling you. Whether you believe it or not is your choice.”

Our conversation is interrupted when Lita comes out of the changing room. She’s wearing a green dress made of soft, stretchy material. It has elbow-length sleeves and stops about an inch above Lita’s knees. It hugs her curves and shows off her bump.

She looks stunning, and I have to fight against the urge to go over to her and take her in my arms. I’ve enjoyed watching Lita wearing my clothes; it’s made me feel connected to her, but seeing her in a dress designed to look good on her is much nicer.

Heather claps with excitement when she sees her. “You look amazing! This is much more like what I envisioned you wearing.”

“Clearly, since you made it for her,” I say in a dry tone, but I’m not looking at Heather. I can’t take my eyes off Lita, and I tell her, “You look amazing.”

“See? That’s the reaction you want. You’d never get that from him if you were wearing a tent.” Heather indicates to me with her hand.

I shrug but still don’t look away, drinking in the sight of the woman I love as she looks back at me. “Lita could be wearing a sack, and she’d look just as good.”

“You haven’t seen her wearing a maternity tent,” Heather laughs.

“I stand by my assessment,” I say with a smirk on my face. “Clothes don’t make her more beautiful; in fact, I can attest to the fact that she looks better naked.”

Lita scurries back into the change room, and I laugh. I saw the blush on her face before she did. She definitely still wants me, despite everything that’s fucked up between us.

“Do you think that’s an appropriate comment to make?” Heather asks me.

“Since when have I ever been appropriate, Heather Fletcher?” I grin at her.

“My full name, Sebastian Fox? Yeah, sure, we’re okay. I’ve apologized for what I did, and I don’t know what I can do to make this better.”

I shake my head. She doesn’t get that she can’t make this better. She broke something between us, or I broke it. I’m not sure which, and I’ve kind of been avoiding thinking about it.

“Look, lover,” I figure that using her nickname might help, “it is what it is. I’m still of the opinion that you need to stay out of my business on this.”

“It’s so weird having boundaries with you, Seb. There’s never been anything that we couldn’t talk about before. I don’t like it.” Heather is practically pouting when she says it.

I laugh. “Well, you’re going to need to get used to it. Unless something drastically changes, I can’t see my relationship with Lita being something that I’ll want to discuss with you for a while.”

---