Page 61 of Sebastian's Baby

Complete silence greets my statement as my parents stare at me without saying anything. Mom’s mouth drops open slightly, and Dad blinks a couple of times before he seems to get himself together. He walks over to one of the armchairs facing the sofa, and Mom follows him.

It feels like we’re about to be subjected to an interrogation, and that feeling intensifies with Mom’s first question. “How did you meet?”

“I won a competition to meet Cruise Control.”

Lita doesn’t sound nervous, but I know she is because she’s gripping my hand tightly.

“I see.” Mom says it in a cool voice and sounds judgmental as hell when she asks, “So, you’re a fan?”

Lita frowns at her. “Yes, I am. Not that it has any bearing on this situation.”

“No?” Mom raises an eyebrow at Lita.

“No. I mean, fan or not, it doesn’t change the fact I’m pregnant,” Lita shrugs.

“How long have you been dating my son? You’ll have to excuse our shock, but we were unaware of your existence until a few minutes ago,” Dad says stiffly.

“We’re not dating,” Lita tells him.

She gives me a panicked look, and I realize that I’ve left her to fend off my parents’ questions. Even if they’re directing them at her, I should probably shield her from some of them.

“She’s right.” I turn to smile at my parents. “Look, we’re making the best out of a bad situation. Our contraception failed, now there’s a baby on the way. Can’t you be happy for us?”

“Sebastian.” Dad has a scowl on his face as he says my name. “You come here with this girl we’ve never met, tell us she’s pregnant, and then want us to be happy for you. This is a bit much, even for you.”

Dad has never approved of the way I live my life. He supported my dreams of becoming a rock star in the sense that he allowed me to get guitar lessons and sent me to the camp where I met the guys, but he was always harder on me than Mom growing up. Since I became famous, he hasn’t hesitated to give me his opinion on the things he sees printed about me in the media.

I’m unsurprised when he stands and leaves the room without saying anything else.

“Well, that went well, don’t you think?” I announce sarcastically.

“No, I don’t think that went well, Sebastian Fox.” Lita pulls her hand out of mine and turns her head to glare at me. “It’s incredibly unfair of you to bring me here from Seattle under the pretense of meeting your parents and telling them our news—which, I might add, is stressful enough—but to ambush them with me when I get here is completely and utterly unfair to both them and to me.”

I cringe because, as usual, Lita is right. I handled this badly, and I’m sure this experience has been uncomfortable for her.

“You owe all of us an apology. I’ll admit, I haven’t told my parents who exactly I’m bringing to meet them or why, but shit, at least I told them I’m bringing someone. As far as I can tell, your parents didn’t even knowyouwere coming to see them today, let alone me.”

She’s breathing heavily and has her eyes narrowed at me, and I regret upsetting her. “I’m sorry, Lita, I should’ve thought this through better. I didn’t know how to tell them, and I thought it would be easier if you were here with me.”

“I get that you were scared; that’s fine, Seb. Just fucking tell me, so I know what I’m walking into.” Lita sighs, and we fall silent.

“You live in Seattle?” Mom asks, and Lita jumps in surprise before turning to look at her.

“Yes, I do,” she confirms.

“How far along are you?”

Mom has at least dropped the cool tone she was using when she first started this interrogation, which is something.

“I’m thirteen weeks tomorrow.”

“And your family has no idea yet that you’re pregnant by my son?”

“No clue,” Lita cringes. “He’s coming to Seattle next weekend to tell them with me.”

Mom smiles and turns to me with an amused look on her face and says, “Have fun with that, bello.”

My nerves at the thought of meeting Lita’s family return in full force. Today isn’t exactly going that well, and next week I’m going to be the one in the hot seat.

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