Page 7 of Chance

"How do you know I will be?" Her face is just curious now as she talks.

"I'm good at guessing." I shrug.

She giggles before saying, "Let's go and get lunch, Sebby." She tugs on my hand as we walk to the lunch hall. I grin at the nickname, knowing I like hearing her say it.

Maisy didn't say no, and when I ask her to be my girlfriend a month later, she gives me my first kiss and says yes.

I wake up from that memory in my dreams before remembering everything that happened yesterday. What a complete fuck-up. A father, I'm going to be a fucking father. I can't believe it, and it's with Maisy. The girl I dreamed of having it all with before I fucked up, maybe this is the wake-up call I’ve needed for a long-ass time. I need to sort my shit out.

I shake my head to get her out of my thoughts and check the time on my phone. It’s seven in the morning, and I haven't slept all night. I came straight back from seeing Maisy and went to bed to avoid my worried family and their questions. My brothers and Izzy tried to talk to me, but I couldn't give them the answers they needed without thinking. A night of restless sleep didn’t give me any answers, except one. I’m going to get my girl back and have the family I’ve always wanted with her.

I have three months until l I meet my son, and I need a fucking, good game plan, which starts with a home. Maisy and my son need a home, and I'm going to buy one. I have fuck loads of money, which means nothing without her. I learnt that the hard way the last few months. I inherited well over one million when I turned sixteen, and I haven't touched it other than to drink myself to death. Now, the reason I want to spend it is a decent one. I need to fix all my mistakes the best I can and take care of my new responsibilities.

My gaze goes around my blue-and-black-themed room, my massive bed takes up most of it, with a TV in the corner on the wall and two bookcases next to it. They are filled with books. I spend way too much time reading, not that anyone other than Maisy knew about my secret hobby. My wardrobe is huge and filled with a stupid amount of clothes, I know I will be donating a lot to a charity soon. I grab my laptop out of my bedside unit and switch it on as I make my bed.

I open my laptop and spend hours looking at houses nearby. I don’t want to be too far away from my family as I’m going to need them, but I finally choose three to look at. I book appointments this Monday to view them and ponder how I’m going to get Maisy to see them with me. I know she is the most stubborn woman I’ve met, and I can’t use sex to get her to agree with me like I used to. Fuck, I’m going to have to ask for help.

I hop into the shower, and then dress in a black hoodie, blue top, and jeans before making myself go downstairs to face the music.

Izzy is sitting in the kitchen drinking water, and she is wearing a blue dress, which I helped her buy, and black leggings. Her green eyes latch onto mine, and she puts down her drink and runs to me, pulling me into a massive hug. For someone so damn small, she can hug tightly, but I swear she makes everything better. My sister is awesome, like the mother I never had, I guess. I never thought I needed women in my life after Maisy went, but Izzy is different to have around.

"Are you okay?" She searches my eyes while sitting back down on a stool, facing me.

"I don't know," I say honestly while getting a bottle of water out of the fridge.

"I’ll text the boys, we need a family chat, Sebastian,"she says seriously with her worried gaze watching me like a hawk.

"Yeah, we do."I sigh, grabbing an apple out of the fruit bowl and leaning against one of the counters while taking a huge bite.

"You didn't know?"she enquires gently, there isn’t any accusation in her voice, which makes me relax rather than tense up.

"No," I say, and she nods at me. She trusts me not to lie to her, and I like that she doesn’t need to ask me again. I grab some cereal and start eating it out of the box. It's a bad habit–something I used to do as a kid–but I don't give a shit now.

"They are all in the gym, let’s go."She waves at me, and I put my stuff away before following.

I follow her down to the basement, which has been converted into a gym, and all of my brothers glance up when I walk in. The music is blasting as Elliot continues punching the crap out of a punching bag, and Luke is running on a treadmill. Harley is lifting weights, which is what I would usually be doing now if I didn’t need to sort my shit out.

There are a few sofas next to a bar in here, too, and I walk over to the bar stools with Izzy. My brothers sit on the couches after Harley uses a remote to switch the speakers off.

"So, congratulations, Daddy," Luke says with a grin, always the smartass.

"Shut up, Luke," Izzy says with a playful groan, glaring at him.

"Right, just to start with, are you going to be there for this baby?" Harley asks, starting the serious conversation. Harley is watching me with a degree of calm, and I know if I say no his anger will spike, and it’s likely he will enjoy telling me how fucked-up I am.

"Yes, of course I fucking am. We discussed this last night. I have my work cut out for me as she doesn't trust me, but she won't stop me from being in my baby’s life."My words are clipped and more defensive than I should have made them. While Elliot won’t look at me, Luke nods with a big smile.

"Good. Have you thought about how you’re going to cope with a baby and uni?"Harley asks, drawing my stare back to him. I’m meant to be at university now, and I’ve missed a load of classes since I started, anyway. I’m just not interested in the course, and I’m not sure why I even bothered getting in, it’s a waste of money for me.

"Not yet, I'm looking at buying a house and moving Maisy in.” Luke frowns, he’s about to say something but I carry on speaking. “Look, her parents are crazy, and she can't get out without my help, but she is too damn stubborn to accept my help. What do I do?"I ask.

"You’re moving out?" Elliot asks, bestowing me a look full of judgement.

“Yes,” I answer.

“Another fucking, irresponsible act. You’re fucking eighteen, and this girl has fucked with you enough. Don’t leave your family to live with her. You can move her in here,” Elliot says, and I clench my fists so I won’t punch my twin. I love the fucker, but he doesn’t understand feelings or what it’s like with Maisy. Hell, he never fucking did.

"I don't think she will let me live with her, but I hope, in time, we can sort us out. You know I love her, bro. I never stopped, but I fucked up in more ways than one."I look away from Elliot as I don’t want to hear his opinion on me being irresponsible. Fuck, I know I was.

---