Page 57 of Sebastian

I rub her back as she sobs in the white cloth. She takes a few deep breaths and looks up at me, her eyes red and puffy.

“Sebastian.” Her voice trembles as she struggles to be heard over the fireworks. “I just need you right now. I’m scared and don’t want to face this alone.”

This party, which was supposed to be a celebration, is quickly going up in flames.

“Of course, I’m here for you. Let’s go inside.”

I tuck her into my side and walk past the loud display lighting up the sky. When a server passes by with a tray of champagne, I stop him and down two glasses of the bubbly stuff before taking a third with me. I’ve gotten drunk for lesser reasons. Possibly, becoming a father with my ex-girlfriend is easily a justifiable reason to get absolutely hammered. Call it my private celebration over the funeral of my bachelor days and perhaps the death of my budding relationship with Chloe.

Veronica calms down the closer we get to the back entrance, and when she’s distracted by climbing the stairs, I quickly survey the party, looking for Paolo. I need to talk to him immediately, or I’m going to blow my shit. With him nowhere in sight, I stealthy reach for my phone and text him to find me ASAP.

“Are you hungry?” I ask, needing a way to keep her occupied while I freak the fuck out.

“I could eat,” she says in a baby voice that makes me want to rip my ears off my fucking head.

I guide her inside the catering kitchen to select a plate of fresh food before finishing my champagne and pouring myself adouble Scotch. She plops on a barstool to contently feeding her face. I pace the area like a madman, trying to figure out what the fuck I’m going to do.

How is this all possible? Once I tell Chloe, it’ll be over between us. She won’t want to be with me if I’m permanently tied to Veronica. The thought has me downing my scotch in one swig and pouring another double.

“Is there somewhere we can go to talk? In private?”

She bats her eyelashes at me, and I know precisely what she’s asking, but I’m not fucking her ever again. I made that clear after Cabo. Fuck. I got absolutely shit-faced in Cabo on that damn bachelor/bachelorette trip that we both went on. I don’t even remember most of it.

“I got to take a piss,” I blurt out, chugging the rest of my Scotch and finally feeling a sliver of effect when it burns down my throat.

“Make yourself at home or wherever.”

I don’t give two fucks where she goes. I just need to cut out and find Paolo. Her sultry expression changes to annoyance, and as she’s about to say something, I bolt from the room with my phone in my hand.

I exhale in relief as I escape, desperately seeking Paolo to help me navigate this fucking mess. The second I’m away from her, I call him and groan when he doesn’t answer. My anxiety mounts as I race around the first floor, ducking in and out of various rooms, hoping he and Taylor are inside rather than in one of the expansive booths outside.

When I dart into the library, I spot him playing billiards with his girlfriend and slamming the doors behind me. His startled face darts up, missing his shot entirely as Taylor’s hand flies to her chest in surprise.

“Thank fuck I found you.”

I cross the room in swift steps as he straightens up, concern on both of their faces.

“Is everything alright, Seb?”

Paolo leans the pool cue against the table, his fingertips grazing the felt when he approaches me.

“Fuck no! Veronica’s here.”

Paolo’s eyebrows pull together in confusion.

“You broke up. And it didn’t end well, if I recall.”

“I did, and it didn’t.”

His bewildered look deepens as he looks at Taylor, for what I don’t know.

“Then what is she doing here? And tonight, of all nights?

My palms are clammy, sweat beading under my shirt, and I really want another drink. I want to drink, get drunk, and forget this is happening. No, I want to rewind time until I never went to Cabo with her. No, that would erase Chloe too. Fuck. I don’t know what I want, but certainly not this.

“She’s been texting and tried to call, but I blocked her. I figured she wanted to get back together. She said she called you too.”

Paolo looks even more bewildered, shaking his head in disagreement before looking at Taylor. Of course, Veronica would lie about that shit, trying to get my boy in trouble with me. I begin to pace, my hand running through my hair as I look around the room, wondering if Jiles kept the decanter here. When I don’t see it, I exhale loudly. Taylor stands beside Paolo, watching me walk as I muster up the courage to answer his questions.

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