That was fucking funny.
“She’s not entirely wrong. I wouldn’t kick you out of bed.” I smirked at him.
He looked oddly proud.
I clapped him on the back and nodded at Sophia. “We’ll talk later, you lovebirds.”
After a quick round of goodbyes, Blake and I left the hospital room, and I draped an arm around his shoulders.
“But most of all, I prefer to make kissy faces with you.” I kissed his cheek.
He chuckled. “Glad to hear it.”
Once we got down to the parking lot, I asked if I could take him to lunch. It sounded better than coffee, and I knew just the place. I’d learned that he loved seafood, especially shrimp and—
“Actually, I’m all kinds of beat.” He squinted for the sun and slid on his hat. “Hospitals give me the worst headache too.”
I switched gears from disappointment to worry. “Then you should get some rest.” I hesitated. I wanted him to rest up at my place, where I could… Fuck. Where I could take care of him. God-fucking-dammit, I’d sunk too far. “It’s not that far of a walk for me to my place if you wanna go straight back to Soph and Dylan’s.”
He furrowed his brow and retrieved the keys to his rental. “Don’t be stupid. I’ll drive you home first.”
But then he was going back to their place.
“We’ll do somethin’ tomorrow, yeah?” He glanced at me briefly.
I wasn’t sure if he said that for my sake or his, but I felt the strongest urge to reassure him that there was no pressure.
“Whenever you feel up to it,” I replied.
I got a text later that day from Sophia, telling me they were back home again. Because “damn if they’re gonna charge us for another night.” All was well with the family, and Dylan was going to spend the night with Isabella in the main bedroom so that Soph could rest up in Teddy’s room.
Other than that, my phone was quiet all evening.
In need of company, I retreated upstairs and cuddled up with the boys and Lily on the balcony. Feet crossed at the ankles, resting atop the railing, Mischa asleep on the floor, Echo next to me with his head on my lap, drink in my hand, Lily on my shoulder, complete darkness, and the rush of the waves that rolled in on the beach.
Just a few weeks ago, this moment would’ve brought me peace. It had, so many times.
I didn’t feel great now.
I took a sip of my drink and knew who I had to call.
As well as Sophia knew me, she didn’t give it to me bluntly like my sister.
“Give Daddy your thoughts and prayers. This could get ugly.” I picked up my phone from the armrest and pushed call on Marlene’s number.
She answered on the second ring. “Hey, you. Lemme just pour a glass of wine.”
I smirked and set her on speaker so I could drink at the same time. “That kind of day, huh?”
“The boys used my sixty-dollar lipstick to write ‘We love you, Mommy’ on the living room wall.”
“Oof.” I winced and chuckled into my glass. Knowing Marlene, she’d been infuriated but refused to show it. My nephews were sweethearts, and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for them, but yeah, they were a rambunctious handful.
“I posted a picture of it on Insta,” she said. “I’ve never gotten so many likes and laughs.”
I grinned to myself and scratched Echo behind his ear. “I’ll have a look later.”
She let out a sigh and sounded like she’d just sat down. “So I saw Sophia and Dylan had their daughter. I sent them my love.” A picture must’ve ended up on social media. Teddy was ready to shout it across the rooftops, so it could be him. “I thought it was too soon to give reminders, but please ask her to make a registry soon,” she said. “I don’t know what they need and what they already have.”
“I think they have everything,” I murmured distractedly. I had vague memories of the baby shower. “But you know, money’s tight, and diapers are expensive. I’m sure they’ll appreciate basic shit more than some fancy pumping machine.”
“Pumping machine,” Marlene laughed. “Oh God. You’re the guy who would walk into a baby store and ask where the chew toys were.”
I didn’t know what she was talking about.
“Anyway, I’ll put together a gift basket,” she said. “What can I do for you, big brother?”
No use in beating around the bush… “I was wondering if you have a theory on why I keep people at arm’s length.”
“Oh, dear. Did something happen? Did you accidentally fall into another relationship that went down the crapper?”
Jesus, here we go. She didn’t sugarcoat.
“What’s that supposed to mean, fall into?” I asked.
“It’s what you do, Sebastian. You never pursue anything other than casual flings, but every now and then, it evolves into more than that, and it’s okay until you start to feel suffocated. I’m not sure you’ve ever actually been in love with someone. You ride the chemistry wave until it fades out.”