“Well?”He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the dresser.
“I’mnottellin’ you shit.” I laughed, pulling my hat backon.
Sebastianrolled his eyes. “I’d never expect you to kiss and tell, dude. I’m asking, areyou guys good? You feel okay about this?”
“Yeah.” I nodded confidently, smiling lightly.“I do.”
“Good.I’m happy for you.” He nodded sincerely. These moments when he could leave hishumor at the door and was serious were rare, and I took the bait.
“Ijust hope I can keepherhappy,” Iadmitted, taking the opportunity to voice a concern that’d started to grow lastnight and into today.
“Dude.”He chuckled incredulously. “You’re more of a catch than I am, and that’s sayinga lot. You have nothing to worry about.”
Ishook my head and crossed my arms. “I got tothinkin’about Ali—”
“Whoa,whoa, whoa.” Sebastian stopped me there with a lift of his hand. “Serious fauxpas there, bro. You shouldnevercompare your current girl to an ex. Idon’t know why nobody’s told you this shit before, but you confuse the hell outof me. I mean, you still live with your parents, for reasons I cannot wrap myhead around—”
“BecauseI was waiting for Ali—”
“Yeah,dude. Whatever. You don’t have to lie to me. I know you like it here.”
Ididn’t bother to mention that he was right, and instead continued with a sighand shake of my head. “It’s just that I couldn’t keep Ali happy. She couldn’tstand me at the end, or the fact that I was sick all the damn time. But Mollyis, uh …” I scratched the back of my head and dug around for the words Ineeded.
“Special?”Sebastian offered tiredly, and I nodded. “Yeah, man. No shit.”
Snorting,I rolled my eyes and dropped my arms to my sides. “You don’t get it. I’vealready fucked shit up with her once before. I was a bastard to her when wewere kids. And I know that was a long time ago, but what if I hurt her again?What ifshegets tired of me being sick? What if I can’t …” I shruggedhelplessly, instantly wondering if this was a good idea at all, even while myheart told me repeatedly that it was. “What if I can’t be the guy who whittlesher walls down?”
Sebstared at me and blinked hiseyes a few times before saying, “I have absolutely no fucking clue what you’resaying to me right now.”
“Herdad walked out on them and she’s got some trust issues, I think, and—”
“Yeah,whatever, man. That’s not what I mean.” He reached out and gripped my shoulder.“Chaddington,dude. You’ve already whittled downallher fucking walls. That girl might be a fortress for otherfuckers out there, butyou? She’swide open, and I don’t mean …” He gestured toward his crotch.
“Fuckingclassy, man,” I groaned.
Ignoringme, he went on. “It doesn’t take a smart guy to look at her and know thatyou’re not just her world, Baby Bear; you’re like, her fuckinguniverse. And yeah …” He shrugged andwaved a hand in the air. “You might have to prove that to her at some point whenshe’s feeling particularly insecure, or some shit comes along, because, youknow.Women.” He rolled his eyes foreffect, and I laughed, remembering his own history with his wife, Tabby. Thehoops he’d had to jump through and the grand gestures. “But it’sgonnabe all good, man. I promise. I know these things.”
Inodded and caught his gaze. “You know … you’re pretty smart sometimes,” I toldhim.
Witha slap against my shoulder and a roll of his eyes, Sebastian huffed a sigh.“Dude. Iknow. And it’s about fucking time you realized it.”
***
“Mollyseems happy,” Mama casually mentioned as we ate dinner.
Ifollowed her gaze to where Molly stood as I swallowed my second dose ofmesalamine for the day. She was hanging out and chatting animatedly with Kylie,Tess, and Morgan. Her smile seemed to glow in the patio lights. It was brightand cheerful, complete with a set of rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes. They wereright; she was happy. Truly, unabashedly joyful, and when she glanced our wayand touched my gaze with her own, I knew I had put that smile on her face.
Dadgrunted in agreement. “She does.”
“Yeah,”I said, nodding and poking at the barbequed chicken on my plate. The sauce wasa little too spicy, and even though the flavor was incredible, I knew what it’ddo to my stomach later.
“Baby,you need to eat,” Mama encouraged, waggling her fork at my dish.
“I’lleat more later,” I assured her. “Molls and I will grabsomethin’.”
“Sarahmade all this food, Chad. You shouldn’t let it go to waste.”
Witha sigh, I met her gaze. “I reallycan’teat too much of this.”
