Chapter 35

SEBASTIAN

He had texted Amelia the day before that she should inform Katie he would be coming over to have a talk with her and see Aaron. Amelia had also provided her brother with Katie’s address.

Sebastian was not sure if he was making the right decision by going to see them, and he had no idea what he was going to do or say when he came face-to-face with Katie.

All he knew was that he was very mad at her and angry at himself too.

Katie answered her door after three rings. She could hardly look into Sebastian’s eyes.

She looked pretty much the same as far as Sebastian could remember. They’d never been close. To him, she was just his younger sister’s best friend. He would never have gone to bed with her. It was crazy what alcohol could do to anyone. He didn’t even remember anything from that night.

KATIE

Katie nervously ushered Sebastian into her two-bedroom apartment. She did not fail to notice the glare he gave her as he walked in.

She ushered him to sit on the couch.

“Do you want anything? Water? Wine?” she asked politely.

“Look, woman, does it look like I drove all the way here for a glass of wine or water?” he asked angrily.

“Don’t you dare raise your voice at me, Sebastian. Do you think you’re the only one who has suffered from all of this?” Her voice shook with her emotions.

“And if you’re thinking that I drugged you or something, I swear by my grandmother’s grave, I never drugged you. I had no idea what happened that night. Never in my right senses would I have gone to bed with my best friend’s brother. When I try to remember what happened that night as much as I try to remember who approached who first, I can’t because the memory of that night is all blur.”

Katie paced in front of him.

“I was shocked when I woke up naked beside you the next morning. I was ashamed about what happened, so I left immediately. After that, I avoided Amelia in school because I didn’t know how I was going to tell her I landed in bed with her brother.

“Everything got worse when I found out I was pregnant. My dad officially disowned me. I had to stop college and move to Australia to stay with my mom, who wouldn’t even let me think of abortion as an option.

“But it looks like you would have been satisfied if I ~had~ aborted Aaron,” Katie finished, trying to hold back tears.

She looked at Sebastian’s face, hoping for any signs he had some compassion for her. He only looked stern. Katie knew he didn’t believe her.

“If you are not convinced by the resemblance, I’ll give you anything you need to get a DNA test done. His toothbrush, saliva, hairbrush, anything. Just name it.”

Sebastian ran his fingers harshly through his hair. “I’m sorry, I thought you involved me in this purposely. My life was going so well until Amelia told us everything. I have a girlfriend I love so much, and she’s pregnant with my child. I don’t even know how to open up to her about all of this.”

He gave her a long stare.

“Why did you keep him away from me for so long? Don’t you think I had a right to know about his existence? If Amelia hadn’t found you, did you ever intend on letting me know about him?”

“I knew I was going to have to tell you about Aaron, but not this soon. I was ashamed of everything that happened between the two of us. Your parents treated me like a daughter, and the only way I could repay them was by going to bed with their only son and getting pregnant?”

Katie could hardly hold back a sob.

“Besides, I know you, Sebastian. After what Susan put you through, you would not have believed me if I had told you I was pregnant. You would have seen me like Susan, a gold digger.”

Katie tried to explain.

“Four years ago, I was young, naive, I was a brat. I made some good and bad decisions. I know I should have told you about Aaron, but I didn’t have the courage to do so. All the same, I don’t regret keeping Aaron.

“I begged Amelia not to tell you about him. I pleaded really hard with her, but she disagreed. Then I promised her that I was going to tell you everything myself as it would make more sense if the truth comes from me. Then she agreed.”

Katie tried to smile.

“I don’t have any problem with you loving another person or having kids with the woman you truly love. But please, think hard before you decide you want to be in Aaron’s life.

“The last thing I want is for him to get hurt or feel disappointed by you. Aaron might want to spend time with you. He’d want you to take him to the park and even attend some of his preschool programs. He still can’t ride a bike on his own, so he might want you to teach him that and even more.

“What I’m trying to say is that being a part of Aaron’s life means dedicating your time to him. If you can’t, it’s not too late to leave, and we will pretend this conversation never took place. Aaron and I will be fine, we have always been.”

Katie gave Sebastian a tearful smile. “So. What will you choose?”