Page 76 of Almost
She inhales sharply. “I asked her to stop, but it’s not as if Nina’s lying. You are in love with Thalia. You said so yourself while I was the blabbering idiot who hired her to photograph our wedding.”
“And you cheated. I never did that, nor did I leave you for Thalia like everyone believes.” I do my best to keep my voice even, but it’s so damn hard when I’m being painted as the one in the wrong.
“Seb—”
This time she uses my nickname, I flinch involuntary. I’ve gone almost two months without being called that, and I don’t have it in me to pretend that I like it. “Don’t call me that. I never lied to you, and I’ve kept what happened a secret for you and your child’s sake, but I need the rumors to stop.”
“You might never have lied, Sebastian, but withholding the truth might have been worse. How long did it take for you to run to Thalia after you left?”
“I’m not going to apologize for loving her.” She’s trying to egg me on by asking that question because everyone already knows the answer. My jaw tightens and I stare at her, refusing to give into her attempts to draw me into a fight. That’s why we’re doing this in public. “I won’t do it, Kiera. I’m not perfect, but I loved you the best I could. I left because we weren’t going to be happy together, and in case you’ve forgotten, you’re having another man’s child.”
All the fight sinks out of her with the mention of that detail. “I didn’t come here to fight. You said you wanted to talk.”
“I don’t want to fight either. I don’t want to talk to you, Kiera. I only asked you here because you’re letting everyonebelieve that I’m abandoning my child, when that’s not the truth.”
“I’ll talk to Nina,” Kiera says, averting her eyes.
“I don’t know if that’s enough,” I continue softly. “This is affecting my career, Kiera. The press won’t leave me alone, and while I’ve been protecting you, I have sponsorships threatening to pull their funding. At some point, I have to protect myself.”
“I hear you,” she says, nodding reluctantly. “I’ll fix it.”
“Thank you.” It’s just words right now, but it gives me hope that she’ll do the right thing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Thalia
“THAT ONE!” HENRY points excitedly to a portrait from the time I spent in Africa when I happened across a herd of elephants. I’m helping Chris out today by keeping Henry while he meets with his divorce lawyer, so we’re hanging out at the gallery for a few hours to pick out new portraits to replace the one’s I’ve sold.
I ruffle his hair as he claps happily. “And where do you think it should go?”
He’s a sweet kid, and I don’t mind watching him when Chris needs me to. With the current agreement, Allie gets him for one week out of the month, which, with what I’ve learned about their marriage, is one week too much.
“Over here, Auntie Lia!” Henry calls out, pointing to an empty spot on the wall. My heart nearly explodes as he beams at me. I love being Auntie Lia.
“Looks good, buddy. I think you’re right.”
Man, I really love this kid.
I walk to grab the portrait, carrying it carefully to the corner Henry is waiting for me in. “What do you think, littlelegs?” I ask, taking a step back to look at it hanging, but his attention has already been drawn to something else.
I turn to see what’s captured his attention, only to find Sebastian Walker standing there. I rub my eyes quickly to make sure I’m not hallucinating him really being here. I haven’t heard from him since that last night before he went to training camp early, but it’s annoying how much I think about this man.
“Who is that?” Henry asks, tugging on my hand as he moves to hide behind my legs.
I’m at a loss for words. His dark hair is cut shorter than it was the last time I saw him, he appears to be more muscular if even possible, and Sebastian looks as devastatingly handsome as always. My heart stutters happily in my chest.He’s here.
Henry tugs on my hand again, and I crouch down to his level. “That’s Bash. He’s one of Daddy and Auntie Lia’s friends.”
“I’m hoping to be more than just a friend to you…if that’s okay?” Sebastian asks behind me, and my head snaps quickly to find him.
“Do you mean that?” I ask, my voice shaking with nerves.
He nods, a slow smile curving his lips I desperately want to kiss. “I don’t need more time. I think we’ve had plenty of space the past few years that it feels a little pointless now to deny you all this.” Bash flexes jokingly, and Henry giggles. I didn’t think it was possible to fall more in love with this man, but I was wrong.
A smile peels across my face because I’m so done with space. It’s been good to clear my head, but all that showedme was how much I wanted to be with him. “Are you serious?”
“One thousand percent.”