No one addressed the unusualness of the situation, having gone to an event for his former lover and then sitting at a table with his new one. They are too dignified for that, whereas my family would have made it the conversation to last through New Year’s Eve.
He sees me at the door and ushers me in. His brows rise with an appreciative glance at the sight of me in my outfit for today. I reach for his extended hand and take a seat on his lap as he continues his phone call.
“Baby’s good. He’s measuring perfectly. Uh-huh. I’ll ask about that. It’s a good question. I don’t know. Well, Amy and I painted the nursery this week, and the furniture is arriving this Thursday. It’s gonna look perfect.”
That’s the other thing that’s happening. The nursery at Sebastian’s place is being put together. Since Lauren chose a linen white for the room, we used the same color. It’ll be handsome with the modern cherry furniture that’s coming. Sebastian already has the glider, changing table, and diaper bag.
It’s been interesting, nesting with him. On one hand, it’s a part of him that I love the most. His devotion. His ability to never scare and to take matters into his own hands by being a strong family head—even when the family is unconventional.
It’s also the part that scares me.
He’s rubbing the side of my arm, and then he kisses my bicep. I look down at him and smile.
“Amy’s right here. Let me ask,” Sebastian says into the phone and then looks up at me. “My mother is asking if you want to see the Philadelphia Orchestra with us in October. She’s staying with us for two weeks to spend time with the baby and do some touristy things around the city. She’s getting the tickets now. You in?”
I swallow and nod. “I’d love that.”
“Great!” He smiles and shares the news with his mom, laughing and talking about something his father did before he thanks her for calling on his birthday and ends the call with, “I love you.”
When he hangs up, he places his phone on his desk and settles back into his seat, looking like a very content man, especially as his hand travels up the inside of my dress.
“You look beautiful,” he drawls.
I nibble on his ear and inhale that delicious scent of him. “Happy birthday.”
“You already wished me that in the bedroom and the shower. Are you telling me you want to show me again?”
I giggle and move away from him a little in protest. “As addictive as you might be to me, there is no way I am letting you destroy my hair and makeup.”
“Destroy is a powerful word.”
I lower my gaze to him. “You are a sensual man who goes into overdrive.”
He laughs. “Is that true? Well, I’ll have to make a point to turn it down a bit.”
I playfully slap his arm. “Don’t you dare. Just give a girl a reprieve, so she can look smashing for her man all day on his birthday. It took me a long time to curl my hair.”
He leans up and kisses me. “Fair enough. I’ll save the destroying for tonight.”
I grin as I get up from his lap and walk around the desk. Sebastian rises as well and adjusts his shorts.
This is what it’s like with him. Fun banter, sexy times, and lots of dates.
“There’s a new brunch place I want to try tomorrow. I asked Miles and his girlfriend to join us,” he says as we walk out of the room toward the kitchen.
I pout. “Shoot. I didn’t pack anything nice for brunch. I just have shorts and a tank.”
“That should be fine.”
“No. I’ll run back in the morning and get a sundress.”
“You know, Amy, you wouldn’t have to be running all over the city if you just kept your clothes here.”
I lift a shoulder. “I don’t mind keeping my things in one place. It’s—”
“Tidy. I know, you’ve mentioned that before.” He winks as he takes his mug and fills it with coffee. “You stay here every night now. Even when I’m working late. At some point, you’re gonna have to own up to the fact that you live here too.”
“You know, I could easily start sleeping at my place again,” I say cheekily. “You’d be in that big king-size bed, all by your lonesome.”
“Nope. I wouldn’t allow it.”
I lift up on my toes and kiss him. “Then, don’t start making a big deal about where I keep my clothes.”
He shakes his head, yet there’s still a grin on his face.
Turning around, I saunter through the house and grab my bag, making sure I have everything for the day.
“Charity is meeting us at the entrance,” I call over to him.
He walks into the living room. “Great. I told Jeremy to meet us there too. You don’t think this is a bad first meet for a blind date?”
“They both said they wanted to go to the music festival, and there will be plenty of distractions if they don’t hit it off, which I’m hoping they will, based on how highly you speak of the guy.”
“He is a world-class guy. Attorney, Princeton graduate. And funny—I was told that was a prerequisite.”
“Then, it should be a great day. Ready to hit the road, birthday boy?”
He slides his keys in his pocket. “Lead the way, my love.”
As far as blind dates go, Charity and Jeremy’s is a seven out of ten.
We met up at the entrance of the Firelight Festival, and the two exchanged pleasantries while looking each other up and down. They both seemed happy with what was in front of them, which was a good sign.
The four of us caught the show that was going on when we walked in—a local band who had a huge following, playing a mixture of punk rock and soul music. They were fun, and Charity and I jumped and danced to the music while the guys listened and talked. After that, we got drinks and enjoyed the gorgeous ninety-degree day.
Sebastian and I usually go to fine dining, so it was a treat to eat from food trucks. We each chose Philly cheesesteaks made to order and shared a bite of each other’s to see if we could be swayed to leave our preferred orders. News flash: we can’t.
Four shows, a couple of IPAs, and lots of laughs later, I’ve learned a few new things about my boyfriend. He loves cotton candy and fruity water ice. He despises blonde ales and knows almost every word to every song. The guy knows how to catch on to a song’s hook and can belt it out even if it’s the first time he’s ever heard the song. I’ve never seen one of his shows, but I’m getting an idea of the showmanship Sebastian brings outside of the courtroom.
Despite his attire of cargo shorts and Lacoste V-neck T-shirt, he stands out in the crowd. It could be his tall, strong manly stature in a sea of boys, or the way his tanned skin and chocolate eyes seem to catch the sunlight in every way, or even the bellow of his laugh and that deep vibrato that carries over the music. Most likely, it’s because he has charisma. It’s in his walk and the way he orders food. Hell, he even caught my eye when he stopped to tie his shoe.
He always finds a way to touch me. His hands are on my lower back when we move through a crowd and wrapped around me protectively when we dance, and he lazily drifts to my backside for no reason at all.
As for Charity and Jeremy, the day is going well but not great.