Feeling the Buzz (13 page)

Chapter Twelve

God. Crying wasn’t going to solve a thing.
Jen swiped her hand over her eyes and searched through her handbag for some
tissues.

“Jen. Are you home?” Sebastian burst into
the kitchen. He took one look at her and strode over. “What is it? What’s
wrong?”

“I’m pregnant.” God, even saying it out
loud didn’t make it sound any better. “Sebastian, I can’t have a baby.”

Sebastian stood frozen, staring at her as
if she sported a pair of horns. Typical.

Jen turned away, intending to retreat to
her bedroom.

Sebastian’s hand shot out. “Pregnant?”

“Yes, so the test says.”

“But how?”

A sharp laugh exploded from her. “Surely
you’ve worked out the how by now?”

“Damn.” Sebastian ran a hand through his
hair. “Sorry. It’s a bit of a shock.”

“No kidding!” Another of those stupid tears
escaped and she scrubbed at it impatiently.

“Jen, come here.”

He opened his arms, and she stumbled into
them, the tears falling faster now. She hadn’t had time to think about how
Sebastian and Wayne would react because she’d been too busy thinking about the
upset to her long-term plans. At least Sebastian wasn’t angry or wasn’t trying
to blame her.

“What am I going to do?”

“Don’t worry,” Sebastian whispered against
her hair. “We’ll sort something out when Wayne gets home.”

“But I won’t be able to go to varsity,” she
wailed.

“Shh, don’t worry about that right now.” He
kissed her neck and held her tighter.

But Sebastian didn’t understand. She’d
promised her mother. Her attendance at university was for both of them. And as
much as she’d loved her mother, she didn’t want to relive her life, bringing up
a child on her own and working all hours of the day to pay the bills.

“Jen, Wayne and I aren’t going to leave you
to struggle alone. Surely you know us well enough to understand that.”

She pushed away from Sebastian to look up
at him. “Sorry. I didn’t realize I’d said that out loud.”

“You were lumping us into the same category
as Giles,” Sebastian accused.

“Sorry. I’m still in full panic flight.”

“A baby might not be ideal, but it’s not
the end of everything between us,” Sebastian said. “If anything a baby will
make us into a tighter unit.”

“You’re pleased,” she said, her voice flat.

“Excited,” he said. “But I can understand
how you feel too. We’ll talk when Wayne gets home, make a plan. I’m sure we can
think of something to make a baby work for all of us.”

Jen sniffed. “I don’t see how.”

“Ye of little faith.” Sebastian tipped up
her chin with one forefinger and kissed her on the lips.

At first she didn’t respond, but he
deepened the kiss, taking it from sweet and tender to something deeper and more
personal. He showed her with touch how much he cared until she could do nothing
but hold on and kiss him back. Sweet. So sweet and compassionate. Warmth
swelled inside her until her entire body hummed with pleasure and all she could
think about was Sebastian filling her, fucking her. No! Making love to her.
This was definitely lovemaking rather than plain old sex.

Sebastian’s hands smoothed down her back to
cup her butt and hold her against him. When he lifted her, the ridge of his
cock slotted neatly right where she needed it. A soft mewl of desire whispered
from her as she started to fully participate. Their lips slid together and she
rubbed against him, trying to get a closer contact.

“What are you doing?”

Jen and Sebastian jerked apart, shocked out
of their romantic bubble.

“You’re playing around with Sebastian
behind Wayne’s back.” Gerrard’s jaw worked, anger distorting his face. “I
thought you were his friend.” He shook his head, betrayal glimmering in his
eyes. “And you—” He cut off abruptly and stomped out of the kitchen. A door
slammed and when Jen strained to hear she caught the faint grumble of a car
starting.

“Fuck,” Sebastian said.

“We weren’t doing anything wrong.”

“It doesn’t matter. What happens if he
tells everyone?”

“Wayne will sort it out.”

“Like you’re both going to fix my
pregnancy?” Jen asked, and the tears started flowing again. “I think I’ll go
and have a shower.”

“Do you want me to scrub your back?”

“I want to be alone.”

Sebastian nodded and clenched his hands to
fists to avoid reaching for her. She looked like a wounded animal, and he felt
bad because he wanted to scream his joy to the world. Hell, he didn’t even know
if he was the father, and he didn’t care.

The warm sensation in his chest grew bigger
and bigger, and his smile expanded so much his mouth ached with the joy of it.
A family.

He heard a vehicle pull up and hurried to
the door, recognizing the roar of the engine. He opened the door and stood in
the doorway waiting for Wayne.

“Good news. Bad news,” he burst out. “Which
do you want first?”

“Good. Maybe it will improve my shitty
day.”

Sebastian’s gaze arrowed in on Wayne’s
T-shirt. “Is that blood? Are you hurt?”

“No, Tommy cut his hand. I had to take him
to the doctor. He’s okay but he’s gonna be off work for a while.”

“Fuck.” Tommy was one of their most
experienced workers.

“Yeah, so I could do with some good news.”

“Jen’s pregnant,” Sebastian burst out.

“The bad news?”

“Jen was a bit upset, and Gerrard walked in
on us. He thinks Jen is cheating with me.”

“Fuck,” Wayne muttered. “I need a drink.”

“A beer?”

“Nah, break out the strong stuff so I can
start working on a hangover.”

“Aren’t you pleased about the baby?” How
could Wayne not be excited?

“I expect Jen isn’t pleased. A baby will
spoil her plans for her education. Is she going to keep it?”

“Keep it?” Sebastian was aware he was
gaping at Wayne. He could see his friend’s mouth moving, but he couldn’t hear a
thing over the roar in his head. Surely Jen wouldn’t give up her baby? Have an
abortion.

“Sebastian. Sebastian!” Wayne shook him.
“Breathe, dammit. Breathe.”

Sebastian sucked in a huge breath, Wayne’s
grip on his biceps helping to ground him, dragging him back from the dark abyss
that had opened in his mind. “We need to talk to Jen. She can’t give this baby
away.”

“We will. What did Gerrard say?”

“I think he intends to talk to you.”

“Okay. As long as he doesn’t go blabbing
all over town we can deal with him. If I ask him to he’ll keep it quiet.”

“But what about Jen?”

Wayne gave him a swift hug before pulling
back. “We’ll have to talk to her. It’s her body, her future,” Wayne said.
“We’ll have to take her wishes into consideration.”

“You mean you’d let her have an abortion?”
Shock rippled through Sebastian, knocking down all his flimsy defenses until he
wanted to yell and lash out with his fists. A low, anguished groan escaped him
and he wrenched from Wayne’s touch. He had to go. He had to go now before his
entire world imploded on him.

Wayne stared after Sebastian, muttered a
curse and headed for the booze. He made short work of his first whisky and
poured another. Jen pregnant. That wasn’t such a big problem for him. He’d do
anything Jen wanted even if that meant an abortion because it was Jen’s future
and well-being that mattered most. Gerrard thinking Sebastian and Jen had
betrayed him. That too he could deal with—tomorrow. Gerrard wasn’t a
blabbermouth. He wouldn’t do anything until he’d spoken to Wayne. And he would,
because Gerrard was fiercely loyal to those he loved. And that left Sebastian.

Sebastian was the smoking gun in this
scenario.

Wayne sighed, his throat burning as he
gulped more whisky when he heard Sebastian’s vehicle peel away from the house.
He hoped like hell Sebastian didn’t drive off the road on the way to wherever
he was going. Sighing again, he topped up his glass and went in search of Jen.

The Thirsty Cricketwas busy for a
Thursday night, which pissed off Sebastian. He pushed his way to the bar,
ordered a beer with a bourbon chaser, found an empty seat and settled in to
numb his mind. He downed the bourbon and indicated he wanted another. The
competent barman filled his order and kept an attentive eye on him for the rest
of the evening, refilling his glass when required. Good man.

Luke Morgan, Sloan’s head cop, came up to
the bar with James Bates, one of the owners of Fancy Free, the condom company.
“Hey, Sebastian. Come and sit with us. We have a table out the back.”

“I’m not good company.”

“Doesn’t matter,” James said.

Sebastian didn’t miss the silent exchange
between the two friends.

“It’s a woman-free zone,” Luke said. “We’re
shooting pool.”

“Come on,” James said. “We’re losing badly
and need someone to help us out.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m not a crap pool
player,” Luke said.

Sebastian found himself relocating,
following in the wake of James as he navigated the crowd on the dance floor. He
tripped and staggered, only keeping his feet because Luke grabbed him by the
scruff of his T-shirt.

“Easy there.” Luke didn’t release him until
Sebastian took a seat. Beer sloshed from his glass when he set it down, but he
didn’t spill a drop of the bourbon.

“Woman problems?” James asked, taking
possession of the opposite seat.

“Man and woman,” Sebastian blurted before
his brain engaged. “Shit.” He shook himself. “Pretend you didn’t hear that.”

“Hear what?” Luke said.

Sebastian sank back into the faux leather
seat and tried to relax. No amount of even breathing helped to settle the
roiling in his gut. He closed his eyes and saw Jen swollen with child. Every
muscle in his body tensed. Fuck! He forced his eyes open and stared at his
drink instead. “Who are we playing pool against?”

“Him,” Luke said with a jerk of his thumb
in the direction of the tables. “I’d like to knock him on his pretty city-boy
ass.”

“Can’t do that,” James said. “You’re a
cop.”

“Not on duty,” Luke pointed out.

“Let’s do this.” Sebastian was all for
kicking ass. Anything to help settle the angst seething inside him.

“Can he shoot straight?” James whispered.

“Heard that,” Sebastian said. “Right here
you know.”

“Can you shoot straight?” Luke asked.

“Straight enough to beat your ass.”

Luke nodded. “Let’s do this.”

Not only was the man a pretty city-boy with
his salon-styled blond hair, he was a wiseass too. And his friend wasn’t much
better. Wayne didn’t like City Boy’s friend. Sebastian knew that.

He and Luke settled in to play pool. The
city boy broke and slotted in a ball, looking out of place in his suit and
business shirt even if he had lost the tie. Two balls later, he missed, handing
the table over to Sebastian. Although he was drunk, Sebastian settled in and
potted several balls before a tricky shot proved the better of him. On his next
turn, Sebastian dropped the last two balls before lining up the black. Not an easy
shot, but he hit it sweetly and it dropped into the hole.

“Yes!” Luke said.

“Rematch,” the city boy said.

“Rack ‘em,” Luke said, accepting the
challenge. “Hey, sweetheart.” Luke hugged his wife Janaya hello.

“Are you winning?”

“Yep,” Luke said, winking at Sebastian.

Another woman sauntered up to the pool
table, her familiar perfume making Sebastian stiffen. “What do you want?” he
growled at Victoria, his ex.

“Nothing you can give me,” she retorted,
and she wrapped her arms around the city boy, giving him a passionate kiss
before pulling back to fix a malicious smile in Sebastian’s direction.

Something tightened inside Sebastian. He
turned away, ignoring her to hand the cue to Luke. “You break.”

Luke made a creditable job of it, giving
them a good start and leaving a tricky shot for the city boy.

“A kiss for good luck,” Victoria cooed.

Sebastian ignored them and worked to keep
the old memories at bay. Bitter memories. Hurt and pain. No matter what he did,
he couldn’t stop the painful thoughts of the past pushing at him. He swallowed
and wandered back to the table to have some liquid courage.

Janaya cocked her head. “You okay?”

“No,” Sebastian said.

“That won’t help.”

“Can’t hurt,” Sebastian said.

“Where’s Wayne?” James asked.

“Home.” His mouth twisted when he realized
what he’d said. After tonight he might not have a home with Wayne. And Jen…
Damn, he couldn’t sit by and let her get rid of a baby.

“Your turn,” Luke said, handing him the cue
stick.

Sebastian studied the balls on the table
and got to work. One after another, he slotted them into the pockets until only
the black was left. He sank that too. “Looks as if you lose again,” he said to
the city boy.

“Don’t be such an arsehole,” Victoria
snapped.

“Butt out,” Sebastian snapped.

“Don’t talk to my fiancée like that,” City
Boy said.

“Fiancée? I hope you know what you’re
letting yourself in for.” Sebastian let Victoria have the full force of his
derision. “She’s a liar and a cheat.”

“Shut up!” Victoria screamed. Her fists
flailed out and she collected Sebastian on the nose.

“Bitch.”

“Did you hear what he called me?” Victoria
demanded.

City boy didn’t answer, punching Sebastian
instead. Pain reverberated through his jaw. Sebastian fingered the sore spot
and wriggled his jaw back and forth. He grinned. “Can’t you do better than
that?”

City Boy threw another punch. It was wild.
Sebastian ducked to the side and punched back. He connected. City Boy went down
with a crash.

Victoria slapped Sebastian. “Why did you
hit him?” Her hand slashed through the air again. Sebastian tripped while
backing up to avoid her. The urge to hit her back was strong but he ignored it.
Despite the provocation, he’d never hit her during their marriage and he wasn’t
about to start now.