________

BRYAN

 

It had been nearly six weeks since I had seen Sebastian and as much as I hated to admit it, I missed him.  He called me to talk about what had happened several times but I shut him down and kept things strictly business between us because I just couldn’t trust him.  As much as I tried to get over the Jason thing, I couldn’t because I kept reliving that Sebastian lied to me for weeks when we first met and I couldn’t stop thinking about what it was like when I walked in on the two of them.  He would have to come back eventually and when he did I planned to just keep things professional. 

 

I went in to work an hour earlier than normal the next day because I had a ton of work to do and I wanted to finish up a few small projects that seemed to be dragging on.  About 20 minutes after I had been at my desk a wave of nausea hit me out of nowhere and I ran to the bathroom and got sick.  I splashed water on my face and looked at myself in the mirror.  I looked as pale as a ghost.

 

I hope this isn’t the flu, I don’t have time to be sick!

 

I made my way back to my office and was able to shake it off and get back to work, or so I thought.  Around 1:00 that afternoon it happened again and I raced to the bathroom just in time.  I had plans with Carl that night and I thought I was going to have to cancel because I felt like shit, but I hadn’t seen him in forever so I was hoping I would feel better by the time I left work.

 

Thankfully, I didn’t get sick anymore that afternoon and I actually felt a little bit better by the end of the day so I decided to keep my plans with Carl.  I figured I had eaten something bad the night before and since I was better it must have been out of my system. 

 

The rest of the day passed quickly because I was so busy with meetings and it was time for me to go home before I knew it. I was really looking forward to seeing my friend.  I went home, showered and changed, and rushed out to meet Carl at Il Cantorini by 6:00.

 

As soon as he saw me he ran up to me, threw his arms around me and nearly squeezed the life out of me.

 

“It is so great to see you, Bryan!”

 

“It’s great to see you too! I can’t believe we haven’t seen each other in almost two months! How is everything going?”

 

He was about to answer me but stopped as he looked me over, taking it all in, and I was waiting to hear what he thought about my new designer clothes, courtesy of Sebastian.  “Wait a minute.”  He cocked his head to the side.  “Something is different.  You’re different.  Okay, who is he?”

 

Not even my best friend knew how much had happened with Sebastian.  We had not seen each other in weeks because right before I returned home from Paris, Carl’s boss sent him to New York for a huge project that lasted nearly six weeks.  Carl knew me so well he could see that something was going on with me. I couldn’t hide it.

 

“Okay, you can’t say anything because this cannot get out,” I said.

 

He inched closer to me, fully engaged.  “I promise I won’t; who is it?”

 

“Sebastian Blocke.”

 

“No way!” He screeched.  People in the restaurant turned and looked at us.

 

“Carl, quiet!”  I playfully scolded him.

 

“Sorry, you just caught made by surprise. You and Sebastian Blocke? He’s like the most eligible bachelor in Eden Pines!”

 

“I know, and it’s over.”

 

He looked thoroughly confused.  “Wait, what do you mean it’s over? How long were you together and when did this even start?”

 

I realized I had been keeping my relationship with Sebastian a secret and Carl only knew him as Alistair Dibb.  I don’t think I ever told him Alistair turned out to be Sebastian because I had been so busy with work and then I was off to Paris for a month.  But since things didn’t work out I decided it was time to fill him in on everything.

 

“Okay, so remember Alistair, the mysterious guy?”

 

“Yes, he kind of fell off the map because you never talked about him again.”

 

“Well, he didn’t really fall off of the map, Alistair turned out to be Sebastian Blocke.”

 

“Wait, what?!”  Complete shock was written all over his face.

 

“Yes, he told me his name was Alistair because he wanted me to like him for who he is and not because he is a Blocke.”

 

“So he lied to you? Doesn’t that bother you?” he asked without hiding his disappointment.

 

“It did at first, but after he explained why he did it I understood and I decided to move on from that issue.”

 

“Okay, so wait a second. Is he your boss?”

 

“Yes.” I wasn’t sure how Carl was going to take that so I just sat there, letting it hang in the air while he processed it.

 

“Bryan, you were sleeping with your boss at your brand-new job?   Isn’t that the fastest way to lose your brand-new job?”

 

I got a little annoyed with him because I thought I sensed judgment.  “Are you judging me?”

 

He instantly got a little defensive.  “No, of course not, but I am a little bit concerned when you tell me that your brand new boss is the guy that you have been sleeping with and now are no longer sleeping with. Do you even still have a job?”

 

I was shocked by his tone. “You know what, Carl, I should not have said anything to you. I really didn’t expect for you to respond this way.”

 

“Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. And I am totally not judging you. I just don’t want you to get in over your head, especially because you have such an amazing opportunity with this company.  Tell me more, I want to hear what happened and I promise, no judgment,” he said, his eyes sincere.

 

I looked at him and smiled.  “Okay.”  I told him everything from what happened with catching him with Jason in the penthouse to catching him with Jason in Paris.

 

“So why is this dick Jason around so much? What the hell was he doing in Paris if nothing is going on with them? I don’t know, Bryan, it sounds kind of fishy to me and I think you did the right thing by telling Sebastian you needed some time to think about everything. He sounds like a major player. He lied to you in the beginning, right? How do we know he’s not lying to you about this entire Jason thing and basically just trying to have both of you?”

 

“That is what I’m trying to figure out.”

 

“Do you really think you will go back to him, after everything he has done?” he asked.  Carl looked worried and I could tell he didn’t like what I was telling him about Sebastian.  At that moment I could see that he definitely was not a fan.

 

“I don’t know. Eva told me not to listen to anything Jason says and said he’s basically a psycho ex who can’t accept that it’s over.”

 

“Does it seem that way to you?” Carl asked, his eyes full of concern.

 

“He does kind of have that stalker thing going on so I guess it could be possible that he’s just not over him.”

 

“I guess, Bryan, but I really don’t like the lying that Sebastian did. It just puts a lot of doubt where there really doesn’t have to be any.”

 

“I know, I know, but we have no idea what it’s like to live in his world,” I said, surprised that I was defending him.

 

“Yeah, I guess we don’t know what that’s like. But if you decide to give him another chance, that might become your world. Are you ready for that?”

 

“Honestly, Carl, I’m just trying to take things one day at a time.”

 

“I guess you can at least hear him out.  Eva sounds like a really cool chick and I don’t think she would encourage you to give Sebastian another chance if she didn’t think he was telling the truth.”

 

“Yeah, whenever he gets back I’ll let him know that I’m ready to listen.  So, enough about me. What’s been going on with you?  How was New York?”

 

“Well, I have been…” and before he could finish a wave of nausea hit me again.  I clamped my hand over my mouth and made a beeline for the bathroom, with Carl racing behind me.  I felt like I was emptying every last bit of my insides as Carl gently rubbed my back.  When I was done, I slumped to the floor with my head in my hands.

 

“Honey, what is going on?  Did you have a reaction to something we ate?”  He was so worried about me.

 

“I don’t know, this is the third time this has happened today.”

 

“The third time?  Bryan, you should probably go see a doctor.”

 

“No.  Why?  I am sure I just caught a stupid virus.  It will be gone in a couple of days.  I never stay sick for very long.  Can you help me up?”

 

I went over to the sink and splashed water on my face and caught a glimpse of a look on Carl’s face.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?”  I asked.

 

“Are you late?”

 

I was already as pale as a ghost but as soon as Carl asked me that question whatever blood there was remaining in my face went right down the drain.  My mind began to race because the possibility of being pregnant was the last thing that came to my mind when I got sick earlier that day.  However, the more I thought about it, I realized I was about 6 weeks late.  I had been so busy with work I didn’t even notice.  I couldn’t be pregnant, I just couldn’t.  My star was on the rise and I did not have time for a baby.  No, it was just a virus.  It had to be.

 

“I guess I might be, Carl, but I have been under a ton of stress with work.  This feels like a virus and I am sure it just has to run its course.”

 

“You might want to think about taking a pregnancy test, Bryan.”

 

“What?!  No, there is no way I am pregnant!”

 

“Have you guys used protection every time?”  he asked in a semi-scolding voice.  I hated when he sounded like that because he usually was right about whatever it was we were talking about.

 

“There was just one time that we forgot,” I said softly.

 

“Bryan!  Haven’t I always told you to protect yourself?  When we’re in heat we can pregnant like it’s nothing!  How long ago did this happen?”

 

“About six weeks.”  The more we talked about it, the bigger the feeling of dread was growing that was coming over me.  Carl was right. I had to take a pregnancy test.

 

“Bryan,” Carl said gently, “I am going to take you home and then I am going to run to the drugstore and get a pregnancy test.  It is better for you to know sooner rather than later so that you can figure out what you’re going to do and how you are going to tell Sebastian.”

 

“Tell Sebastian?”  I felt like I was in a haze of confusion as the reality of what could be was setting in.

 

“Yes, honey, you’re going to have to tell him if you’re pregnant.  He has a right to know.”

 

I thought about that for just a few seconds and knew Carl was right.  All I wanted to do in that moment was go home and lie down.  I was feeling completely overwhelmed.

 

“Yes, I know, you’re right.  Maybe you should get three tests just to be safe.  Ugh, I really need to lie down.  Can we get going?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Thirty minutes later, after brushing my teeth and splashing water on my face, I was tucked in bed while Carl went to the drugstore, and I heard a knock at my door.  That was fast, I thought as I made my way to the door wondering why Carl didn’t just use the key I had given him.

 

“I did give you a key so I wouldn’t…” I said as I opened the door and my words caught in my throat as my stomach plummeted to my toes.  There, standing in all of his beauty, was Sebastian with his brilliant blue eyes staring back at me.

 

“Expecting someone?”  He asked.

 

“Uh, yes, C..C..Carl,” I stammered.

 

“May I come in?” he asked.

 

“Oh, of course, sorry,” I said as I stepped aside. “Sebastian, what are you doing here?”  I was in complete shock as I watched him walk into my apartment.

 

“I heard you were sick and I wanted to check on you to see if you needed anything.”

 

“How did you know I was sick?”

 

“My secretary saw you run to the restroom twice today and she was concerned about you.”

 

His secretary had always been sweet to me so it didn’t surprise me that she noticed I had been ill.

 

“I’m fine, it’s just a stomach bug.”

 

The words were barely out of my mouth when Carl came bursting into the apartment, holding a brown paper bag in the air.

 

“Three pregnancy tests as reques…!”  He stood there in shock staring at both of us, and then everything started to move in slow motion for me.  I looked at Sebastian, my eyes as big as saucers as my heart hammered against my chest; he looked at Carl and then looked at me.  The look that fell over his face when he realized those tests were for me was too much for me to handle as panic set in.  The room started to spin, and whatever they were saying was muffled as suddenly everything went black.