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He glances her way, still stuck in his mother’s clinging hug.
“Join us, won’t you?” my mom says. “We’ll celebrate.”
He swallows, then nods. “I’d love that.”
“Oh, but, Sebby—”
“You’re welcome, too,” my mom says, smiling politely. “That is, if Seb would like you to come.”
I set a hand over my mouth, sucking in a breath. My mother is such a badass.
With that, Mom slips her arm inside Dad’s, then turns back toward Ren and Frankie, moving with the rest of my family who came a little ways down the hall. Ren glances back toward Seb, gaze darting between him and his mom, brow furrowed with concern.
I wave him off. I’ve got this.
“Mom.” Sebastian’s voice is tight, like he’s being strangled. When I turn back, it sort of looks like he is. His mother’s still clutching him, whispering something in his ear.
“Catherine,” the man says. If I thought Sebastian’s voice was cold, this man’s is arctic. He still has yet to look at me or my family, or more importantly, even acknowledge Sebastian. “That’s enough now, don’t you think?”
“Oh, Edward, I’m just happy to see him. I’m so proud of him.” She pulls away, patting Sebastian’s cheek. He flinches. “You’ve finally turned a corner, haven’t you?”
Sebastian’s gaze grows cold as he stares down at her. I feel him slipping away, like the sun dragged behind dark, heavy clouds.
I can’t explain it, except that I just know he can’t go there again, that he doesn’t want to. Right now, he’s surrounded by two people who made him miserable, reminding him of miserable things, of how miserable he used to be. But I’m the friend who knows the person he’s becoming, living the happier, healthier life he wants, surrounded by people who uplift that health and happiness.
I wrap my hand around his and step beside Sebastian, offering his mother my free hand. “I’m—”
“Ziggy,” he says quietly, tugging me closer to his side, almost like he’s protecting me. “My friend. Ziggy, this is my mother, Catherine, and her husband, Edward.”
Her husband. He doesn’t even call Edward his stepdad.
I exhale slowly, forcing a polite smile. “Hi.”
“Hello…Ziggy.” Catherine glances between us, but her focus is set on Sebastian. “Sweetheart, we thought we’d have dinner with you now. Can’t your plans with…them”—she glances toward my family, her expression pinching—“wait? Another time?”
Sebastian squeezes my hand hard. That’s when I feel it. He’s trembling. I shift my grip inside his, until he loosens up, enough for me to thread our fingers together. Stroking his hand with my thumb, I huddle in a little closer. I want to comfort him the way he’s comforted me. I want him to know I’m here—I’m not going anywhere.
“Not tonight, Mom. I didn’t even know you were coming. I already had plans, and I’m not changing them.”
That’s a lie. There were no plans. Mom’s invite came from an idea born at the end of the game. But I smile all the same, because I feel it—Sebastian choosing what he wants, what makes him happy, what’s good for him. Because it sure as hell isn’t this.
His mother’s expression cools. She sniffs, eyes down on her cashmere sweater, which she tugs to her wrists. “Well, all right. Next time, then—”
“Why are you here?” Sebastian asks.
She seems surprised by his question, blinking, wide-eyed. “Well, that’s a silly question—”
“It’s not,” he says quietly, patiently. “It’s a very reasonable question, seeing as you haven’t come to any of my games since—”
“You became an embarrassment to us?” Edward says coldly. “Or should I say, even more of an embarrassment. Consider your behavior, Sebastian—”
I flinch. Edward calls him Sebastian. Edward’s the reason Sebastian hates his full name.
I feel sick to my stomach. I want to cry. I’ve been calling him the name used by this creep.
“It’s been disgraceful,” he continues. “Why would we subject ourselves to that kind of proximity to you, when all you’ve done is disappoint—”
“That’s enough,” I tell him, tugging Sebastian my way. He bounces into me, swallowing hard as I glance his way. Our eyes meet, and I wink at him. A small smile lifts his mouth.
