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“Did you say oatmeal scotchies?”
“Yeah, what about them?” I asked.
“Weird, that’s my favorite cookie of all time. My sister always gets them for me from this bakery near her job. They’re the best,” he said.
For a brief moment, I froze, panicking that he had somehow stumbled onto The Cookie Cove. Then I shrugged it off, trying to quell the worry bubbling in my stomach. It wasn’t like my late grandmother had a monopoly on oatmeal-based cookie recipes.
“Weird, must be a Boston thing,” I said. “Since when do you have a sister?” I added.
Sebastian laughed. “Since my whole life? Her name’s Liv, she’s my baby sister. She lives like half an hour outside of Boston with her husband and son. Her husband’s a surgeon.”
“Who would have thought! Your parents never mentioned her,” I said.
Sebastian sighed. “She doesn’t really talk to my parents. I guess you can say they’re estranged. My dad hates her husband. He’s the only person I’ve ever seen who’s been disappointed that his daughter married a surgeon. He cut her out of his will and everything. Before everything happened with you and me, my dad wanted to find a ‘more suitable’ husband for Liv. She walked out on him. They haven’t spoken in years. He’s not even coming to my nephew’s birthday party in July.”
“Wow, that’s heavy. I’m sorry. Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in the middle?” I asked.
“Sometimes. I refuse to let my father use Liv as a pawn in his bullshit games. He was always pitting us against each other when we were kids. It was so fucked up. But I’d never let that happen. She’s my baby sister, you know? I’d do anything for her.”
“I bet she’s really glad she has you,” I said, gently placing my hand on his wrist. It was interesting, seeing this softer side to Sebastian. “I’ve always wanted siblings. It was lonely being an only child. I’ve always thought that when I have kids, I’d like to have more than one,” I mused. Before I met Sebastian, I never pictured myself having kids out of anything other than the obligation to “continue the Cavanaugh lineage,” as my mother would say. But it’d been on my mind lately while I’d been figuring out my birth control, and as I stared at the pastel wheel of pills one morning, I realized that having kids with Sebastian wouldn’t be a chore. It could be wonderful. Sebastian was right. I’d have all of the help I needed. He didn’t seem like one to be an absentee father, especially since his relationship with his father was so strained. I’d talked to Jasmine about it the other day after the airborne condom catastrophe, and she immediately demanded to be the godmother, though neither of us is religious.
My childhood had been cold and callous. I was passed off from one nanny to another without much of a second thought. My father was always busy trying to save our ailing investments while squandering away our fortune. My mother was preoccupied with her social calendar. Once I grew old enough to talk back, she quickly lost interest in me, as if I was a designer handbag that had gone out of fashion. My kids would never grow up feeling unwanted or discarded. They would grow up surrounded by love. Plus, now that I knew Sebastian had a sister, I realized my kids would have aunts and cousins. Both my parents were only children. I’d never had an aunt or any adult I could confide in growing up.
Sebastian grinned. “Yeah, that’d be nice. It’s great having siblings. I’m five years older. I was old enough to beat the shit out of any snot-nosed kid who gave Liv trouble. You’re basically never bored. Also, all of Liv’s boyfriends had to undergo an extensive vetting process. I made a PI follow her husband when they first got engaged.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, that explains why you’re so protective! It’s the big brother in you. I never knew.” I shook my head. “Only you would hire a literal private eye. Well, what did you find out? Spill.”
“He has an excellent credit score,” Sebastian grumbled.
I guffawed. “No skeletons in his closet, just exemplary credit?”
“Not even a parking ticket. He’s a great guy. You’ll meet both of them soon. Liv’s been bugging me to meet you. She wants to go on a double date.” He grimaced at the phrase ‘double date.’ I laughed.
“Well then, let’s plan on it! Once the Tulip Festival’s over, I’ll be around!”
“I’ll let her know. Speaking of, we should get going.” We glanced at the clock on my wall. It was almost nine. Our quickie ended up being significantly less quick.
“We’ll say we’re fashionably late,” I said.
Sebastian shook his head, “No one’s going to fall for that.”
Now that the weather was getting warmer, the Delphi Lounge opened up the rooftop. We made our way to the top of the building in a clear, glass elevator. Boston lit up all around us. We walked out onto the rooftop hand-in-hand. A tall blonde man with a chiseled jaw wearing a purple party hat ran up to Sebastian, pulling him into a bear hug.
“Sebastian, my man!” he bellowed.
Sebastian hugged him back, “Hey Simon, it’s good to see you. Happy birthday, man.”
Likewise, we were starting to wonder when the two of you would emerge from your love nest and show up,” Simon joked.
I blushed. “It’s not a love—” I started.
“We were at her apartment,” Sebastian replied, curtly stumbling over my words.
“It was—” I tried again.
Simon glanced between us and noted the flush on my cheeks. “Oh, I get it,” he said with a devilish grin, clapping Sebastian on the shoulder.
“It’s okay. Yvette and I were like that when we got engaged, too. We couldn’t keep our hands off of each other. Also, God, where are my manners? I’m Simon!” He extended his hand, and I shook it.
