“I’m taking the weekend off,” I remind him, heading to the door and slipping on my heels. “I put some homemade baby food in the fridge. Her feeding and nap schedules are on the kitchen table, and her tummy time mat is folded on top of the toy box.”
He nods, rubbing the back of his neck. I don’t know if it’s because he’s just woken up, but the man looks completely out-of-sorts. Like he barely knows what’s going on.
I sigh. After last night, I really don’t want to offer to stay on call all weekend; but since the other two will be gone, I know he might struggle to look after Cami alone. “Look, if you need help—”
“If I need help, I will call a different nanny,” he cuts me off. “There won’t be any repeats of last night.” He meets my eyes, his face sincere. “It was rude to barge in on you like that. I apologise.”
Something twists in my stomach. This is the third time he’s apologised to me. I wish he’d stop. It’s making being firm with him much more difficult.
“Alright. Good, then.” I look down at Cami. “See you Monday, jellybean.”
She reaches after me, leaning out of Seb’s arms. I blow her a kiss, give Sebastian one last awkward nod, and then turn to leave.
* * *
The weekend passes slowly. I’ve gotten used to my days being jam-packed. With Cyrus and Jack gone, and no adorable babies to cuddle, I feel lonely and useless. I spend most of my time lazing around in bed, watching Netflix and waiting for Monday to roll around again. Cyrus and Jack text me a few times: mostly photo messages of them at the convention, getting food or hanging out at the different stalls. Cy sends me a video of Jack wearing a VR headset, beating up the air with a pair of nunchucks, and I almost piss myself laughing.
I’m really glad that they’re taking the time to talk to me. I wasn’t sure what would happen after we all slept together. I thought it might be awkward. But they’re sweet and flirty and charming in their texts, and I can’t help smiling like an idiot every time a notification pops up on my screen. Benny’s right—I have been seriously missing out, thanks to my relationship ban. If this is what casual dating is like, then I am a big, big fan.
On Sunday evening, I’m curled up in bed, eating ice cream and watching a bootleg performance ofWickedwhen my phone rings. I glance at it. Sebastian’s number. I automatically go to answer the call, then pull my hand back.
Ignore it,a voice says in the back of my mind.It’s your day off. Stop rolling over for him whenever he talks to you. He said he’d call someone else if he needed help.
But this isn’t just about him and me, it’s about Cami. Sighing, I pick up the phone. “Yes?”
“Come here,”Sebastian rasps.“I need you.”
I grit my teeth. For God’s sake. How hard would it be to say,‘sorry to disturb you, can you come and help me?’Why does it always have to be a bloody order? Would a ‘please’ kill him?
“Do you, now?” I ask drily.
He doesn’t respond. I can hear Cami wailing in the background. She sounds distraught. “Jesus. Have you tried burping her?”
“Come here,”he repeats, his breath shaky against the receiver.“Now.”
My grip on the phone tightens. “We’ve been over this. These aren’t work hours. You don’t get to order me around.”
There’s a long pause. Cami’s sobbing continues, getting even louder.
“Please,” he gets out eventually. His voice has dropped to a whisper.“Please. I wouldn’t be calling you if I thought I could look after her myself. I—I can’t look after her properly right now. She needs to be safe. Please come.”
I sit up, alarm running through me. “What do you mean, she needs to be safe? Sebastian, why isn’t shesafe?”
He doesn’t respond. Cami’s cries reach a screaming pitch, and I swear, ending the call and jamming the phone in my pocket.
Thirty-Six
Beth
When I pull up outside apartment 5A, I’m starting to panic. Cami’s shrieks and sobs are so loud I can hear them from the corridor. It sounds like she’s inpain. I knock at the front door, but there’s no response. When I try the handle, it opens smoothly. Someone left the door unlocked. Dread crawls down my spine as I push it open and step inside. It’s dark: all the blinds are drawn, and the lights are off. I walk cautiously into the lounge.
“Sebastian?” I call.
He doesn’t answer. Worry grips me. Is he okay? Is hehurt? I follow Cami’s shouting to his bedroom, pushing the door open hesitantly.
Sebastian is sitting hunched on the floor, propped upright against his desk drawers. He’s clutching Cami tightly to his chest as she squeals. His eyes are closed, his face is dead white, and his shirt is sticking to his skin with sweat. His chest is rising and falling erratically. He looks like he’s about to pass out.
“Oh, Jesus,” I mutter, running forward. “Shit. Give her to me.” He lifts her, and I scoop her away. She screams in my ear, furious, and I press a kiss to her cheek. “It’s okay,” I murmur, cuddling her hard. “It’s okay, I’m here, you’re fine, baby. God, Seb, are you okay? Did you fall? What happened?”