I don’t expect anyone to be at the bakery this early, but as I walk up to the front, the lights are on. My staff must have opened up early. That’s rare, but I’m too tired to question it.I pause before opening the door, inhaling the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and vanilla. It usually comforts me.I push open the door, and the little bell jingles. I expect to see one of my employees behind the counter, but instead, I see him—standing there, holding two cups of coffee, waiting for me.It’s Sebastian, of course.He turns at the sound of the bell. There’s something so steady about his gaze, so intentional.“You’re here early,” I say. I’m still not sure how to navigate this—us, whatever this is now.He lifts one of the cups. “I made you coffee.”I glance at my staff, who are busy prepping in the kitchen, pretending not to listen. I take the cup hesitantly.“You got here before me,” I say, eyeing him. “How?”“Your staff let me in.” He shrugs, like it’s not a big deal. “Told them I ha
The cemetery is quiet as I settle on the stone bench beside my mother’s grave. I don’t really know why I came here tonight. Maybe I just needed to be somewhere that made sense.I set down the grocery bags beside me, pulling out a bag of cookies and a small tub of strawberries. Not exactly a proper meal, but it’s what I want to eat now. I pop a strawberry into my mouth.I look at the headstone. “Hey, Mom. It’s been a while.”I pull out a chocolate bar and break off a piece. “You always said chocolate fixes everything.” I place a small piece on the headstone, pretending she could still share snacks with me.The crunch of footsteps in the snow made me turn. I already know who it is before she speaks.“You have got to be kidding me.” Celine’s voice is amused. “You’re having picnic. In a cemetery.”I sigh, shoving another cookie in my mouth. “Not a picnic. Just… eating.”She steps closer, hands in the pockets of her coat. “Eating. At night. In the snow. In front of a gravestone.”I roll my
Selina’s POVI have my first real check-up today.Alone.I can handle this. Right?I take a deep breath and push through the clinic doors. The scent of antiseptic and lavender air fresheners fills my nose as I check in at the front desk.“Selina Everhart?” the nurse calls, offering me a warm smile.“That’s me.” I stand, my hand at my stomach. It’s still flat, but I know my baby is there. I know it because I feel different. Because I wake up every day thinking about something bigger than myself.“This way, please.”I follow her into the small exam room. The walls are painted soft blue, probably meant to be calming, but nothing can settle the nerves dancing under my skin.The doctor walks in moments later, a woman with kind eyes and short-cropped silver hair. “Selina, it’s good to see you again. How are you feeling?”“Uh… fine. I think? Just tired. And hungry. All the time.” I try to laugh.She smiles knowingly. “That’s normal. Let’s check on your little one, shall we?”I nod. She gestu
Sebastian’s POVI feel it. I don’t know what it is, but it’s there, lurking just beyond my reach. Selina is hiding something from me. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know her too well. I can see it in the way she holds herself, in the way she avoids certain questions, in the way her smile doesn’t quite meet her eyes anymore. She’s always been good at hiding things, but this feels different.She’s always had her secrets, little things she keeps tucked away, but this? This is something else. It’s like she’s building walls around herself, brick by brick. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t break through.Is it Victor? I’ve thought about that a lot, but no… I don’t think it’s him. She’s moved on from him, or at least, that’s what I keep telling myself. Her eyes don’t soften when she talks about him anymore. So it can’t be him. But what is it then?Every time I look at her, I get this feeling, like there’s a knot forming inside me. I don’t know what it is yet, but it’s like a warning,
I’m just about to lock up when the door swings open. Celine had left earlier after we finished the pizza, saying they needed her at the Winter Wonderland project.Sebastian’s here again. A part of me acknowledge the way my heart reacts to seeing him, but I shove it down, too afraid I might say something I shouldn’t. Or maybe… I’m just not ready to forgive him yet.He steps inside, looking at me. “I didn’t like how we left things this morning.”I exhale and turn away. “Sebastian, I don’t have the energy for this right now.”“You don’t have to talk, just listen.”I should tell him to leave. I should shut the door on whatever this is before it spirals into something I can’t control. But I don’t.I lean against the counter, arms crossed defensively. “Fine. Talk.”He hesitates, running a hand through his hair. “I know I hurt you. I know I messed up.” He swallows. “And I don’t expect you to forgive me overnight. But, Selina… I meant what I said. I care. And no matter you push me away, I won
I step out of my house. My mind is still clouded with last night’s realization. Pregnancy. It feels surreal, like a dream I haven’t fully woken up from. My hands rest on my stomach as I walk toward the bakery. I don’t even realize I’m holding my breath until I see Sebastian.He’s standing outside the bakery, unloading boxes from a delivery truck. I just stand there, watching him. He shouldn’t be here. I don’t even want to see him right now.I clear my throat and step forward. “What are you doing here?”He looks up, surprised. Then, as if he expected this reaction, he sighs and wipes his hands on his jeans. “Just passing by. Saw the delivery guy struggling. Figure I’d help.”I cross my arms, trying to ignore the way my heart clenches at the sight of him. “I had this handled.”“Did you?” He raises an eyebrow, gesturing to the unopened bakery doors. “You weren’t even here yet.”I hate that he has a point. But still. “I didn’t ask for your help.”“I know,” he says simply. “But I wasn’t go