Wish I Never Met You Chapter 4 Part 3
Chapter 4 — Part 3
I stood, my heart racing. “Stay here.”
Seth was already on his feet, his jaw tight. “I’ll handle it.”
Something in his tone made me nod, though I wasn’t sure why.
“Oh, so you’re the one opening the door now?” came a familiar voice. Sebastian. What the hell was going on?
“What do you want?” Seth asked, his tone clipped.
“Where’s Hazel? Where’s Gabby?”
I looked at Gabby and forced a smile. “Sweetheart, go upstairs for now, okay?”
“What? Why?”
Sebastian had never done something like this before, and something inside me told me that a drama I didn’t want Gabby to see would soon unfold.
“Just go. Please.”
She huffed, throwing a mini tantrum as she stomped toward the stairs.
“Mom, this is stupid.”
“Upstairs. Now. And remember, don’t snoop.”
Sebastian’s footsteps were heavy, each one a deliberate stomp that echoed through the hallway as Gabby made her way upstairs, her steps hesitant but obedient. I stayed seated, watching him stride toward me with fire in his eyes. Seth followed close behind him, his jaw clenched, the faint twitch of annoyance visible in his temple. His movements were slower and more calculated as if he was trying to maintain composure, even though I could tell he was itching to lash out.
“What’s this madness, Sebastian?” I asked as I stood up, folding my arms across my chest.
“I should be asking you that question!” he shot back, his voice rising.
Of course, Gabby must have told him. She never kept secrets from him, and while I understood her reasoning, it didn’t justify Sebastian barging into my house like a madman.
“You should be asking me that question?” I echoed, my tone sharp. “When you’re banging my door like you’re about to knock it off its hinges?”
“What’s he doing here?” Sebastian’s eyes flicked to Seth, his glare slicing through the room like a knife. “I thought you said he was just some crazy man from work.”
I threw my hands in the air. “So, what? Now, I need your permission to invite someone into my house?”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.” His voice cracked, the frustration bubbling to the surface.
“How do you expect me to take you seriously when you storm in like this?” I was yelling now, too, even though I didn’t want Gabby to hear the full extent of our conversation. But I couldn’t help it. His behavior was infuriating.
Sebastian’s glare didn’t waver. “I wanted to confirm it myself—if it’s true that you’re marrying this man.”
“Yes, she’s marrying me,” Seth interjected smoothly, his hand resting possessively on my shoulder. “In a few weeks. And there’s not much you can do about it apart from being a lovely guest at our wedding.”
Sebastian’s face darkened, his nostrils flaring as his fists clenched tightly at his sides. For a moment, I thought he might swing at Seth. “How could you do this to me, Hazel?” His voice cracked, and I could hear the pain he was trying to mask with anger. “Where was this jerk when I was here with you after you got your heart broken? Where was he when I followed you to all your antenatal classes, and people thought I was your boyfriend? I’ve been here for ten years, Hazel! Ten years! And you never looked at me. And now, this guy swoops in out of nowhere, and you’re marrying him?”
I felt the weight of his words settle like a stone in my chest. He was right. Sebastian had been a good friend—a damn good one. But that didn’t give him the right to storm in and lash out like this. Still, because of everything he’d done for me over the years, I stood up, pushing Seth’s hand off my shoulder as I approached him.
Sebastian stood by the door, his shoulders hunched like the world’s weight was pressing down on him. His eyes were bloodshot, his breath reeking of alcohol. He flinched when I reached out to touch his arm, pulling away as if my touch burned him.
“Sebastian,” I said softly, trying to reach the part of him that wasn’t consumed by anger. “I’ll forever be grateful for everything you’ve done for me as a friend, but—”
“Friends?” He cut me off, his voice bitter. “That’s all I am to you? A friend?” He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “Lou warned me, you know. He said once a guy gets friend-zoned, he’s stuck there for life.”
“Friends should remain friends,” Seth chimed in from behind me, his voice laced with condescension.
I turned to glare at him, but he typically shrugged it off like he didn’t give two fucks about what was happening here.
“At least you could’ve told me I didn’t have a chance with you, Hazel.”
“I did,” I protested, my voice faltering.
“How?” he demanded, his voice rising. “By accepting my flowers with that gorgeous smile of yours? By going on a date with me? By coming to church with me even though you’re not a fan of Christianity? That’s not how you tell a guy he doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Sebastian,” I pleaded. “You’re not in the right state of mind right now. Let’s talk about this when you’ve calmed down.”
He shook his head. “I can’t believe this,” he muttered, then louder, “Good luck with your married life, Hazel. I hope one day you realize what you’ve thrown away.”
He turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
“Sebastian,” Gabby’s voice rang out from upstairs.
He froze—but didn’t turn back.
“I’m sorry,” Gabby whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I begged him to stop you from marrying Seth because I thought he was a bad person.”
I ran to her, wrapping her in my arms. “It’s okay, baby,” I murmured.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
I wasn’t sure. Not at all.
Because losing Sebastian—the only father figure Gabby had ever known—would break her heart.
And mine, too.