Listening to Deep Love in the Rain

Sebastian Merritt ran out on our engagement five years ago. He came back with a girl on his arm.

They called me here for two reasons. One, to shame me. Two, to show her off.

Sebastian shut the whole room up with a single line. Yvette Larson's pregnant. Anyone here without a kid, drink up.

Everyone took the penalty round. Everyone but me.

"Miss Sullivan, why aren't you drinking? Don't tell me you're too jealous to think straight."

Laughter went up around the table. Every one of them was certain I still couldn't get over him.

But all I was thinking was, if children were what decided the winner here, then I had one too.

Turned five this year.

It had rained hard in Harborough for three days, and I hadn't wanted to come to this welcome-back gala at all.

But over two hours, Sebastian's invitation was delivered to me fourteen times.

When I arrived, his buddies spoke first.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Sullivan. Nose like a bloodhound, this one. Seb's plane barely touched down and here you are."

The whole crowd broke up laughing. I pulled out an empty chair, and someone stopped me.

"Oh, we couldn't possibly let Miss Sullivan sit there."

They were all smiling, and none of it was kind.

Whichever chair I reached for, someone slid into it a beat ahead of me.

They were forcing me toward the seat beside Sebastian.

I lifted my head and met those cold eyes.

At his side sat a demure young woman.

The other side was empty.

I was here already, so I gave them what they wanted and sat down on Sebastian's other side.

The room erupted, one shriek after another.

"See? I told you. She's just as shameless as she was back then."

"Seb, you dog. A woman on each arm and you won't even share with the boys?"

Before I could say anything, the girl beside him let out a little laugh.

"Don't say things like that. I... Seb and I are only friends... Seb already has a fiance, you know."

And with that, the girl dropped her head, all bashful.

The others were egging her on. "Ooh, look, she's blushing! Ha Haha! "

The girl stole an embarrassed glance at Sebastian.

"Really... I heard Seb's fiance is coming today too. She must be someone impressive. When she gets here, I'll go greet her myself!"

The man who'd said nothing this whole time finally spoke. "No."

The girl leaned closer. "You won't go?"

Sebastian gave a scornful little smile. "No, she's not impressive."

"Then how is she your fiance?"

Sebastian didn't even pause to think. "Because she's cheap. Disgusting."

I took a couple of sips of wine, and out of the corner of my eye I caught his gaze coming my way.

I set the glass down and smiled, meeting it head-on.

"Not as cheap as her."

Sebastian's face darkened. "What did you say?"

In case he hadn't caught it, I said it louder, loud enough for the whole room to hear.

"Nobody's cheaper than a girl who knows she's the other woman and plays the other woman anyway. Right, sweetie?"

The girl was still smiling, only the smile froze on her face fast.

Sebastian clicked his tongue. "Still got that poison tongue. Back then it shouldn't have been your mother who died. It should've been you."

My mother.

No one had brought her up in a long time.

Back when my family went bankrupt, our enemies came hunting for us.

They sewed my mother's mouth shut and threw her into the lake.

I was raised spoiled, never able to swallow a slight.

The one time in my life I ever bowed my head was to beg Sebastian to save my mother.

It was the third day of us not speaking. He came with two teams of men and stood on the shore, mourning.

No one went in to bring her up.

I begged him.

He said, "And here I thought the great Miss Sullivan was born with a spine of iron, that she'd never learn to bend in this life. Olivia Sullivan, say you were wrong. Kneel and kowtow to me. Say marrying me is a blessing you don't deserve. Say it! Ha. Boring."

The moment I watched my mother's body float to the surface, I didn't shed a single tear.

In my ear was Sebastian's absurd laughter. "Looks to me like Auntie's pretty comfortable down in that water. Take your time watching. I've got to head back for my mother's birthday."

Me, I'll eat anything but an insult.

That same night, I threw his mother into the lake.

Tied her to my mother's body and let the two of them drift out in the middle of the water all night.

When Sebastian showed up, I was smiling, having such a good time. "You were right. The water really is comfortable. Look how comfortable Auntie is, singing away this whole time."

After they dragged her out, his mother lost her mind.

If Sebastian didn't bring it up, no one would ever have remembered it.

He'd insisted on saying it to disgust me.

So I could only show a little concern. "Is Auntie still singing these days?"

Sebastian gave a cold, humorless laugh, his face dark and ugly.

I couldn't care less how his face looked. He was the one who'd insisted on inviting me, so he should have known what he was getting.

The fact that I was even sitting here drinking his liquor was more than he deserved. He could go light incense in thanks.

There was nothing gentle or pleasant between the two of us.

The girl waved a hand, breaking the standoff. "Let the music and dancing begin. Let's not dwell on these unhappy things."

The dinner picked up into a lively hum.

The champagne tower stacked high in front of me.

I picked a color that looked pleasant enough and drank it.

"That one's harsh and bitter. Why don't you try this instead, sister?"

The girl poured me a glass. "Try this one, sister. Sebastian loves this. You mix in a bit of this, and this, and also"

She tilted her head, glancing at Sebastian for help.

I couldn't be bothered to look at him. I reached for the Fendi.

The girl looked a little surprised. "Yes, that's it! How did you know, sister? Sebastian likes it that way too. He says it's very sweet. I've never tried it. You should, sister."

That was the drink I'd mixed five years ago.

Sebastian had wanted something sweet, so I'd mixed it for him.

And it wasn't sweet.

It was bitter.

Because Sebastian didn't deserve sweet.

"Sister, are you married?"

"I am."

She froze for a second, clearly not believing it.

"Sister, do you know who Sebastian's fiance is? Tell me, if she found out I'm pregnant"

I smiled and pointed at the champagne tower in front of me. "She'd shove you straight into that."

"What kind of person is she?"

I had no idea what she was getting at, but I still humored her with an answer. "Obviously, a bad one."

"Then what if she"

She kept chirping away beside me, question after question.

I was getting annoyed.

I pressed my lips together over the drink and looked at her, out of patience.

"If she knew you were sitting here playing dumb while you understand perfectly well, she'd slap you across the face."

She smiled, innocent, dimples deep.

This was the first time we'd met, and I could tell she was a clever girl.

And yet here she was, playing the fool.

"Sister, I don't understand."

At last, the final thread of my patience wore through.

I flipped the table in front of me. "If you don't understand, then go die."

Everyone was on their feet, staring our way.

A few of the bodyguards yanked out their stun batons on reflex, and only when Sebastian gave the signal did they all slowly sit back down.

I didn't wait for anyone's signal. I just found a cleaner spot and sat.

The people on both sides grabbed their things and cleared off in a hurry. Nobody dared to sit anywhere near me.

Sebastian circled around and, half-smiling, snatched the drink right out of my hand.

"All this temper, coming here to wreck my party. Not a good look, is it?"

He took a sip. "All these years, and your touch hasn't changed a bit."

I leaned back in my seat and gave him a cold stare. "You should've said you wanted it sooner. I'd have spat in it a couple more times."

He actually held the cup out toward me, raising an eyebrow. "Go on."

I knocked the cup away.

The pale red liquor splashed all over the girl's skirt. She looked up at Sebastian, the picture of pitiful.

"See? This is between the two of us. You're the one dragging other people into it."

I poured myself another. "Sebastian, you know exactly what you're doing, calling me over here again and again. I don't even go easy on myself, never mind the two of you. The moment I walked in, you should've knowncross me, and nobody walks away happy."

He fixed me with a silent stare. The people around us didn't dare breathe, their eyes darting back and forth between the three of us.

The only sound left in the room was me clinking the bottles and jars, mixing my drink.

Once it was ready, I lifted the cup to take a sip.

The rim had barely touched my lips when Sebastian grabbed it again and threw his head back, downing it in one go.

He flipped the empty cup over, slammed it on the floor, and pinched my face, hard.

"Five years. You've got nothing you want to say to me?"

"I'm warning you. Let go."

His temper flared. "I saidfive years! You've got nothing to say to me?!"

"And I said, let go!"

We were both venting it at each other. I shook his hand off and slapped him across the face.

The room went silent again. I wiped my cheek in disgust while Sebastian gave a cold laugh and licked the corner of his mouth.

"Sebastian" The girl tugged at his sleeve, aching for him.

His temper was still up. He shook her off and turned to yell, "Go change your clothes!"

She stared at him, wounded. Sebastian snapped, "Go!"

Flustered, she hurried off.

Sebastian turned on the friends standing around watching the show. "What are you looking at? All of you, get lost!"

I muttered "lunatic" and sat back down to keep mixing my drink.

I'd spent the whole night on it and hadn't gotten a single sip. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, until I shoved the drink in front of me over.

Nobody was drinking anything.

Sebastian was still standing right there watching me. I looked over, out of patience. "You still want something? If you've got something to say, say it. Otherwise, get lost!"

He raised his eyebrows and dragged me toward the round table.

"I do. Who said I didn't. You're already here, so play a couple rounds."

He pushed me down onto a stool. I raised my hand, and afraid I'd hit him, he sat straight down across from me.

Over here they were playing a round-table game, everyone spinning the liquor bottle on the table with great enthusiasm.

Sebastian's friends crowded around, sneaking looks at me, all of them grinning like sly little rats.

"Seb, way I see it, hasn't Miss Sullivan gotten kind of jealous?"

"Yeah, doesn't look like she's just throwing a fit to me. More like she's jealous. You bring your girl back without a word, of course she's jealous."

Sebastian said nothing, just lifted his eyes skeptically, and his buddy behind him nodded, dead certain.

The guy stole a glance at me and leaned in to Sebastian's ear. "Really, look, she was cold the whole time, right up until Yvette brought up the pregnancy"

Just then the bottle on the table spun to a stop pointing at Sebastian.

The what-I-have-you-don't game. Sebastian took out the whole room in one line. "Yvette's pregnant. Anyone without a kid, drink up."

The room erupted, screaming and cheering, the noise deafening.

"Seb's the man!"

"Hahaha! Respect! Drink up, everyone!"

Everyone here was one of the friends he ran wild with.

Never mind settling downthey went through girlfriends one batch after another.

They knocked back their forfeit drinks, thoroughly beaten. I was the only one who didn't move.

If we were settling this by kids, then I had one too. He'd just turned five this year.

Sebastian's eyes stayed locked on me. "You're not drinking?"

The girl came back in fresh clothes, settled onto Sebastian Merritt's lap, and smiled at me. "Sis, once you sit down at the table, you have to take your losses like everyone else."

She had a sweet, obedient little face, but every word out of her mouth carried a second edge.

Nasty, this one.

"Come on, Seb, you don't get it. Miss Sullivan here is jealous."

I looked down and let out a cold laugh. Sebastian turned the table and pushed the cup in front of me.

I tipped the drink out onto the floor. "I'm not interested in childish games. It's fine, I'm leaving."

Only when I was packing up my bag did I notice a few texts on my phone.

[Where did Mommy go? Noah misses Mommy.]

[Noah's holding Bunny and going to sleep like a good boy. Noah loves you!]

A whole day of frustration finally eased in that moment.

While I typed my reply, they chattered on without end.

"See, that hit the mark, didn't it? Miss Sullivan, Seb's back now. If you really miss him, just swallow your pride a little."

Sebastian ran his thumb along the rim of the cup, his eyes cold enough to freeze. "Miss Sullivan? Since when has she ever swallowed her pride?"

Finished replying, I stood to go. As I turned, Yvette was blocking my path.

"Leaving so soon, Sis? Have I not been a good enough host?"

I said nothing. I cracked a wine glass on the edge and pressed the broken stem against her belly.

I could feel everyone at the round table behind me shoot to their feet all at once.

"Olivia Sullivan!"

Sebastian rushed over to stop me. I found the whole thing tiresome, tossed the glass aside, and went to the restroom.

Reeking of liquor like this, I couldn't very well go home.

I splashed water on my face, rinsed my arms, touched up my lipstick and perfume.

I was about to step out when I caught the voices outside.

"Seb, is Yvette really pregnant?"

"Mm."

"No way. So what happens now? Man, I really don't get you. Didn't you come back to marry Olivia Sullivan? What are you even doing? Aren't you afraid Olivia will get fed up and cut you off?"

Sebastian gave a soft laugh. "Haven't the two of us always been like this? Good one minute, bad the next, fighting back and forth. We're used to it by now. Yvette's young, and she listens. Even without a title, she'll have the baby. As long as Olivia doesn't find out, it's fine."

"And if she does find out?"

Sebastian went quiet for a moment, then drew a deep breath. "Then we fight it out again. What's the big deal."

A burst of fast footsteps came running up. "Mr. Merritt, the little heir of the Gilbert family is here!"

Sebastian froze slightly. "That little terror from the Gilbert family? We've got no dealings with the Gilberts."

I wiped the water off my hands and walked out.

The three of them saw me and froze at the same instant.

I ignored them and headed for the door, whispers trailing behind me.

"Shehow is she here? Seb, he didn't hear, did he?"

Sebastian answered with certainty. "No. If she'd heard, she'd have slapped me across the face by now."

Sebastian came after me in quick strides and reached to clap a hand on my shoulder. I turned aside and shot him a warning look.

He drew his hand back with a faint smile. "You've been in Harborough all these years. You've heard of Francis Gilbert, haven't you?"

"Mm."

"His son's here. Don't say I never gave you a chance to tag along. Come take a look with me? This little Gilbert heir is no ordinary kid. Let me introduce you."

I shot him an impatient glance. "You're not making any sense."

Since when did my son need him to introduce us.