"It's true what they say. The higher you fly, the harder you fall. And the harder you fall, the stronger you rise."
Melanie Thompson flew high with her first love, she was higher than cloud nine. But the good news is nothing good lasts forever. Beca...
"At the time, I loved him. Or... I thought I did. But I was young, you know how it is."
He nodded, but remained silent.
"Anyway... we went out for a while. My parents never approved, of course, and Lucas wasn't his biggest fan either. But I kept seeing him, even when things between us went downhill. He started to spend more time with some of his friends who were... bad influences on him. They would skip school, spend the evening drinking, doing drugs, and God knows what else. I would never join them, and so I ended up becoming his second choice. That was when we started to drift apart."
"Did you break up?"
"No. I mean-" I stopped myself and pursed my lips into a tight line. "I told him a number of times that it was best that we end things between us but that always led to a fight."
The next words that came out of Seb's mouth, came out sounding almost like a growl.
"Was he violent with you? Did he hurt you?"
"Physically? No." Easy question, easy answer. But human relations are far from being easy. "What happened was, when I'd eventually have him, his time, he'd always be... a little too happy." I let out a dry chuckle. "Words can hurt just as much and he made me feel miserable about myself. It was self-deprecating for me to be around him."
"Why didn't you break up with him then?"
"I tried." I looked down at my plate, while I had flashbacks of that time. Of the numerous attempts I had of trying to get out of that relationship. "It was too hard. He was... manipulative, emotionally abusive, dominant. I felt imprisoned by him, and I had no way out."
I chose to spare Sébastien from hearing the details of that time, because, in fairness, he didn't need to hear them. And telling them wouldn't change the past.
"One day, I noticed my period was late. I bought a pregnancy test, took it upstairs and locked myself in the bathroom while I waited for the results. I had the water running, so my parents wouldn't bother me. And five minutes later, there it was. I was pregnant."
Feeling lighter just by sharing this darker side of my life, I went back to eating my dinner with a new, refreshing soul.
"What about David?"
If I told him what I did at the time, he would freak out so bad he'd run so far, jump into the river Thames not caring how freezing it was. Just to get away from me.
"He told me to take care of it. Told me he didn't want anything to do with the baby." Seb looked appalled. "Then, he got caught with drugs. Got arrested and I've never seen him since."
The last part was true.
"Thank you for telling me that." Sébastien's hand slid across the table and wrapped his fingers around my wrist, rubbing small circles. "I am so very sorry that you had to go through it."
"Thanks." I smiled and turned my hand around, so that my fingers were touching the inside of his wrist.
"If you don't mind me asking, did you always know you wanted to keep it? The pregnancy?"
"Oh, no." I took a long sip of wine before explaining that part. "I didn't want it, I wasn't ready! But I wasn't aware how far along I was when I'd found out, and I took a while to tell the dad and then... It was sort of too late."
"I think I know the answer to this, but... Any regrets?"
"No!" I shook my head. "I have zero regrets. Would I have wanted to have my first child with my partner, who would raise them with me? Sure. Do I wish Lexi could have a good father? Of course. But I don't regret having her, she is the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"Of course." Sébastien nodded, with a smile on his face before he took the napkin to his mouth to wipe his lips. "She's very special. And she's very lucky to have you as her mother."
"Thanks." I couldn't hide the grin on my lips. "And thank you so much for dinner. It's perfect."
"I'm glad you're enjoying our date." He thought about his next words before speaking. "I hope you'll enjoy the next part. If we're on the same page about us, I think you will."
For the first time since I'd met Sébastien, it was easy to say the next words.
"We're on the same page."
* * *
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I am so happy about the development in their relationship!!!! ❤
Don't forget to vote if you liked this chapter and leave a comment with your opinion :)
I've said it before but I'll say it, I am so sorry that it's been taking me more than a week to update but life got in the way and it's been a rough couple of months and I just wanted to post the chapter when I was totally happy about it. Thanks for understanding!
Xoxo, Mars
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