Sebastian blew out a breath of relief. God only knew how much he hated having people over to his cramped apartment….. Even after a few years, shame still rose in him at the sight of the cracked paint on the walls, the buckets set here and there to catch the steady dripping of water from the ceiling.
"Sounds good. Right now, or later?"
Devon shrugged a little, her mind finally catching up with what she had agreed to. A blush was steadily making its way to her cheeks as she chewed in her lip.
“Now would be fine with me if it’s fine with you,” she said quietly.
Sebastian scooped Ella up and stood, all in one movement, and this time she didn’t complain. He glanced over at Devon, noticing her blush and quieter tone. “If you’re not fine with it, that’s cool by me,” he said carefully, worried if he’d done anything wrong.
Devon blinked a couple of times and shook her head. It was fine. She just hadn’t quite realized what she had agreed to at first. It was fine.
“No, no. It’s fine. We can’t disappoint the girls, right?” she said with a small smile, hoping to lighten the mood with a joke.
Sebastian nodded, a quiet chuckle escaping him as he glanced down into the large, hopeful eyes of his daughter. “Right. What’s your address? I might be a while coming, I don’t have a car.”
“Ah… Hold on, I’ll write it down,” Devon said, moving to put her now-calm daughter down.
Layla pouted up at her as she was set on the floor, then started toward Sebastian. Devon noticed this and grabbed her daughter’s hand before she could go very far. “Layla, stay here, honey,” she said as she dug in her purse/diaper bag/ backpack for a paper and pen. After finding what she needed, she scrawled down her address and handing the paper to Sebastian. “There you go.”
Sebastian took the paper in one hand, balancing his daughter on one hip. “Thanks. See you there, I guess?”
Devon nodded and picked Layla back up, offering a small smile to the man in front if her. “Yeah. See you in a bit.”
(Skip to when he arrives?
~not it~)
(Hhhhh fine)
Sebastian stood in front of a door marked [insert number], biting the inside of his cheek. This was the correct apartment, right? Impatient, Ella beat her tiny fists against his chest, which prompted him to raise a hand and knock twice.
Devon quickly glanced at the door as she finished cleaning up her living room. “I’ll be right there!” she called as Layla hurried over to the door.
“Hi! Hi!” she called through the door, tapping on it a few times.
“Layla, honey, step back, please,” Devon said as she made her way to the door. Her daughter attached herself to her leg as she opened the door with a sma smile. “Hi. Come on it.”
“Hey,” Sebastian greeted, still biting the inside of his cheek. He offered a small smile to her and Layla, setting his wriggling daughter down as soon as he stepped inside. It wasn’t that he was weirded out, or uncomfortable, but being invited over to other people’s houses and actually accepting was…. very untrodden territory for him. Maybe not a few years ago, but after Elle….
Layla immediately detatched from Devon’s leg and ran to her friend. She wrapped the littler girl in a tight hug, squealing happily.
“Careful, Layla. Be gentle,” her mother instructed before turning her attention back to Sebastian. “Would you like anything to drink? I have tea or coffee…”
“Oh, it’s fine, thanks,” he replied, not wanting her to go out of her way.
Ella hugged her friend back, almost toppling over. Sebastian, his reflexes honed by one year and two months of being a father, lurched forward to steady the two before they fell.
Devon nodded slowly at his response. When the two girls nearly fell, her eyes immediately shot toward them. She let out a slow breath when Sebastian caught them before they toppled over.
“Layla, why don’t you go show Ella your babies?” she suggested softly.
The little girl lit up at that, as if she wasn’t beaming already. “C’mon, c’mon!” she exclaimed, taking her friend’s hand and trying to tug her over. Devon sighed and reminded her to be gentle, and she slowed down a little after that.
Ella stumbled unsteadily after her older friend, suddenly reminded of the fact that she had only learned to properly walk a few months ago. Sebastian chuckled as he watch them go, a fond expression softening his features. But after they had gone, he was left uncertain….. what was he supposed to do with Devon?
Devon watched the pair go with a soft smile. When they disappeared from sight, she glanced over at Sebastian. Now what?
“So… Are you sure you don’t want anything? I’ve got hot cocoa,” she offered with a shrug, making her way into the kitchen.
"I'll be fine, but thank you," Sebastian answered, tugging awkwardly at the end of his sleeve as he allowed his eyes to travel around her apartment. "So.….. what do you want to do?"
“Oh… Um, I have some games we could play,” Devon suggested with a shrug as she got a mug and hot cocoa out for herself.
"As in, board games?" he clarified, leaning back against the kitchen counter.
"Monopoly and whatnot? Or do you mean cards?"
Devon shrugged and set her mug down on the counter before moving toward the hallway. “Both. I have Monopoly if you want to play that.”
"Sounds good."
Breathe, idiot. Social interaction shouldn't be this foreign of a concept. Just act like a normal human being, he reprimanded himself, refusing to let his laid-back smile waver. "Oh, and I call the little Scottie dog as my playing piece."
Devon turned around slightly to look at him, a slightly amused expression on her face. She smiled and nodded before walking farther into the hallway.
“Well, it’s a good thing I like the cat, then,” she said, attempting a soft chuckle as she grabbed the box from the packed closet.
(if you haven't noticed by now, Scottie dog is my absolute favourite
should we skip?)
(And the cat is mine. Lol.
Sure, to when? After the game?
not it)
Oh come onnnnn, again? lol
Sure
Or do you want to do after?
Up to you)