Open Marriage (ON HOLD)

Chapter 1

(March 8, 2022) Present Day

Sebastian to Y/N: You avoided me tonight.

The young woman just stared at the text received minutes after walking into her home. The home she shared with her husband of three years, Zac Efron. Y/N currently found herself hiding inside her lavish bathroom, the shower running while sitting on the floor, trying to decide whether or not to text back. Steam began to fill the room as she attempted to find the words to say to the man that held her heart. She wanted them to be friends, but the second she saw Sebastian this evening, Y/N was back in his room two weeks ago, making love to him one last time, saying goodbye. She purposely avoided him all night because she honestly didn't trust herself to be around him.

Y/N to Sebastian: I'm sorry you felt that way.

The second she hit send, regret set in. Was she going to be able to carry on a conversation with Sebastian via text without that aching feeling of betraying Zac? She already felt guilty hiding in her bathroom while Zac was checking on the kids.

Sebastian to Y/N: Is this the way it's going to be from now on?

"Yes," she answered out loud, typing a different response.

Y/N to Sebastian: I don't know what you mean.

She knew exactly what he meant, but she didn't want to believe this was going to be their relationship after almost nine incredible months.

"No," she breathed, her phone started to ring, Sebastian's name appearing, requesting to FaceTime with her. She closed her eyes, trying to give herself a bit more time to collect her thoughts before reluctantly answering the call. "Hi!" she mumbled. At that moment, Y/N realized this was the first time speaking to Sebastian since that morning she walked out of his place.

"Hey, Pretty girl," he mumbled, appearing on her screen.

Y/N shook her head, "Sebastian, you can't call me that. You know this."

"I can call you whatever I want. It doesn't matter if we are together," the man pointed out, licking his lips.

"Sebastian, we can't do this. I shouldn't even be talking to you right now," she informed, gazing up at the locked bathroom door, then back at the phone.

"So what...we just not going to talk to each other again? Are you going to avoid me at every function that we attend?" he asked, raising his voice a bit.

"Sebs..." she pleaded, feeling tears well up in her eyes.

"Don't cry, baby," he whispered into the phone. "Please, don't cry."

Y/N took a deep breath, holding back her tears. "I'm sorry I avoided you tonight. I just can't be around you without..." She trailed off, not wanting to finish her sentence.

"I want you just as much as you want me, Doll," Sebastian admitted, biting his lip.

Tears stung her cheeks the second she heard him speak one of the many nicknames he had for her. "Don't," she begged.

"Come see me tonight, please," he insisted, doing a little begging of his own.

"I can't, because I don't trust myself to be alone with you. Plus, I can't lie to Zac," she added, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"I want you so badly right now. I want to hold you and kiss you," the actor informed her, pausing while licking his lips. "I want to make love to you."

"Sebastian!" She whined at his words.

"Yes, and make you say my name like that," he groaned, pulling back his phone, revealing his bare chest.

Y/N closed her eyes, shaking her head. "I can't. I'm sorry."

"But you want to, don't you? You've thought about coming back to me, haven't you?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Just say the words, and I'll come and get you, Pretty Girl."

"Baby, of course, I have, but I can't leave. I have six little humans that need their mama," she reminded him, rising to her feet.

"Don't stay with him just because of the kids," Sebastian instructed her. "Baby, come be with me. You can still be an amazin fucking mom to your babies and be with me."

"I know that, but I'm not just with him because of the kids. I love him, Sebastian," she replied, leaning against the counter.

Sebastian groaned, eyes closing, trying not to become angry. "I know you love him, but it doesn't mean you want to be with him. Baby, I haven't stopped thinking about you since you walked out of my house."

"I can't do this, Sebastian. I have to go," she expressed, biting her lip. "I am sorry." She hung up, not allowing him to respond.

Y/N placed her phone on the counter tears streamed down her face. She slowly pulled the clothes off her body, finding the hot water relaxing the moment she stepped into the shower. The steady stream of tears turned to a sob the second she heard her phone vibrate against the counter. Y/N knew it was Sebastian, pleading with her. She missed him but couldn't go back. She needed to fight for her family. The family she had been fighting for since the moment she meant Zac.

Y/N lost herself in the distorted reality of what could be while the hot water cascaded down her body. She didn't even know if she had the strength to pull herself out of the shower. Each thought crippled her more than the first, causing her to doubt her life in so many ways. Was she making all her decisions based on other people's happiness?

"Babe?" A voice called out, pulling her from her vain imagination. "You okay? You have been in here a while," Zac commented, slowly pulling back the shower curtain, finding his broken wife standing under the hot water.

The man gradually reached for his wife, pulling her to him. He examined her face while wrapping a towel around her fragile body. He remained silent as he picked her up, carrying her to their bedroom. Y/N didn't have to explain; Zac knew what was going on. She hadn't been herself the last couple of weeks, and it was his fault.

Zac dried off his wife's body, dressing her in one of his many t-shirts, placing her in bed for the night. He sat on the edge of the bed, watching her tired body rest. Never in his wildest dreams did Zac know that a decision made with Y/N almost ten months ago would leave his wife so emotionally wrecked. He began to worry if there could be a chance to lose her forever.