One Long Flight 💙

Broken

Sebastian's apartment was filled with urgent knocking just before dinnertime. He let out a sigh as he opened the door, making way for Chris to step inside. "Chris, as I've said, she's not here."

Exhaling in frustration, Chris ran a hand through his hair. "I understand that, but she's in New York. She's been talking to you. Sebastian, I need you to help me get her to talk to me."

One of Sebastian's eyebrows arched in skepticism. "And how exactly do you expect me to achieve that?"

Chris threw his hands up in exasperation. "I don't know, man! Just ask her to come over."

Sebastian moved to his kitchen, pouring whiskey into two glasses before handing one to Chris. He raised an eyebrow questioningly. "I won't manipulate her or force her into anything, Chris."

Another sigh escaped Chris's lips. "Alright, then convince her to at least have a conversation with me."

Studying his friend thoughtfully, Sebastian eventually relented. "Okay, I'll call her and ask. But if she declines, that's the end of it."

Chris nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Seb."

Sebastian retreated into his bedroom, shutting the door to make the call. He dialed Aisling's number. "Hey, sweetheart."

'Seb. Hi. What's going on?'

Taking a deep breath, he spoke deliberately. "Chris is here. He wants to talk to you. I told him I'd ask, but I'm not promising anything." After a pause, he heard an exasperated sigh from Aisling.

'At your place?'

"If you're comfortable, you can come here. I'll be here the whole time."

'Is there whiskey?'

Sebastian chuckled softly. "Plenty. Are you hungry? I could order some pizza."

Aisling's relief was palpable in her response. 'That would be great. Thanks, Sebastian. Text me your address, and I'll head over. And please, promise you'll stay the whole time?"

"I won't leave unless you want me to." Her relieved acknowledgment reassured him.

'Alright, see you soon.'

Returning to the living room, Sebastian found Chris still looking anxious. "She's on her way. I had to lure her with the promise of whiskey and pizza."

✈️

Aisling stood outside Sebastian's apartment, wrestling with nerves that made her hesitate to knock. After a moment, she let out a sigh and decided to enter without waiting for a response. In the living room, she found Chris and Sebastian seated on the couch, sharing a pizza.

Chris leaped up, his face lighting up. "Aisling!"

She avoided his gaze, heading to the kitchen. There, she spotted a bottle of whiskey on the counter, along with an empty glass — a gesture from Sebastian, she guessed. Smirking to herself, she poured a glass and turned to face them, perching on the counter. "Alright, Chris. Speak."

Chris seemed eager to approach her, but she raised a hand to keep him at bay. He let out a resigned sigh. "Aisling, I'm sorry."

She scoffed, her tone laced with sarcasm. "For which part, exactly?"

Chris's voice softened. "Aisling, it's not what you think."

"Did you sleep with her, Chris?" She finished her glass, setting it beside her, then looked to Sebastian. He seemed to understand her unspoken request as he picked up the pizza box and brought it over to her. "Thanks." He offered a half-smile before returning to the couch.

"No, Aisling, of course not. I would never do that."

She scoffed again. "Right. Explain everything."

Chris sighed, his gaze pleading. "She said she'd be in town, asked if we could catch up over dinner, and I agreed."

"And you didn't think to tell your fiancée you were having dinner with an ex-girlfriend?"

"I didn't think it would be a huge issue," he admitted with a shrug. "I definitely didn't plan on her kissing me."

"Or, you know, kissing her back and putting your hand on her cheek," Aisling pointed out, her tone biting.

Chris groaned in frustration. "I know, I messed up. I'm sorry. But I stopped it, Aisling. I told her I loved you. I'm so sorry."

She glanced down at her hand, noting the absence of her engagement ring. "You took off the ring?"

She nodded, eyes still on her hand. "Yes. I've taken it off. But I'm keeping it. It belonged to my grandmother. Chris, it's just been one thing after another. Deceits, one after another. You sprung your family dinner on me, disguising it as your mother's birthday. You didn't mention that Shanna always makes her cakes, which led to her hating me. She still does! At that same dinner, you made a huge deal about me moving in with you. Against my better judgment, I agreed. But you didn't trust me, Chris. You assumed the worst. We'd only lived together for a few weeks at that point."

She paced as she continued, voice growing more intense. "And let's talk about your brilliant idea to have another ex-girlfriend plan our wedding. The very first girl you were with, Chris. I've been giving you the benefit of the doubt, trusting you even when I saw messages about having dinner with your 'friend.'" She stopped and faced Chris, her gaze unyielding. "I've trusted you every time you left for filming. What else could I do? I love you!" Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She pointed at Sebastian. "And then, you jump to the conclusion that I slept with your friend. Again!"

Chris reached for her, but she swiftly evaded his touch, letting out a frustrated noise. "No, Chris, I don't want apologies. We rushed into everything. How could I trust you when you can't even trust me? I can't do this, Chris. I'm sorry. I'm still finding my footing in Boston, and my whole life seems to revolve around you and your family."

Chris shook his head, clearly distressed. "What are you saying, Aisling?"

She glanced at the bracelet on her wrist, removing it and handing it to him. "I'm asking you to leave, Chris."

"No!" Chris's grip on her arms tightened, and she met his gaze, her green eyes reflecting the turmoil she felt. "Aisling, please. We'll work through this. I love you and only you. I want to be with you."

Aisling shook her head, her voice heavy with sadness. "No, Chris. I can't. I'm sorry. I'll pack up my things while you're away filming and find a new place to stay." She turned away, unable to bear the intensity in his eyes any longer. "Please, go."

Sebastian stood up, placing a supportive hand on Chris's arm. "Come on."

Chris seemed to hesitate, torn, before finally leaving the apartment. "Seb?"

Sebastian approached Aisling, his gaze gentle but concerned. He wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to cry for a moment before she pulled away, meeting his gaze. He sighed, wiping away her tears with his thumbs.

"Can I stay here?" Aisling asked, her voice tired.

Sebastian nodded, guiding her to his bedroom. She removed her shoes before crawling under the blanket, finding solace in the cocoon of warmth.

Hours later, Aisling stirred, noticing Sebastian lying beside her on his back. She turned to face him, resting her head on his chest. There was a moment of hesitation, then he wrapped his arms around her, placing a gentle kiss on her head. As she drifted back into sleep, she felt a sense of comfort and safety in his embrace.