Belief in Miracles (completed)

Chapter 17: Summer

17Summer

Sebastian's story left a scar on my heart as raw as the ones on his back. I wanted blood for the things that woman had done to him. He'd loved her, even after she cheated on him, and she showed her gratitude by trying to burn him alive. I could barely stomach it. Those were the types of things that you heard happening in places like the Middle East, or in movies, not in America, and certainly not to someone you knew. It was awful...

Yet, he forgave her for it. The idea was completely foreign to me. I'd lived for years harboring hate and grudge against Pastor Charles. It never once crossed my mind to forgive him. He didn't deserve it. But I guess that was part of what made Sebastian so amazing. He forgave her not because she deserved it, but because he did. He deserved the closure.

I sighed as I looked up at him. With the dishwasher running and the kitchen cleaned up, I sat back on the couch while Sebastian cut into the cheesecake he'd pulled from the fridge. My legs felt like Jello from the amount of wine I'd consumed, making my body comfortably warm and tingly, and I smiled as I caught his eye from across the room.

"You do like cheesecake, right?" He asked, and I nodded.

"Who doesn't like cheesecake?"

He huffed a half laugh as he slid a slice onto a plate. "My brother, Ian."

"Really?"

Nodding, he slid out another slice, then picked up both plates. "He can't stand the stuff; says it tastes like feet."

My mouth widened into a surprised O as he brought the plates and sat next to me. "What is wrong with him?"

"Ha! I've been asking that question for years."

Shaking my head, I raised my fork and chinked it with his, earning me a wide grin as we both dug into our cheesecake. Letting out a sigh, I leaned into the couch with a smile. "Yep, there's definitely something wrong with him."

"Agreed." Sebastian said with a full mouth, and continued eating.

"Do you miss her?" I asked as I took another bite, and he paused to glance at me before shrugging, his eyes locked on his plate.

"Sometimes, I guess."

His admission was disappointing for some reason, but I nodded slowly, genuinely curious rather than jealous. "What do you miss about her?"

He shrugged again. "I don't know... sometimes I miss the mornings. She worked graveyard at the little twenty-four diner in town, and I remember, every morning when I woke up, she had breakfast ready for me with a big note that said, 'Good morning, Bassy! I love you!'." He huffed and shrugged again. "Sometimes I still wake up expecting to find it on the counter, only to remember... everything."

I swallowed hard as a touch of unwanted jealousy stung me, and I looked away to pick at my cheesecake, wishing I hadn't asked.

"I'm sorry." Sebastian said suddenly, and I raised my eyes to him.

"What for?"

"It's probably not conducive to a current relationship to talk about an old one."

I shook my head. "No, it's ok. I asked."

"I still should have been a little more considerate, so I apologize. I mean, I wouldn't want you to brag about your great sex life with an old flame or something."

"I'm a virgin." I said slowly, and stood to carry my plate into the kitchen.

I could feel him watching me as I washed my plate, and heard his grunting as he used the table to try and lift himself up. I turned the water off when he appeared beside me, his brows furrowed into a deep V.