Feeling the Buzz (14 page)

“Someone call the cops,” Victoria screamed.
Her hand lashed out and her fingernails ripped a gouge in his chin. Blood
dripped to the floor but Victoria didn’t let up.

“He mightn’t be able to hit you but I can,”
Janaya said.

“No weapons,” Luke mumbled from behind.

Before Sebastian could start to puzzle that
one out, Janaya approached Victoria. Her hands snapped out. Victoria broke off
mid-screech when Janaya’s fists met their target. Seconds later it was over.
Victoria was out cold on the floor and silence reigned.

“I’ve still got it,” Janaya said to Luke.

“Got what, sweetheart? I didn’t see a
thing,” Luke said.

“Thanks,” Sebastian said.

“No problem,” Janaya said, dusting off her
hands on the back of her jeans. “Why did you divorce her anyway?”

“She aborted my baby without discussing it
with me,” Sebastian said, the pain as deep now as it had been when it happened
two years ago. Tears pricked at his eyes and he had to blink rapidly to keep
control. “And later I discovered she’d cheated.” What the fuck? Why was he
telling her? He hadn’t even told Wayne about the baby.

“I’m sorry.” Janaya scowled down at
Victoria. “I would have punched her harder if I’d known.”

A startled laugh burst from Sebastian. He
was glad Janaya wasn’t gunning for him.

* * * * *

“Where’s Sebastian?” Jen asked as she slid
onto one of the barstools at the kitchen counter.

“I don’t know. He didn’t come home last
night.”

“Should we be worried?”

“He’s not answering his mobile.”

Jen frowned. “Any idea where he might be?”

“I’m hoping he turns up here soon, but if
he doesn’t I’ll start at the pub. How are you?”

Jen felt her face crumple, an accompanying
tremor slipping through her. “Pregnant.”

“I thought you were on the Pill.”

“I am,” she snapped. “Evidently I hit the
percentage that it doesn’t work for. Lucky me.”

“Whoa.” Wayne lifted his hands in a gesture
of surrender. “I’m sorry.”

“Why don’t you ask your next question?
Who’s the daddy?”

“Jen.” Wayne rounded the counter and lifted
her off the barstool before wrapping her in the comfort of his arms. “I know
you’d never sleep with anyone other than me or Sebastian. What do you want to
do?”

“I don’t know.” Once again emotions
overwhelmed her and exited as big, fat tears. They slipped down her cheeks and
soaked into Wayne’s T-shirt. “My mother would be so angry with me. I feel as if
I’ve let her down. Broken my promise to her.”

“I doubt you’d ever disappoint her. My
grandmother always says that life doesn’t go according to plan. What we need to
do is make a new plan. One that you can live with.”

Jen sniffed. “You make it sound so easy.”

“I know it won’t be easy. There are three
of us and people are going to speculate.”

“I hate gossip. When I was a kid I used to
hear people whispering about my mother and how she had an affair with a married
man.”

“Do you know who your father is?”

“No, whenever I asked my mother brushed it
aside. I have no idea. She’d been at university before her pregnancy, so it
could have been anyone.”

“That’s one thing we all have in common
then. Sebastian doesn’t know anything about his real parents. I have a mother
listed on my birth certificate but no father.”

“How come Sebastian doesn’t know anything?”

“He was abandoned. A couple walking their
dog heard him crying. Someone had dumped him in one of those big rubbish bins.”

“Oh god. Wayne. That’s terrible.”

“Yeah. He doesn’t talk about it much, but
I’m sure that’s part of the reason he ended up married to Victoria. He wanted a
family.”

Some of Sebastian’s vehemence of the prior
evening started to make sense. “I would never desert a child.”

“I know you wouldn’t. What
do
you
want to do?”

“I’d better go to see a doctor, and I’ll go
from there.”

Wayne smiled down at her and wiped the
moisture off one cheek. “That’s a good start. Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, you should find Sebastian. I might
ring Gaby and ask her to go with me.”

“Good plan. Do you want something to eat?”

“No,” she said sharply, her stomach going
into somersaults at the mention of food. “Maybe a couple of cream crackers.”

Wayne grabbed his keys, attempting to hide
his worry. “If you’re set, I might try to track down Sebastian.”

Jen sent him a sharp look. “You’re
worried.”

“Damn, I’m gonna have to work on hiding my
emotions a bit better.”

“No. It’s just that I know you so well.”

Ten minutes later, Wayne dropped Jen off at
Gaby’s. Neither Gaby, Fletch or Liam had seen Sebastian. He drove to the pub
and pulled up beside Sebastian’s vehicle. Wayne climbed out of his car, half
expecting to see Sebastian sleeping inside his truck. He wasn’t. The vehicle
was locked.

Damn. Where next? He tried Sebastian’s
mobile again, and it went straight to voicemail. He climbed back into his car
and drove around town trying to think where Sebastian could be. Nothing. He
drove to their office and searched there. Again, nothing.

After exhausting every possibility, he
pulled up outside the police station, his gut churning with trepidation.

Luke Morgan, one of the Sloan cops was
arriving just as he entered the police station.

“Hey, Luke. I don’t suppose you’ve seen
Sebastian?”

“I have. He was in my spare bedroom,
snoring fit to wake the dead when I left the house.”

“He stayed at your place last night?”

“Yeah. He’d had a skin full, and I decided
it might be best.” Luke grinned suddenly. “There was a bit of trouble.”

“Is he okay?”

Luke’s grin widened. “He’ll have a
headache.”

Luke wasn’t telling him everything. “Should
I go and collect him?”

“Are you the man part of his woman and man
trouble?”

Wayne hesitated. “Yes,” he said finally.

“Are you gonna sort it out?”

Was he? Wayne considered that for a few
seconds then nodded. Hell, yeah. “Yes.”

“Then go and get him,” Luke said.

“Thanks.” Wayne headed off feeling more
confused than ever. At Luke’s place, he knocked on the door.

Janaya answered and smiled, her violet eyes
twinkling. “You’ve come to pick up Sebastian.”

“Yes. Where is he?”

“Still sound asleep. Down there,” she
gestured. “Second door on the left.”

Wayne slipped off his boots and entered the
house. At the doorway of the bedroom Janaya had indicated, he came to a halt. A
slow smile curved his lips. Sebastian lay stretched out, wearing just his
boxer-briefs, his right arm wrapped around a black and white spotted dog. Wayne
chuckled. The pair looked cute and he whipped out his cell phone intending to
snap a photo. Before he could take the shot, the dog’s eyes popped open. A
series of short barks, followed by a hair-raising growl, issued from her
throat.

Janaya came running. “Ah, I wouldn’t take
that photo if I were you. Killer doesn’t like having her photo taken.”

The dog barked again. A series of sharp
barks as if it were agreeing with Janaya.

Wayne put his phone away and the dog
visibly relaxed.

“Come on, Killer. We’ll make another pot of
coffee.”

“Wayne?”

“You’re awake,” Wayne said.

The dog growled as it wriggled.

“I think she wants you to lift your arm,”
Janaya said.

Wayne took a quick two steps to the bed and
grabbed Sebastian. He hugged him, relief filling him because Seb was safe. In
that moment he knew that he had to do everything he could to make them into a
family. And most of all, he had to help make Seb feel secure.

Uncaring of the audience, he kissed
Sebastian smack on the lips. The man smelled like a pub and didn’t taste the
best, but Wayne didn’t care. This was right where he wanted to be, and every
relationship he’d had to date paled in comparison.

He heard the dog give another series of
barks and lifted his head.

“Shush, Killer. It’s not wrong for men to
kiss if they care for each other.”

Wayne smiled against Seb’s neck. He cared
for Sebastian.

The dog barked.

“No, if Luke tried kissing James, I’d brain
him. Come, Killer.”

The dog scurried after Janaya, leaving them
in peace.

Weird. Wayne shrugged away Janaya’s strange
discussion with the dog. “I was worried about you.” He pulled back to study
Sebastian properly. “What happened to your face? You have a bruise.”

“I got in a fight last night in the pub.
Victoria hit me.”

“And you didn’t hit back.”

“I can’t hit a woman, Wayne.” Sebastian
sounded shocked.

“Of course you can’t, but that doesn’t mean
she can thump you either.”

Sebastian let out a husky chuckle. “No, but
Janaya slugged her. You should have seen her. One punch and Victoria went
down.”

“Was Luke there?”

“He didn’t see a thing.”

“Coffee is ready,” Janaya said from behind
them. “What Sebastian means is that Luke pretended he didn’t see anything.”

“Good for him.”

When they walked into the kitchen the dog
was barking again. Wayne shook his head. Strange creature. It never seemed to
shut up.

“I think they have a girlfriend too,”
Janaya said.

“Are you talking with that dog?” Wayne
asked.

Janaya winked. “Of course I am. Dogs can
talk.”

Sebastian snorted and dropped onto the
nearest chair. “Man, my head hurts.”

“Take a couple of these.” Janaya handed him
two tablets and a glass of water. “My aunt swears by them.”

“So you’re both with Jen Alexander. She’s a
nice girl.”

“Yeah, she is,” Wayne said.

“Where is Jen?”

“She’s gone to see the doctor.”

Sebastian lurched to his feet. “She hasn’t
gone to get an abortion?”

“What? Of course not. Seb, sit back down.
You should know better. Jen would never have an abortion.”

“What is she going to the doctor for then?”

Janaya handed them both mugs of black
coffee and shunted milk and sugar in their direction so they could fix their
coffees as they pleased. “She’s probably gone to confirm the pregnancy and to
make sure she’s healthy. Right?”

“Yes. Jen might be upset about a baby right
now but she won’t do anything silly.”

“Sebastian, you should tell Wayne,” Janaya
said.

“Tell me what?”

“Victoria got pregnant and had an abortion
without telling me,” Sebastian said.

“Fuck! Seb, why didn’t you tell me?” That
explained his attitude toward the pregnancy.

“I couldn’t,” Sebastian said. “It still
kills me every time I think about it.”

“Jen isn’t Victoria,” Wayne said.

The dog barked, and Janaya shushed her.
When the dog barked again, Janaya went to the fridge and pulled out a huge
bone. After unwrapping it, she gave the treat to the dog. Killer exited via the
door.

“What does Jen want to do?” Sebastian
asked. “If she doesn’t want the baby then maybe she’d consider letting me adopt
it.”

Sympathy and love clutched at Wayne’s chest,
making it difficult to draw breath. A thought occurred and he tossed it around
in his mind. Yeah, that might work. He’d think on it. “Let’s go home. We’ll
talk with Jen and help her make plans.”

“Thanks for looking after me last night,
Janaya.”

“No problem.” She waved off Sebastian’s
thanks with a flap of her wrist. “That’s what friends are for.”

“Thank you,” Wayne mouthed and he set down
his coffee to guide Sebastian outside. It was time to go home.

Chapter Thirteen

Sebastian’s head thumped like a bitch. He
patted his pocket by habit, searching for his sunglasses.

“Here.” Wayne handed him his sunnies
without Sebastian saying a word.

“Thanks, man.”

Jen and Gaby were in the kitchen when they
arrived home.

“I thought you were going to the doctor,”
Sebastian said.

“They were booked solid this morning. I
have an appointment for this afternoon.”

“Can I go with you?” Sebastian asked.

Jen stared at him for an instant, shot a
quick glance at Wayne then nodded. “You can drive me.”

Sebastian’s breath eased out. “I’ll wait
for you in the waiting room.” Some of the fear encasing him lifted at her
agreement. With those few words, she’d let him in, and it meant the world to
him.

* * * * *

Wayne’s Father’s Birthday Party

“Wayne, you’re here,” his mother said. “And
this must be Jen.” She grasped both of Jen’s hands and scrutinized her from
head to foot. “You must be doing something right, my son. Your girl is
glowing.”

Beside him, Sebastian stiffened, and Wayne
cursed under his breath. A few careless words and all the frank, honest
discussions they’d had during the past week seemed far away. The rest of the
world intruded big-time.

“Sebastian,” his mother said, inclining her
head.

This time it was Wayne who froze. It was
about time his mother started treating Sebastian better. Honestly, sometimes
she carried on like a queen graciously giving a poor man an audience. Wayne
needed to set her straight, although it was something he wasn’t looking forward
to.

“Where’s Dad?” Wayne carried a present the
three of them had picked out a few days ago.

“He’s holding court out the back. Put the
present in the front room. He’s going to open them later this afternoon. Come
with me. I want to introduce Jen to the rest of the family.”

“I’ll take it,” Sebastian said, his tone
lacking any sort of emotion.

When Sebastian went to take the present off
him, Wayne swung his arm around Sebastian’s shoulder in a swift, reassuring
hug. Their gazes clashed and Sebastian gave a faint nod.

“What are you doing hugging Sebastian?” one
of his aunts asked, walking up behind them. “Anyone would think that you’re
gay.”

Sebastian froze. He glared at Wayne’s aunt
but to Wayne’s relief didn’t say anything. The last thing they needed today was
a shouting match.

“There’s nothing wrong with gay,” Jen said.

Oh hell. Wayne waited for the fallout.

“It’s not right,” his aunt said, scowling.
“It’s against God’s laws.”

Jen pressed her lips together.

“I’ll see you later,” Sebastian said and
made his escape.

Wayne wished he could do the same. With his
hand in the curve of Jen’s back, he ushered her after his mother. Gay
discussion diverted. For now at least.

“Gerrard.” Jen came to an abrupt halt.

Immediately the tension ramped up inside
Wayne again. He’d tried to contact Gerrard for the last week, but he’d been
away in Taupo with Stan and Justin. Heck, his mother had said Gerrard wasn’t
going to be here today, and she hadn’t been happy about it. Obviously, she’d
managed to change Gerrard’s mind. Either that or guilt him to death. Wayne was
betting on the latter.

“Wayne.” Gerrard glowered at Jen. “I need
to talk to you.”

“Later,” Wayne said. “Mum wants to
introduce Jen around.”

“It’s important,” Gerrard said, following
them outside. He came to an abrupt halt and almost caused a human pileup behind
him. “What’s he doing here?”

“Aw, hell,” Wayne muttered.

Jen squeezed his arm. “Sebastian said—”

“I know what Sebastian friggin’ said,”
Wayne snapped. “Fuck,” he breathed. “Sorry. Go and stand with Sebastian. I’ll
head off Gerrard before he does anything stupid.”

“Sebastian and Jen are having an affair
behind your back,” Gerrard declared in a loud voice.

Everyone fell silent.

“Too late,” Jen said.

“You! You cheated on my son with him?”
Wayne’s mother demanded.

“Mum, listen to me,” Wayne said urgently.
“Gerrard doesn’t understand.”

“Sebastian, leave my house. Out! Right now
and don’t come back.”

“Don’t be such a drama queen, Mum. I told
you. It’s not like that.”

Sebastian stiffened, anguish chasing across
his face before he blanked his expression. “I’m sorry,” he said. “This was a
bad idea.”

“I’d better go too,” Jen said.

“That’s a good idea,” Gerrard said.

“No, stay,” Wayne said. “Please.”

“But Sebastian— No, I’ll talk to you
later.” Strain glittered in her eyes, and he watched her hand rise and smooth
across her stomach.

Wayne nodded. Jen would be uncomfortable
for the rest of the afternoon. Besides, Jen was right. Sebastian needed her
more than he did. Despite the audience, he gave her a swift hug and whispered
in her ear. “I’m sorry. Tell Sebastian I’m sorry, and I’ll be home as soon as I
can.” He plucked his keys out of his pocket and handed them to her.

“How will you get home?”

“Don’t worry about me. Take care.” Wayne
gave her an encouraging smile and watched her until she disappeared from sight.

“What is going on, Wayne?” his mother asked.

Wayne sighed. “Nothing, Mum.” Nothing he
could talk about right now with all the friends and relations around. They’d
already heard enough to feed gossip for the next month. “I’ll go and say hello
to Dad.”

The hours passed, and all Wayne could think
about was Sebastian and Jen. He’d been stupid to expect Gerrard to keep quiet.
Idiotic to expect everything to go smoothly at a family gathering. Yeah,
fuckin’ dense to believe he could keep his relationship with Jen and Sebastian
secret. It wasn’t that he was ashamed. No, the truth was he’d guessed the
probable reactions of family and friends. He was happy and he hadn’t wanted to
mess with that. Too late.

Late in the afternoon he managed to corner
Gerrard. “You couldn’t have talked to me in private?”

“I thought you should know,” Gerrard said
in a sullen tone. “You shouldn’t shoot the messenger.”

“The messenger didn’t have all the facts,”
Wayne snapped.

“I saw Sebastian kissing Jen, and she was
kissing him back.”

“You should have knocked,” Wayne said.

Gerrard glared back. “I forgot. I never had
to knock before.”

There was no way around this. “Jen,
Sebastian and I are together.”

“Yeah. So?”

Wayne stared at Gerrard. “Together in a
sexual way.”

“You?” Gerrard’s mouth dropped open. “You
and Sebastian share Jen?”

Wayne gave a clipped nod, hesitating before
deciding to spit it out. “And each other.”

Gerrard glanced both ways then leaned
closer. “You’re gay?”

“No!” And he wasn’t. He loved Sebastian,
but other men didn’t do a thing for him. “Just Sebastian and Jen.”

“Mum’s gonna have a cow.”

“She’ll have to deal with it.”

Gerrard shifted his weight from side to
side. “Aw, man. I’m sorry for blurting it out like that. I should have spoken
to you in private.”

“You need to apologize to Sebastian and
Jen.”

“I’ll do it when I drive you home,” Gerrard
promised.

“Wayne. Gerrard. Come and say goodbye to
your uncle and aunt,” his mother called.

Gradually the relatives left. His mother
and sisters bustled around cleaning and restoring things to their proper place.

“Are you all right, son?”

Wayne started, the hand on his shoulder
taking him by surprise. He turned to face his father, a tall, powerful man who
still ran several times a week. “I was miles away.”

“I heard what happened. Do you love the
girl?”

“Yes.” There was no doubt in his mind. He
loved Sebastian too, and because of that he intended to tell his parents the
truth before he left today. He owed it to Sebastian and Jen. He owed it to
himself.

“Dad, why does Mum hate Sebastian so much?”

His father frowned, his dark brow creasing
into a multitude of lines. “She doesn’t hate him.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

His father scanned their surroundings. “I
saw you hug him.”

“Dad, we’re a threesome. Sebastian and Jen
weren’t doing anything wrong when Gerrard saw them.”

The air whistled between his father’s
pursed lips. “We’d better sit down, son.”

Wayne followed his father over to a bench
seat at the far end of the garden. “You look good, Dad.” And his father did. He
wore his sixty-five years well, his hair still mostly black with a sprinkle of
gray at the temples.

“Before I met your mother, she dated a
white man for a few months. One day she smiled at his friend. It was innocent,
but the man took exception and thought your mother was cheating. He hit her.”
His father took a harsh breath as if seeking calm, and instinctively, Wayne
reached for his father’s hand to offer silent comfort. “And then he raped her.”

Wayne gasped, feeling as if someone had
struck him in the chest.

“That’s why she couldn’t have children.
Your mother is a strong woman. That man, he broke her, but your mother went to
counseling, and we’ve had a good marriage.”

“But I don’t understand what this has to do
with Sebastian.”

“She told me the man who raped her had pale
eyes like Sebastian’s. She looks at Sebastian and she remembers things she’s
worked hard to forget.”

His father fell silent, and Wayne
swallowed, attempting to hold himself together. He’d never suspected his
mother’s past held such violence and pain.

“She told me I shouldn’t play with
Sebastian.” Although he hadn’t been old, the memory of that day had stayed with
him over the years.

“I know, son. She told me and she was
deeply ashamed of herself for saying it.”

“I can’t give up Sebastian.”

“You were pretty stubborn about it as a
child. I wouldn’t expect anything less now.”

“What should I do?”

“Don’t do anything, son. Kiss her goodbye
as if nothing has happened. I’ll talk to her.”

“She won’t approve,” Wayne said. It was
part of the reason he’d wanted to keep things private.

His father sighed. “Truthfully, I’m not
sure I approve, but life is too short to fight. I will reserve judgment.”

Wayne understood. He truly did, but now
that he was an adult he intended to live his life as he saw fit. While he might
have started off without a full plan, he had one now.

“Jen is pregnant, Dad.”

“Oh.” His father’s brown eyes twinkled.
“That might help.”

“And if the baby is white with blue eyes?”

“Will that matter to you?”

“No.” Wayne didn’t hesitate in his answer.

“A grandchild won’t hurt. Your mother loves
children.”

Wayne nodded, knowing this truth. His
parents had adopted six children in total and fostered others over the years.
His mother had a big heart, and he had to pray that she would come around in
time.

* * * * *

“Wayne’s back,” Sebastian said.

Thank goodness
. Jen needed Wayne’s backup to deal with Sebastian. He hadn’t smiled
once since they’d returned to the house.

“Gerrard is with him.”

“Crap,” Jen said with feeling. “I don’t
want to deal with his dramatics.”

“It might be all right. They’re laughing at
something.”

Jen stood and turned to face the door,
tension swirling within her. She had enough to worry about without Wayne’s
family throwing in their opinions. Every time she closed her eyes she pictured
her mother and the promises she’d made to her, and she didn’t see how she could
keep them now that she was pregnant. And then there was her love for Sebastian
and Wayne. She couldn’t refute it—her love simply was, and she couldn’t turn it
off even if she tried.

Gerrard came forward immediately. “Jen, I’m
sorry about the way I’ve behaved and what I said today. Please forgive me.”

“I wish you’d talked to Wayne first,” Jen
said, not willing to let him off too easily.

Gerrard smiled, flashing his dimples. “I’m
young and stupid. I have to learn these things as I go.”

“Yeah, well. You shouldn’t upset a pregnant
woman,” Jen muttered.

“Pregnant?”

“Yes, and I intend to cry all over you
every time I get emotional,” Jen said, brightening. “Payback.”

“But everyone will think that I’m the
father.” Gerrard sounded appalled at the prospect.

“Too bad,” Jen said with a wicked grin.
“Payback.”

“Shit,” Gerrard muttered. “See you next
term. Can I tell Stan and Justin about the baby?”

“Just the baby,” Wayne said. “Nothing else
okay?”

“They’ll ask questions,” Gerrard said.

“Tell them you don’t know,” Wayne said.
“Thanks for the ride home.”

Gerrard cast a cheeky grin at his brother
then shared it with her and Sebastian too. “I know when I’m not wanted. See
ya.” He waved and left.

“Was it rough?” Sebastian asked.

“No worse than it was for you guys,” Wayne said.
“I could do with a drink.” He grabbed two beers from the fridge. “Jen, what
would you like?”

“Tea, please.”

“I’ll make it,” Sebastian said.

“So what happened?” Jen asked.

“Dad told me some private stuff,” Wayne
said, and started talking.

By the time he’d finished, Jen felt
grudging sympathy for his mother.

“Maybe I should get contact lenses,”
Sebastian said. Despite his joking tone, Jen could see the grim acceptance
beneath his exterior. He thought this was the end for them.

“Don’t be silly,” Wayne said. “She’ll get
used to the idea eventually. Besides, we’ve been friends for years, and I’m not
about to let my mother’s experiences color my relationship with both of you.
I’ve been thinking about this all afternoon and I’ve come up with a plan.”

Sebastian swallowed audibly, and Jen’s
heart broke for him. Unable to help herself, she stood and went to him. “Let me
sit on your knee.”