Sweet Cravings

Chapter Thirteen – Our girls

Sebasitan

Leaving the office before lunch was something I had never done. But now, with the sale going through and the new owners starting to take over, I was finally free—and it felt incredible.

Everything had moved faster than I expected. The announcement wouldn’t be public until next week, but as of today, I no longer had an office. I couldn’t stop smiling. It felt plastered to my face as I practically skipped into the elevator and headed for my car.

My phone blared through the echoing parking garage just as I reached it. Gem’s name lit up my screen, and I frowned. Why was Gem calling?

“Hey, Gem. What’s up?”

Her breathing was erratic, like she’d been running. “Oh god, Bast. Have you heard from Bri? She got into a huge fight with the mother‑in‑law from hell this morning. There’s a video going viral—Bri outing Valerie—and I can’t get ahold of her.”

She was talking so fast I could barely keep up. “Gem, where are you now?” I asked as her breaths came out in gasps.

“I’m heading to her house. Oh god, Bast, Sky was crying in the video. They must be so upset.”

I didn’t even think. I got into my car, transferred the call to hands‑free, and sped out of the garage. “Gem, hang up and try her again. I’ll call too. Just let me know the moment you reach her, okay?”

I ended the call and immediately hit speed dial for Fea. She answered on the second ring.

“Fea, the boys and I are going to Montana. Can you pack us a bag? I don’t know how long we’ll be gone.”

As soon as we hung up, I called the small airfield and chartered a jet to fly us to our girls.

The boys were confused but excited about the sudden trip. We had just arrived at the airfield when Gem called back.

“Bast, I found them. They were at the graveyard—fu*ck, I should’ve checked there first. They’re okay, but I think Bri’s in shock. She’s never stood up to Valerie before.”

“Gem, breathe. I need you to take them home and get them settled. Tell Bri I’ll call as soon as I can, okay?”

Once I hung up, I strapped the boys in, and we took off. Four hours later we landed in Bozeman, a rental car waiting on the tarmac just as I’d requested.

The forty‑minute drive felt like the longest of my life, but when I pulled up outside Bri’s house, every second had been worth it.

The boys burst out of the car as the front door swung open.

“Bri! We’re here!” they yelled, sprinting toward her.

Shock washed over her features before she dropped to her knees, pulling them into a fierce hug. Her eyes met mine, and her lower lip trembled, sending a sharp ache through my chest. The boys darted inside, calling for Sky as they went.

I had barely taken a step when my girl launched herself into my arms. I caught her instantly, her arms looping tight around my neck as I buried my face in her hair and breathed her in.

“I’ve got you, baby,” I whispered. “It’s going to be okay.”

Bri

I can’t believe he is here, my face is buried in his neck, and he was right, everything was going to be okay, a calm washed over me.

“Sebby, my Sebby, you here!” Sky’s little voice made me pull back and I shared a smile with Bast as he set me down and crouched to catch my toddler in his arms

“Ahh my princess, I have missed you so much.” he began peppering her face with sloppy kisses making her giggle.

His hand took mine and he led us to the door, he turned to me with a grin, “

“Can I come in?” I burst into laughter, “and what would you do if I said no?” He smirked and kissed Sky’s head, “then i would ask the boss, what do you think princess? Can Sebby come into your house?”

As soon as we stepped into the house, the familiar clutter wrapped around me like a blanket I hadn’t realized I needed. Toys under the coffee table, Sky’s crayons scattered across the rug, the faint smell of popcorn from last night’s movie — it all felt so painfully normal after the chaos of the morning.

The boys thundered up the stairs after Sky, their laughter echoing through the hallway. A sound warm enough to thaw the ice that had been gripping my chest.

Sebastian’s hand was still in mine, steady and warm. I hadn’t realized I was gripping him so tightly until he gently brushed his thumb along my knuckles.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

I wanted to say I was fine. To wave everything off and pretend the world wasn’t crumbling outside these walls. But exhaustion pulled at every corner of me.

“I’m… overwhelmed,” I admitted.

He didn’t say anything — just nodded like he understood more than I’d said.

I sank onto the couch, and as soon as my body hit the cushions, every ounce of tension seemed to drain out of me. Sebastian sat next to me, not crowding, just… there. Solid. Safe.

Without thinking, I leaned into him. His shoulder fit beneath my head like it belonged there.

The kids’ footsteps pounded overhead — Sky squealing, the boys egging her on. Normal. Chaotic. Loud and comforting.

Everything I had been terrified of never having.

“I didn’t mean to explode on Valarie like that,” I whispered into the quiet.

I felt Sebastian shift slightly, his jaw tightening. “She deserved worse.”

Despite everything, a tired laugh slipped out of me. “You’re not helping.”

“Wasn’t trying to,” he said, turning his head just enough that his cheek brushed my hair. “Just telling the truth.”

My throat tightened. I stared down at my hands, twisting the hem of my hoodie until my fingers hurt. “She said awful things, Bast. About me stealing from Jax. I just… snapped.”

He gently lifted my chin so I had to meet his eyes. Soft, steady, warm.

“You defended your family. Anyone else would’ve snapped sooner.”

Family.

The word hit deeper than I expected.

Before I could respond, three sets of feet barreled down the stairs.

Sky threw herself onto my lap, her curls bouncing. “Mama! Movie?”

Behind her, the boys collapsed onto the couch beside Sebastian, both talking over each other about popcorn and blankets and something about Sky being “the boss.”

For the first time all day, my chest loosened.

“A movie sounds perfect,” I said, pressing a kiss to Sky’s cheek.

Sebastian stood, rustling the boys’ hair in that easy, confident way of his. “All right. Let’s set it up.”

As the kids scattered toward the TV, he caught my eye again — that same gentle, grounded look that had kept me from falling apart outside.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I whispered.

He smiled, soft and certain. “I’m not going anywhere.”