Look After Me Read Online Free Page A

steps away with a smile. “Come on in.”
    Grace and I walk through the entryway and up a small flight of stairs with Caleb following behind. We walk through a door that leads us to an open plan living room/kitchen. I expect a party full of screaming toddlers, but instead I’m greeted with the sight of Ava and Ashton kissing in a loving embrace. The sight slices painfully through my barely beating heart. I drop the bag of gifts to the floor with a loud clang and cough angrily, alerting them to my presence. They pull apart, and Ava’s gaze meets mine. Her face instantly pales, and she nervously wipes her mouth with the tips of her fingers.
    A blush deepens against her cheeks. “Um, hi,” she says as she makes her way over with a smile. Her smile falters as her gaze falls on Grace’s scowling face. “Hi, Grace.”
    Instead of responding, Grace turns and follows Caleb into the kitchen. It takes Ava a moment to recover from the blatant snub of my sister. Her gaze flickers up to mine. “I’m glad you’re here.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t miss my daughter’s birthday for anything, Ava. ”
    “I didn’t mean it like that, Sebastian. I—”
    “You know what? How about we skip the pleasantries? I didn’t come to see you. I came here to see my daughter. Where is she?” I ask, unable to cool my anger. As long as I’m in her presence, the anger will continue to run through my veins.
    Taking a shuddered breath, she answers, “Caleb’s mom is just changing her diaper. She’ll be down in a minute.”
    Unable to stand near her any longer, I pick up the bag of gifts from off the floor and head to the kitchen area. Caleb watches me warily as I stand beside him.
    “You okay?”
    “Fucking perfect,” I mutter as I place the gifts beside my feet. He gives me a sullen look, and I hate how his eyes sink with sympathy. I don’t want fucking sympathy. I just want my life back; the life where I get married to the woman I love, and we live happily ever after . . .
    Fuck.
    I used to have it all, and now I’m left with nothing but a hollow space where my heart used to be. Well, that’s a lie. I have Lily-Mai, but she doesn’t ease the pain of my hurt.
    “Do you want a drink?” Caleb asks, shaking me out of my angry stupor.
    “I’ll have water.”
    My gaze flows in the direction of Ava, specifically on Ashton’s hand as it strokes attentively against her forearm. She asks him to bring Lily down, and I flinch when he replies with, “Sure thing, baby.” The words feel like a slap in the face. I focus my gaze back on Caleb.
    “You better make it a beer.”
    He looks at me hesitantly. “Are you sure?”
    I can’t help but roll my eyes. Not only am I the poor bastard who got my heart broken, but I’m also the poor bastard who spent the last three months in rehab because I couldn’t deal with the pain.
    Yep, I’m one poor bastard.
    “Jesus, I’m not going to fall off the wagon if that’s what you think. I went to rehab for drug abuse, not because I had one too many beers, so I think one will be just fine,” I snap.
    He quickly nods, then walks over to the fridge to retrieve a beer for me. The moment the amber liquid reaches my taste buds, I realize I’m being an absolute asshole. Pulling the bottle away from my lips, I look at Caleb.
    “I’m sorry, man. I’m being a dick.” I take a quick glance in Ava’s direction, then return my eyes to Caleb. “Today . . . seeing them together . . . it’s just hard. ”
    “I know it is. I get it. But you know something that might cheer you up?”
    “And what’s that?”
    “Ada! Ada! Ada!”
    I turn and smile when my gaze finally stops on my daughter, ignoring the fact that she’s in the arms of Ashton.
    “Yeah, she’s been screaming ‘Dada’ all morning. She’s excited to see you. I’m hoping now that you’re here she’ll stop shouting because there’s only so much my eardrums can take,” Caleb says with a chuckle as Ashton brings an excited Lily over to us.
    I