“Yeah, Ma. I know,” he says, his voice carrying like he’s on speakerphone. “No, I’m not doing anything… because I don’t want to make a fuss. That’s the point.”
My hand pauses mid-stir.
Birthday?
I don’t mean to eavesdrop. Truly. But the man is basically shouting as he comes down the stairs, boots heavy on every step.
“I’m serious,” he goes on, clearly unaware I’m within earshot in the kitchen. “No cake. No dinner. No—You’re not roping Teddy into anything either.”
I freeze, spoon dangling over my mug, staring at the wall. He still hasn’t rounded the corner, so I keep listening, ears perked, and I’m not even ashamed.
“Sandra, please,” he pleads. “It’s just a day. One I’d like to pretend doesn’t exist.”
Well,thatexplains a few things. Footsteps retreat, and I hear him drop onto the lounge, probably into that sunken spot on the couch he refuses to admit is his favourite. I peek around the wall, and sure enough, Sebastian catches me, like heknewI’d been listening. Then flips me off right over Teddy’s head. Subtle. I grin sweetly and raise my mug in a toast. He hangs up, and the second his phone hits the coffee table, I pounce.
“So. Your birthday, huh?”
“No.”
“No, what?”
“No, we’re not talking about it, Trouble.”
I gasp dramatically. “Oh, yes, we are. I don’t even know when your birthday is!”
“Exactly.” He smirks.
“That’s a problem.”
“It’s really not.”
“It is for me,” I argue. “What if I want to buy you socks? Or a jigsaw puzzle? Or, I don’t know, a stripper?”
“What’s a stripper?” Teddy asks, bright and innocent.
Sebastian’s eyes go wide before he snaps his attention to his son. “Nothing, champ.” Then he looks back at me, glare fully loaded. “Absolutely not.”
“Daddy’s birthday is the ninth of December,” Teddy adds, completely unbothered.
My mouth drops open.
Sebastian groans, dragging a hand down his face. “Mate…”
Teddy shrugs. “What?”
“Well,” I beam. “Would you look at that?”
“Nothing is happening, Liv. Please,” Sebastian pleads, already sounding tired. I notice the defeat in his shoulders and, since I’m feeling generous, decide to ease off. Just a little. For now.
“Okay.” I sigh. “Grumpy. Party pooper.”
He lifts a brow. “You sound like my sister.”
That just makes me smile wider. “Well,” I say, swirling my tea with a flourish, “clearly, your sister and I have great minds. Unlike you.”
I stick my tongue out at him. Teddy spots it and immediately copies me, poking his tongue out, eyes wide with glee.
Sebastian points at him like he’s been personally betrayed. “Oh, that’s it.”
