Chapter 9

Sebastian was on his way to New York, casually smoking a cigarette. He felt rejuvenated.

When he said goodbye to William, he stuck his finger in front of his nose, saying "if you don't come through this door next Friday, I will send the entire football team to break down your door and drag you here completely naked" .

Just remembering it, Sebastian couldn't help but laugh. But what kept him smiling all the way was the message he received last night from Theo when he arrived at the dorm. “I just got to the room. No incidents along the way. I'm going to take a shower while the jocks remember your threat. You have to send me your mother's phone number, so I can thank her for your existence. Thank you for everything".

Sebastian immediately responded to the message, “This is my mother's number. You can thank her whenever you want. When you get out of the shower and go back to the room, let me know”.

Theo's answer made him laugh out loud "Yes mom".

Sebastian was almost driving on autopilot. He remembered that when Theo came back from the shower, they ended up texting for over an hour before he sent Theo to sleep.

The kid deserved to have an easier life. He really was a good guy, and Sebastian was eager to help. In Sebastian's mind, Theo was now his personal project.

When he finally arrives at the complex, the concierge opens the door for him as usual.

- Good morning Mr Jones, you look good today.

- Good morning Antony. A day out of the big apple works miracles. - Sebastian replies as he heads to the elevator under the admiring gaze of the concierge. In the two years Sebastian had lived there, that had been the biggest conversation they'd had. The concierge smiles, Mr. Jones was in a good mood.

When Sebastian enters the house, he takes a shower and puts on pajamas. “in my pajamas at home, on a Sunday at this hour."

He doesn't even remember when was the last time he did it. He throws himself on top of his king-sized bed, and picks up his cell phone, which he had placed on the bedside table.

He opens the messages and writes,”I got home, showered and I'm in bed. I haven't done this for a long time. After all, I also have to thank you. Talking to you makes me feel younger, have a good Sunday and don't forget to send a message before you go to sleep.” 30 seconds later, the phone rings for a new message. “Take the opportunity to rest. After all, Sunday is really for resting. I text at night,” Sebastian sends a “see you later” and gets a smile. An emoji. Who, besides his sister, had sent him an emoji before? And even so, his sister had the habit of sending those shitty emoji with eyes, because he wouldn't accept the blind dates she set him. Theo had sent him an emojis. A little yellow ball laughing with stars in it's eyes. Theo was too cute for his own good.

With Theo on his mind, Sebastian falls asleep.

It was after 6 pm when someone knocking on the door woke him up. Who passed the concierge and went up to his floor to knock on the Fucking door? It could only be his mother. Suspecting, he goes to open the door. Yes, it was his mother, and to be there at that hour was not a good thing.

He opens the door.

- Sebastian – she says, making the "an" in his name last for too long and hugging his son – in your pajamas at this hour? Don't tell me you slept all day.

- No mom - Sebastian says, while walking to the bathroom to wipe his face with water and keep the sleep away.

- Get dressed. I came to pick you up so we can go to dinner.

- No! - Sebastian immediately replied.

- No? Are you refusing to have dinner with me? Your own mother? - she replies, making a scandalized face.

- I'm not refusing to have dinner with you mom. I'm refusing the trap you set for me.

Catherine pouts. In the Jones family, nobody pouted so much and with so much success as Catherine Jones. Sebastian, to spite her, often called her miss pout, and now was the perfect time.

- Miss pout, it's not even worth it. If you want, we can take my car to a restaurant of my choice and have dinner. Me, - he says, pointing to his chest - going with you, wherever you want me to go, forget it. Come on, come with me to dinner wherever I want.

- I can't. I've had a table booked at “Per Se” for 4 weeks now. - And she pouts again.

- Obviously. - Sebastian says, with a smirk.

- I'll have to go get your sister, as the table was reserved for four people. You make me feel ashamed.

- I make? How many times have I asked you to stop these little arrangements? When I decide to look for a wife, I do it myself, or does my sweet mother think I'm so ugly and incapable of doing it?

- Sebastian – she says scandalized – I don't think anything of that. But this friend of mine has a 24-year-old daughter, single and fantastically beautiful. She would make a great daughter-in-law.

Sebastian's phone rings the message tone.

- Goodbye mom - Sebastian says, pushing his mother out of the house. - Don't be late picking up Olivia.

- You are terribly mean to your poor mother - the mother says, as he closes the door.

Sebastian sighed in relief. He didn't eat lunch and so much talk about food made him hungry. He runs to the bedroom to get the cell phone, and goes to the kitchen. He sits on the bench near the island, and picking grapes, opens the messages.

“I hope I don't wake you up. I wanted to know if you rested well. Did you happen to remember to have lunch?”

“God, the boy is really too cute for his own safety.” Sebastian thinks and replies:

“I'm eating grapes. My mom woke me up with another one of her wonderful ideas. I already sent her home. I'll make something to eat, an early lunch. I'm starving."

“Do you cook?”, was the immediate reply.

“Of course I cook. I live alone and I'm 26 years old. Do you think I lived off of take out?”

"I don't know. You could go to dinner and lunch at the restaurant every day. When I see you again, you'll have to cook for me. I want to taste your food. We are seeing each other again, right? You said you'd be back next week.”

Sebastian looked like a 16-year-old, clutching the phone and smiling.

"Yes, Damn shore, we will see each other again."

“Go do your linch. Then send me a photo".

Sebastian shook his head. "Damn cute this kid".