Episode 415: That's The Way Love Goes

Ava was busily chopping celery, when he reached up from behind her into the cupboard, taking down two glasses and plates. "I put out the blanket. Shelby’s already out there batting around her jingle ball-don’t worry, I made sure the gate’s locked. Is there anything I can do in here to help?"

Ava slammed down the knife and turned to him. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

Sebastian wracked his brain for what he might’ve done wrong. "Is this about kissing you like that on the forehead? I didn’t even know I’d done it until I was in the shower and it hit me that I had. If I’d realized it, I would have apologized right then. It won’t happen again if you don’t want it to, I promise you don’t have to worry about me pawing-"

"I meant why didn’t you tell me about your sisters?" Ava asked, visibly upset. "Justine left you a really angry message. Why didn’t you tell me what we’re doing is causing a rift between you and your sisters?"

"Because you’d never go through with it," Sebastian quietly answered. "You’d have to go on hurting, in limbo over Xavier; I couldn’t leave you stuck for who knows how much longer that way."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "But you could condone the way your parents are messing with your sisters’ lives?"

"I know it’s horrible. I hate myself for it. I feel guilty about it all the time," he confessed, wary of how much more he should say, of whether it would only make her more inclined to end things. "But I love you as much as I love them. How was I supposed to choose between you?"

Ava slowly nodded. "I guess I know what you mean."

"Yeah, I guess you do, you have two moms. Talk about torn," he said, sorry she knew that feeling but relieved she understood his dilemma, that she didn’t see him as a jerk.

"Yeah, I’m torn," she admitted, then shifted the conversation back to his sisters. "We have to figure out some way to make this right. I can’t feel good about coming between you."

Episode 416: Anytime You Need A Friend