The next morning.
Patrick hesitated as he entered the Quartermaine mansion. When he woke up this morning, he felt like hell but remembered what he'd done the night before. He didn't regret kissing Sabrina, but he regretted putting her in an awkward position with Michael. (Patrick still couldn't call him her husband.) He decided to take some Advil, don some sunglasses and apologize.
As he passed the threshold to the main room, he didn't see Sabrina anywhere, but he saw Michael, who was sitting on the couch with some papers in front of him. Patrick was about to turn around and leave, wondering why he'd been let in, when Michael said, "I wondered if you would come."
Patrick figured it might be best if he held his counsel, so he didn't say anything. Michael continued. "Sabrina is out for her morning walk with Avery, but you're welcome to wait here… with me." Then Michael looked up and ushered him to a nearby seat with his hand. "We should talk anyway."
Patrick sat. Obviously, Sabrina had confessed the kiss to him. Patrick eyed Michael and said, "I was really drunk. I came to apologize to Sabrina."
Michael nodded. "As you should. Sabrina has worked really hard to get over you and is happy, so the last thing she needs is you kissing her in a drunken stupor in an effort to assuage your bruised ego over losing Sam."
"It was a stupid thing to do. The last thing I want to do is hurt Sabrina."
"Then maybe you should keep your lips to yourself," Michael commented sarcastically. "And off my wife."
For some reason, Patrick was bristled by Michael's sarcasm. Sabrina may be his wife, but Michael knows nothing about what he and Sabrina shared. Patrick was about to ask Michael whether he'd advised Sabrina of the same thing (since she kissed him back) when Sabrina entered the room. "Hey, Michael, it's really nice outside, do you want come out…" When she saw Patrick sitting with Michael she stopped dead and went pale. "Patrick. What are you doing here?"
Patrick stood and walked over to her. "I came to apologize for last night. I was drunk and wasn't thinking clearly."
Sabrina let out a breath and nodded in acceptance. Then she turned to Michael. "Michael, AJ is outside with Alice, would you go check on her, please?"
Patrick watched as Michael got up and crossed the room to stand in front of Sabrina. "Is that your subtle way of getting rid of me?"
Sabrina looked at him lovingly. "Please. I just need a moment with Patrick."
"Sure, I"ll go, but AJ and I will be eagerly awaiting your arrival." Michael kissed her on the lips tenderly but possessively and then winked at Patrick as he walked out. Little shit. Did Michael actually think he would win in a war over Sabrina? Wait. What? A war? Why was he thinking that?
Patrick returned his attention to Sabrina when she said, "Thank you for coming to apologize. I'm sorry about Sam. I truly do know how that feels, but I can't be your crutch, Patrick." She paused briefly and then said, "I think it's best if we go back to the way things were."
"What do you mean? We've barely spoken over the last few months."
"Yes, I'm aware. I'll always care about you, Patrick, but I need to focus on the future. A future with AJ and Michael." Sabrina said, "Distance is best," as she walked across the room toward the patio doors - conveniently as far away as possible from Patrick.
Patrick followed and stopped just behind her, spying Michael, Alice and AJ out in the yard. He felt her stiffen when she realized he was behind her. He was a respectable distance away from her, but close enough to catch her familiar, comforting scent. He missed that smell.
"If you're as over me as Michael seems to think, why would you need distance? I thought we were friends."
Sabrina turned around, but was obviously flustered by his closeness and stepped back until she was against the curtain of the door. "We are friends, Patrick. You can call or text me if you or Emma need my help, but I just don't see much of a reason for us to interact on a regular basis, especially since I no longer work at GH."
Deliberately, Patrick stepped forward. Sabrina tried to step back but couldn't. "I don't know, Sabrina. I think I like having you as my friend again."
Cornered, Sabrina looked up at him pleadingly, "Please don't do this to me."
"Do what?" Patrick asked even though he knew the answer. Sabrina was still as affected by him as he was by her. He'd pushed his feelings for Sabrina aside after their breakup because it was necessary, but the kiss had reawakened them. Now, as he stood less than a foot away from her, all he could think about was kissing her senseless.
When Sabrina whispered, "I'm married," in a tortured voice, Patrick backed away, albeit reluctantly.
Sabrina opened the patio door. She turned to leave, but paused. "Please respect my wishes, Patrick. This kiss was a mistake and it will never happen again. I'm sure you can show yourself out."
Patrick stood by the door and watched Sabrina walk away. Sabrina had kissed him back. If he put his mind to it, he could snatch her back from Michael with ease. The question was, did he want her back?