Chapter 116
I hardly had a chance to ring the bell when the door flew open, letting me see Freya’s smiley, exuberant face.
There you are!” she exclaimed, clapping my hand into her palm and ushering the in. “We were waiting for you.
I chuckled softly, struggling to toe off my shoes before being pulled towards her bedroom. The air was filled with the smell of vanilla an something saccharine, and the comforting warmth of Freya’s home enveloped me like a gentle hug.
Inside, Bianca and Reyna were already stretched out on Freya’s enormous bed, surrounded by blankets, a snack tray, and–my eyes instantly hamed in on them–a few rom–com DVDs piled on the nightstand
“We went big” Reyna declared smiling at me. “I got some of the cheesiest rom–coms I could find. We’re talking dramatic declarations of love in the rain, take dating plots, enemies–to–lovers, the whole shebang.
Thrills simmered in my chest. “Perfect. That’s just what I need at the moment.”“”
I didn’t make it to the bed before a tiny blur came rushing towards me,
Erica
Cia. Freys and Aiden’s six–year–old daughter, flung herself into my arms, her small arms encircling my waist.
I grinned, bending down to hug her in return. “Hey, princess, Sleeping with us tonight, huh?”
Gia chuckled. “Daddy says I have to sleep, but I told him I’m big now!
Well, he’s not wrong,” Aiden’s deep voice interrupted the room from the doorway. “And it’s bedtime”
Gi spun around and pouted at him. “Five more minutes?”
Aiden and a brow That’s what you said ten minutes ago. Come on, I’ll tell you a story?
from me again, hugging me with her tiny arms one final time before releasing.
Gia huffed but, with a dramatic sigh, acquiesced. She turned away fr me “Goodnight, Erica. Goodnight Blanca, Goodnight Auntie Rey”
“Goodnight, sweetheart. We all chorused
As the went by Auden, he playfully ruffled her hair and grinned at us with his typical inscrutable face. “Enjoy, ladies. Then, with nothing was gone down the hallway with Gu
Freya closed the door behind ham. Í
facing us with a mischievous grin. “And now that the house boss has left, we can finally begin”
İtryna grinned. “Please tell me there’s booze involved.
Bistra laughed
We gutenty
drew out a bottle of wine from behind her “I think we all have earned
Π
how a work?” I inquired in a general sense as Bianca offered me a glass of wine “The cafe is great” Freya replied, always the modeal one Great is not what I would say “Sips and Stories is a huge
o which Freya similes.
venture. It’s early yet, but we’re comidering a bistro”
“Connor and I mought why not jumps into the
Reyna grinned. “I clania tits on organizing the opening party!
Freya chuckled. “Of course Nobody does it ter than you*
Textended my legs out and took a piece of chocolate. “You’re fast becoming a business tycoon. Freya”
She shrugged, but her eyes sparkled with pride. I love food. I just want to make something that means something. Connor’s been a wonderful
paquer
Bianca nebled. “And talking about new things, I feel like I’m ready to be more responsible
Frey’s eyes widened. “Really?
Chapter 110
ore managerial work”
Tryna pretended in snuffle. “Look
for a living, Reyna. Notesarily what I’d consider grown i
is an art form. And lighly
I rolled incrers teasingly. “You part
“Louise you?” She pretented in for offended, laying a hand on her heart. “By
ful, thank you very
She siggied wine. Tonce had a bride who had a tantrum when the precise tour of bilish pink she desired for the table nonuers was not available
“No” Bannica exclaimed.
She trially lon
Freya shuddered. “Thalcony
incan expert just to dye the material to under.
“Tell me shiun in‘ itevna do
long mouthful of her wine. “If I ever get
someone slap me it I’m that way”
We all laughed, the simplicity of the moment seeping into my bones. It was nice to be here, far from all of it. Far from the lingering unease that
been a shadow in my
Freya applauded her banch. “Okay, before we begin the movies, I have something for you all.
e vandbed into her closet and emerged with three tiny boxes, one which she gave to each of us.
Reyna rattles hiers, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What is this?”
(“Open them! Freya encouraged.
I opened the lid on mine, and unuggled up inside was a scented candle, chocolates and a dainty bracelet with a small charm on. My breath stopped
Lead the inscription: Bridesmaid
Freya folded her hands together. I didn’t write a long, emotional speech. I’m not very skilled at it. So, I will just keep it short. Will you guys be my
Heyna screamed and flung herself onto Ferya. “Oliviously!”
Hianta smiled, slipping the bracelet onto her wri
I simply gazed at the small charin for a moment. Austen was my friend. manundane to lac included in this lucluded in something so deeply personal.!
– had been for years. But Freya.. Freya owed ine
ne nothing. And yet, she
dowed over the sudden Jump is my throat and gazed upeat her. “You sure you want mer
Lacosled “Whar ku
are important forme, Eria I want you there. If you’ll have mir, of cour
“And your’re mine now, insahe cut
mny borrall stal nodded. “Yeah it love to
Her sine splat wide and
rd Tarlaxed unto it, soaking the heat of her carne
Heyna kindled anelada
ally: ““Okay. |
joking farlier, but I’m seriously
a gruped. “You l
Heyn
the watching every
sehens you said the
of these movies I’ve chosen. No grundl
chig fake nigh: “Tine. But if we re doing
Tone: Heyna replied. “Nuw, let’s do i
As Freya stool to prepare 2/0
za boarded the Hesablin, Ireclined
Chapter tio
Perhaps things weren’t all right. Perhaps my life remained a disaster. But for tonight, with these women around me, I could imagine that all was
well.
And for tonight, that was sufficien
3/3
