Chapter 88
FREYA
The tiny giggles filled the living room as Gia twirled in front of me, her favorite pink tutu flaring out
ing out around her. Her curls bounced with every step, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement. She had been unusually chatty all afternoon, practically bursting with something she wanted to
share.
Oh, there’s your daddy” I said, my voice playful and teasing as I spotted Aiden walking into the room.
He looked like he always did effortless handsome, with that air of calm confidence that still made my heart skip. “What are my girls up to?” he asked, his voice warm as he bent down to kiss my forehead.
I grinned, looking at Gia. “You wanna tell Daddy what y
you just told me
Gia hesitated suddenly, looking shy. She peered up at Aiden with her fingers twisting the hem of her tutu, “What is it?” Aiden asked, looking between us with a raised brow and a piqued interest.
Gia took a small breath and leaned closer to me before saying. “I kissed Owen.
The look on Aiden’s face was priceless. He looked frozen, his brow furrowed, like for a moment he had the capacity to process not even a word she spoke. “You what?”
“I kissed Owen. On the check” Gia repeated blandly, her voice sweet and firm, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
“Who’s Owen?” Aiden’s voice had picked up a sharper edge, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“A boy in her class. She is in love with him,” I said, not able to stop myself from feeding the fire.
“You cannot kiss Owen, Aiden said to Gia, his voice both bossy and amazed.
“Why not? He is adorable. I like him,” Gia said, with an innocence only a seven–year–old could speak with.
I couldn’t help it–I burst out laughing at the horrified expression on Aiden’s face. He looked as though someone had dropped a bombshell in the middle of his perfectly ordered world. His mouth opened and closed, searching for words that refused to come,
Gia, perhaps sensing his discomfort, turned on her heel and dashed off toward her room, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
Aiden gazed after her for a second before turning back to me, his jaw clenching. “Where does he live, this Owen?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
I crossed my arms, still grinning. “Why? You’re gonna go up to his house and terrorize a linle kid?”
“Well, if I have to,” he said completely serious.
“No, you don’t. It’s just a kiss on the check,” I said, shaking my head at his overprotectiveness.
“She’s seven. She shouldn’t be kissing anybody, he said, his voice rising to a pitch I’d never heard from him before.
“Oh, it’s just a harmless crush,” I said, leaning back against the couch. “It’s gonna be worth watching when she turns a teenager and starts dating”
“She’s not dating that early,” Aiden exclaimed, his eyes wide with panic.
“Early Everyone dates in their teenage years, I countered, amused by his naivety.
“Well, she won’t She will date once she’s forty,” he declared, his tone resolute
“Yeah, right,” I said, rolling my eyes but smiling at his ridiculousness
Aiden came closer and knelt beside me. His hand lay gently on my belly. At seven months pregnant, I was as big as a house and could constantly feel the baby move. I hope this is a boy,” he said, his voice softer now. “I won’t be able to take the stress of yet another girl.
I laughed, covering his hand with mine. “You say that now, but you’ll be wrapped around this one’s finger the same way you are girl.
re with Gia. Boy or
He grinned at that, but his gaze lingered on me, more serious now. “What’s wrong?” he asked, sensing the shift in my mood before I could even say
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7:03 AM ₫ □ ·
Chapter 88
anything.
1 hesitated, nibbling on my lower lip. It wasn’t easy to put my feelings into words, but they had been gnawing at me for weeks. “I’m so scared, you know?” I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Why” he asked, his brow furrowing in concem.
Because everything is going so great,” I told him, “and I just don’t know. I keep thinking something’s going to go wrong at any second.
Aiden’s hand gripped mine, anchoring me back to reality. His eyes softened, filled with a certitude I desperately wished for myself. “It won’t” he said clearly. “Believe we’ve crossed all the hurdles that were there. Now we are going to be happy. We have Gia, we’re having another baby. We’ll get married. Everything’s gonna be perfect, and we’re gonna be happy
Just on cue, the baby kicked–that strong, purposeful motion made me laugh in the midst of all my fear. “Oh, the baby agrees,” I said with my smile
restored.
Aiden chuckled as his hand felt the kick. “That’s my little one,” he said, in wonder.
For a moment, we just sat there, and the chaos of the world faded away as we focused on the life we were building. But then, because Aiden could never let things go, he said, “I still want to meet this Owen kid”
I groaned, laughing as 1 swatted his shoulder. “Leave the poor boy alone.
Not a chance,” he muttered, though the grin on his face told me he was half–teasing. At least, I hoped he was.
Gia peeked her head back into the room, her face still a little pink but curious. “Is Daddy mad at me?”
“Never,” Aiden said right away, holding out his arms. She paused for just a moment before running into them, giggles resurfacing as he lifted her off the ground.
Watching them together, I felt a warmth that chased away my fears, at least for now. This was my family. My imperfect, overprotective, sometimes ridiculous family.
And despite my worries, I knew Aiden was right. We were going to be okay.
