Chapter 90
FREYA
“Oh shit!” Aiden grunted, finishing inside me. We took a few seconds to breathe before pulling away.
That was— I was cut short by Aiden and his elephant–sized ego.
“Amazing. Admit it.” He muttered, that smug grin creeping onto his face.
I rolled my eyes and pulled the sheets off, trying to catch my breath. “I can’t believe we did that with a house full of people.”
He chuckled, low and rumbling, and a shiver ran through me. He always seemed to have this way of making even the most awkward moments not seem like the end of the world. They can leave anytime they want,” he said, speaking of the guests at our house. He peppered kisses along my neckline, playing with me.
“Aiden. Behave,” I said, pushing him off and fixing my hair. The last thing I wanted was to go out with what I liked to call “sex hair. We had to get back to reality, to the party, to the kids, to everything.
I stood up, smoothing my dress, the remnants of our brief, spontaneous moment still buzzing in my chest. We’d been married for two years now. It was unbelievable how fast the time had passed. Just yesterday we were in the midst of all the chaos related to wedding planning, with the family expectations and the whirlwind of emotions surrounding the big day. Yet here we were, two years later, and things felt even more solid than before
We had Weston, our sweet little boy who was growing up faster than I cared to admit. And somehow, Aiden and I were still figuring each other out, still discovering new sides to our relationship. The honeymoon phase wasn’t over, not by a long shot.
As I stepped out, I saw Cillian manning the barbecue, flipping burgers and sausages like it was second nature. Aiden’s brother had always been a calming influence, and right now, he was doing what he did best–keeping things chill, even when the house was filled with chaos.
I made my way over to where everyone was gathered. Weston was lost in a sea of people; his bright eyes were wide and shining, drinking in all the attention that he could. He reveled in it, basking in it, who wouldn’t! He’s the cutest little man ever, smiling and laughing always. But if you want to get honest here, Aiden and I have been just a little fixated on him, our little miracle. Gia, our other little ray of sunshine, sat beside Cillian, her small hands, trying to grasp the tongs he was using to flip the food.
The first thing the two had bonded over was food. And it was something they frequently and fondly discussed. She simply loved helping out in the kitchen, always asking the questions of how things are prepared, what spices are included, and what goes into every dish. Cillian loved it–he always had a soft spot for Gia
Reyna caught my eye from afar in the yard, an amused smile on her face. She sidled up to me, whispering playfully. “I thought you were not coming out today.” I shot her a quick, warning glance but my lips betrayed me when I smirked. “Shut up,” I whispered, gesturing at my kids who were obliviously running around, laughing and playing. “Don’t you have a party to run?”
She laughed loudly, but then quieted down as she realized I didn’t want to get drawn into a conversation about Aiden and me. It wasn’t like I was embarrassed about the little detour before rejoining the party–it just wasn’t something I wanted to announce to the entire group
I looked back toward Aiden, who was speaking with Connor in the corner. Our lile circle of friends had expanded. They’d gone from awkward conversations to real ones over the past two years, and it was nice to see Aiden opening up more.
I felt this warm, contented feeling wash over me as I watched everyone interact. Aiden was no longer just the guy I’d married. He was my partner in every sense. We had our challenges, of course, but who didn’t? The difference now was that we had built something solid, a life together that was full of joy, laughter, and–yes, even those chaotic, messy moments like the one we had just shared.
Since we got married two years ago, Aiden’s company had never seen such success. He won the Businessman of the Year award consecutively. It was insane thinking about how far he has come. Aiden had worked harder than any human being I knew, and it was showing. He was in a place now where his dreams were not just that–they were real, tangible, and only growing
As for me,
I’d com
come a long way 100.
My little cafe was thriving mostly because of the exposure it got from the Sips and Stories.
Connor and I had launched thirteen more franchises of Sips and Stories, and each one was a massive success. There were days I still pinched myself when I thought about how far we’d come. I had always wanted to have a cafe of my own, but never imagined it would be this successful, growing, and loved by so many. My matchmaking skills had borne fruit. Carlos and Avery were officially dating. They were the sweetest couple ever. But the most constant thing in my life was Aiden. It was impossible not to look at him and smile, even when he was being ridiculous, even when his ego was a little too big for the room. We were a team, a crazy, imperfect team, but still, a team. And I couldn’t imagine doing this with
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Chapter 90
anyone else.
Are you going to help me, or are you just going to stand there and look pretty?” Aiden called out, catching me in a daydream. He was holding up a beer and grinning at me like I was the one who owed him something
I laughed, walking over to him and taking the drink. “I think I just look pretty for n
“Good choice,” he said with a wink. “I’ll handle the rest”
And for once, I was happy to let him.
now.
The future felt bright, full of possibilities and adventures. I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but for the first time in a long while, I didn’t need to know. I had everything I needed right here, in this moment. And that was enough for me.
I raised my glass to him, smiling, and he raised his in return. Whatever came next, we would face it together.
