“Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit. Did you hear that, Ma?” Grandpa says from the car above us just as Aiden’s mother screeches, “Triplets?!”
The crowd below us murmurs with excitement over the news.
“Well, I guess the cat’s out of the bag. Holy shit, Aiden! You just told the world I’m pregnant!”
He pulls me close and kisses me again, leaving me breathless and not caring about anything other than his lips.
“When Inga read your palm during high school, she was wrong,” he says.
“She told me I’d have twins, then two single pregnancies. Very close together.”
“Twin boys, a girl, and then another boy.”
“Maybe the triplets are two boys and a girl. Wouldn’t that be amazing?”
“As long as they’re healthy,” he says, sliding his hand across my belly in wonder and shaking his head in disbelief. “Triplets.”
Asher Vineyards — Wedding
RILEY
“Triplets,” I say to Dallas, shaking my head. “How crazy is that?”
“It’s pretty crazy,” Ariela says from behind me.
I turn around and face her. “The wedding has been incredible. You did an amazing job. Keatyn couldn’t be happier.”
“And what about you?”
“Logan told me that making this wedding perfect wasn’t just for Keatyn—that you wanted to show all of us that you were sorry.”
“Mostly you,” she says softly. “My duties are officially done for the night. Would you like to dance, Riley?”
“I would,” I reply, pulling her into my arms and swaying to the music.
“So tonight’s supposed to be the big night,” she says, looking grim. “But I meant what I said about us not needing to decide anything yet.”
“Let’s go talk somewhere in private,” I say, leading her off the dance floor and stopping to grab some champagne on the way to my room.
After popping the bottle and pouring us each a glass, I get to the matter at hand.
“Explain why you didn’t send me the letter. I need to understand why you didn’t fight for us.”
She sits on the bed, crossing her legs into a pretzel, just like she used to when we would sit on my bed and talk and kiss for hours at a time in high school.
“I cried most of the way home. As we were pulling into our driveway, my dad finally spoke. He asked me if I told you. I said yes, and that’s when I noticed I was still clutching the note in my hand. I told my dad that I had written you a letter but forgot to give it to you, so he asked what I was going to do with it. If I would send it. I checked my phone for the millionth time, but upon seeing nothing from you, I told him that I didn’t know what I was going to do, but that I was surprised you hadn’t called or texted me. My dad smiled and said that the reason you hadn’t is because he was right. That you didn’t care about me. I decided I would keep the note on my desk for three days, and if I hadn’t heard from you, I would throw it away and try to forget about you.”
“But you didn’t,” I state.
“No, I couldn’t do either. That’s what I don’t think you understand, Riley. You weren’t the only one who was devastated.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have given up. I should have called and texted and stalked your house.”
“I kept praying for some kind of sign. What I should have been praying for was strength. I should have been strong enough to call you myself. I just want you to know how sorry I am. I was young, and scared, and foolish then, but I’m not anymore. I want to be with you, Riley. And I’m not afraid to say it. I still love you.”
I reach out and touch her cheek, caressing it. “And I still love you.”
“It’s not going to be easy, Riley. I still have to get a divorce. But I want you to know that I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you.”
“I don’t want that,” I tell her, causing a frown to form.
“I see,” she says softly, looking ready to burst into tears.
“I want us on a level playing field, Ariela. We were supposed to decide today if we want to go forward. If we want to date. What do you want?”
“You, Riley. Just you. Actually, that’s not true. I want to marry you, have babies with you, and love you until you’re old and gray.”
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted, too,” I say as her lips land on mine. “And I think it’s about time we let ourselves be happy.”
She hugs me and then rests her head on my shoulder, causing me to feel like I’ve stepped back in time.
“I want to be happy,” she says.
“You know, maybe it wasn’t meant to be back then. Over the last ten years, I’ve worked long crazy hours to make the company what it is. I gave it my life. Now we’re selling it and I can now reap the rewards. I’m getting my life back. And I want to spend that life with you, Kitty.”
“I want that too,” she says, pushing her lips against mine and ripping off my clothing as quickly as she can.
We’re naked, lying on the bed, making love when my phone rings.
And then rings again.
And again.
“Uh, I better check that,” I say, reluctantly pulling out.