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“Nothing. Want coffee with it or—"
“Just you.”
“You already have me,” I rasped as I approached with the cake in my hand. I sat down next to her and lifted the plate between us. “Make a wish.” She didn’t blink as she stared at me without her eyes wavering. She blew out the candle and smiled. “Okay. What now?”
“Now I get to feed it to you.” I laughed, and she bit on her lower lip. “What? You don’t want me to?”
“Hmm… no, I just think I have a better idea. Do you have the lighter?” she asked. I reached into the pocket of the joggers I had pulled on and handed it to her. I watched as she relit the candle and lifted the cake, “It’s your turn. You have to make a wish!” she urged. I was about to turn that idea down. I’d never liked the tradition. Wishing never got anyone anywhere. But as she stared at me with those big brown eyes, I knew there wasn’t telling her no.
“Okay.” I sat for a moment, trying to come up with something to wish for, but with Aria in my life, my girls healthy and safe, I wasn’t sure what to wish for.
“What is it?” she asked carefully when she noticed I wasn’t blowing out the candle.
“I, umm—" I cleared my throat.
I just want more time.
Time to figure out how to make the year work with the girls home and starting something long term with Aria. But now that I’d had her, there was no turning back. I knew I would make it happen. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before blowing out the candle while wishing I wouldn’t fuck things up.
“Yay!” she cheered. “Happy birthday!” She smiled and kissed me. “May I?” she asked, taking the small plate with the wonky cake from me. She took a swipe of it and smeared it on my neck
“Oh, is that how this is going to go?” I flirted, and she laughed, nodding adorably.
“Oh, yeah. You said I got to enjoy my cake, and I can’t think of a better way.” She laughed as she leaned in to lick it off.
Earlier, I had thought Aria was the most perfect present under my tree. By the time we were done, I found out she was also the sweetest.
And it had nothing to do with the frosting.
9
AIDEN
Iwoke up feeling energized and ready to get the day going. I was going to pick up the girls from their grandmother’s house and tell them about my relationship with Aria. We’d talked it out late into the night. Hell, we had talked about everything. How I’d tell them while she would be at home waiting for us.
We’d planned out the holidays and shit to do together.
Together.
Like a family.
I’d never been more excited about the holidays and the future. Change had never been my friend, no matter the fact I knew it was inevitable. But something about the last couple of days with Aria in my space, in my arms, in my bed had switched something inside of me.
Work wasn’t the most important thing. My business ran smoothly, if I was honest with myself. I was happy with where it was. Maybe in the future I’d make a move to expand, but there was no reason I had to do that right now. Not when right then and there, my family was my priority. My three girls.
“Aiden?” Aria called from somewhere in the house. I smiled as I turned my attention from the coffee machine.
“What is it, baby?”
“Have you seen Lake’s book about fairies?”
“I think it’s in my office,” I called back as I made my way to meet her in there. I glanced down at the Rolex on my wrist. We were getting ready to pick the girls up from their grandmother.
I stepped into my office with thoughts of taking her one last time on my desk.
“Did you—" The words died on my tongue as she turned around with a stricken look marring her beautiful face.
“Aiden?” My name off her lips sounded sweet, but my gut twisted when I saw what was in her hand.
