“I guess? Like, I knew she’d probably say that. But it’s not because of selfishness, she says. She says it’s because she can’t take him away from what’s best for him. So... That’s a new development I’m trying to wrap my mind around.”
No one speaks for a long moment. The silence is suffocating, and I yearn to break it with something lighthearted. Inject some levity into the situation. I can’t. There is nothing funny about the last hour.
Ashton suddenly lets out a loud roar, stomps his dinosaur toy across the floor, and the silence shatters with laughter. The toddler frowns up at us, but no one can explain. I lean more heavily into Holden’s side and watch my nephew play.
Even with my anger at Katie’s letter, I can’t think of a single thing that could make my life better. I have the responsibility of raising a child, yes, but I love Ashton more than life itself. I’d loathe myself—never forgive myself—if I hadn’t stepped up. I have an amazing support system in my best friends and parents, and my boyfriend is far more wonderful than I deserve.
I reach up with one hand, turn Holden’s face toward me, and interrupt whatever he’s saying with a tender kiss.
The day passes with an ease that I hadn’t expected. I’d hoped Tristan and Luci would get along with Holden, but seeing how well they mesh is different than merely hoping. By the time I go to bed, I have spent the last nine hours enjoying the presence of four of my favorite people, all of whom made the time pleasant beyond words. I fall asleep wrapped in Holden’s arms with a smile on my lips.
Morning brings with it a cool sheets on an empty half of the bed. I frown at the sight of bare sage-colored sheets, lift myself onto one elbow. The bathroom light is off; no sound comes from inside, and the closet door is closed. Holden clearly isn’t in the room. My phone screen reads7:44, but I can hear nothing. Not even Ashton’s footsteps coming from his bedroom.
Sighing, I climb out of bed and head to the bathroom. The mystery is too much to keep me in bed any longer. The light temporarily blinds me as it fills the room, and I blink a few times, to clear my vision. Once I can see properly, I stare at my reflection in the mirror, scrutinizing my face. I don’t look any older—still look much the same as I did last night.
“Well, that’s fucking unfair.”
I still with my shirt halfway over my head at the voice that comes from the doorway. Tugging myself free, I smile at Holden, sucking my lower lip between my teeth as his gaze rakes over my exposed body. I reach out a hand and pull him closer as soon as I can.
“You didn’t have to come in, y’know.”
“If I had more time…” Holden shakes his head jerkily as if to clear the thoughts away. “Ash was looking forward to waking you up, so can you please get your pretty ass back in bed?”
“Give me thirty seconds.”
Holden ducks down to kiss me, stealing my breath, and I loop my arms around his shoulders. His hands skim along my sides to leave burning paths on my skin. I forget about my birthday, the plans, everything but him. Unfortunately, he pulls away far too soon.
“I cannotbelieve I’m saying this, but put some clothes on.”
“How bad did that hurt to say?” I giggles, and his nose scrunches up.
“Too much. Now shoo. I’ll go get Ashton.”
Holden leaves without another word, and as soon as the door clicks closed behind him, I rush to the closet to hurriedly grab a clean outfit. I pull on a lilac sleeveless tunic and a pair of denim shorts, barely taking the time to button them, before diving back into bed. I’ve just gotten settled in when the door creaks open.
“An’ Dee s’eep?” Ashton whispers as well as a toddler can whisper.
“Yeah, bud, she’s sleeping. Why don’t you climb up there and see if you can wake her up?”
I ‘wake’ to the weight of a small child falling against my back, and Ashton squeals when he sees my eyes open. He presses a sloppy smack of a kiss to my cheek, and I carefully roll over and tuck him into my side. Holden stands at the end of the bed, and the smile on his face warms me to the core. It’s soft and sweet and everything I never knew I was hoping for.
“What do we say, Ash?” Holden prompts, resulting in Ashton throwing his arms in the air. A stream of gibberish flows free, and Holden chuckles. “We say ‘happy birthday’ to Aunt Dealla.”
“Oh. Hap’ bir’ee!”
“What?” I gasp dramatically. “It’s my birthday? No way. Ash, is this a trick?”
“No,” he says with a giggle, drawing out the ‘o’ sound.
“Oh? Well, how old am I today?”
Ashton’s lips turn down in the corners, brows drawing together over sky-blue eyes, then his face brightens. “Old!”
“That’s rude,” I manage before bursting into laughter.
Ashton screeches and squirms as I tickle him, and the world feels right. It’s so much better than I could ever have dreamed up. Even if I had a million years, I will never be able to figure out how I got so lucky, but I refuse to examine it too closely. All I care about is the fact I have Ashton, I have my family and friends, and I have Holden.
Holden, who clears his throat and nods toward the tray in his hands.
