Eden’s POV:
I smiled stupidly at his statement.
“All right,” I murmured. “You win.”
I could, of course, hear the tire in his voice. But my love for him skyrocketed more than it already had because of his actions. I was so glad this man was mine. I’ll be holding on to him forever.
(Funny how it’s 10 AM for Violay 🤣)
A faint, rosy hue dusted my cheeks.
"Every girlfriend wants someone as amazing as you," I replied, craning my head to kiss his temple.
Gray’s POV:
“Well,” I kissed the bridge of her nose. “Too bad for them I’m yours, right?”
Eden’s POV:
I smiled stupidly at his statement.
“All right,” I murmured. “You win.”
I could, of course, hear the tire in his voice. But my love for him skyrocketed more than it already had because of his actions. I was so glad this man was mine. I’ll be holding on to him forever.
(Funny how it’s 10 AM for Violay 🤣)
(Lol. We could skip?)
Sterling's POV:
I sighed and kissed her temple gently, letting my lips linger there as I spoke again, "Good… G'night, Eden…"
A faint, rosy hue dusted my cheeks.
"Every girlfriend wants someone as amazing as you," I replied, craning my head to kiss his temple.
Gray’s POV:
“Well,” I kissed the bridge of her nose. “Too bad for them I’m yours, right?”
"Yeah," I agreed, a smile gracing my lips. "Too bad for them."
(All right. XD)
Eden’s POV:
When I woke up again, Sterling’s side of the bed was empty. I felt around for him but was met by emptiness. I sat up straight, panic filling me.
Where was he? Where did he go?
Then I heard water running in the bathroom and sighed in relief. Of course. I’m such an idiot.
"Yeah," I agreed, a smile gracing my lips. "Too bad for them."
Gray’s POV:
I pecked her lips lightly.
“You ready to go?”
"Yup."
Slipping my hand into his, I gestured vaguely in the direction of the dessert place. "Lead the way."
Sterling's POV:
I had fallen asleep as soon as I knew Eden had, but I had still woken up around the usual time that I did. Since I was awake, I'd decided a shower would be good. Plus, it gave me time alone with my thoughts…
Now that I had seen how happy Lucas and Ashley were about getting engaged, I wanted Eden to be that happy. I wanted her to excitedly show off her ring to her friends and family, to tell them all about how I proposed with that beautiful light in her eyes that she got whenever she talked about somethings she lived. I wanted to make her so happy that she would never think for a second that I didn't love her.
And so I started thinking and planning as I showered. Maybe an odd thing to think about in the shower, but this way she wouldn't question what had me so distracted.
Gray’s POV:
I grinned before we made it to Crocodile’s Cave. I poked my head in first, looking around. It wasn’t a busy day today, so I was glad.
“Gray!” Lisa, one of my coworkers, waved at me. “It’s been a while since you dropped by!”
She was teasing me, of course. She’d just seen me a few days ago when I’d been busy stuffing my face with their goods.
“If you’re looking for the boss, she’s in her off—oh, who is that?”
I smiled at Violeta.
“My girlfriend,” I introduced her fondly. “Anyway, work hard, Lisa.”
I pulled Violeta to the back of the bakery, knocking on the door before coming inside.
Amanda was sitting on her seat, her legs thrown over the desk. She was about thirty, but she looked like she was in her twenties. Her short red hair framed her face, and the only indication of her old age were the slight wrinkles on her forehead (don’t tell her I said that, though).
“Oh, it’s you,” Amanda looked up and rolled her brown eyes. “With your girlfriend? Violeta?”
I grinned.
“Hello there, auntie,” I teased her, knowing she hated being called that. “Yup, you guessed it right. This beautiful woman with me is my girlfriend, Violeta. Vy, that’s Amanda.”
Flushing lightly, I raised a hand in greeting, then extended it to shake hers. "Hi, it's really nice to meet you."
Sterling's POV:
I had fallen asleep as soon as I knew Eden had, but I had still woken up around the usual time that I did. Since I was awake, I'd decided a shower would be good. Plus, it gave me time alone with my thoughts…
Now that I had seen how happy Lucas and Ashley were about getting engaged, I wanted Eden to be that happy. I wanted her to excitedly show off her ring to her friends and family, to tell them all about how I proposed with that beautiful light in her eyes that she got whenever she talked about somethings she lived. I wanted to make her so happy that she would never think for a second that I didn't love her.
And so I started thinking and planning as I showered. Maybe an odd thing to think about in the shower, but this way she wouldn't question what had me so distracted.
Eden’s POV:
I pulled my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them as I waited patiently for Sterling to finish showering. I was getting impatient, but I managed to stay calm.
I sighed, running a finger through my crazily messed up hair, my thoughts drifting back to what happened the day before. I was going to have a niece or a nephew. Ashley and Lucas looked extremely happy at the news, at the thought of starting a family together. The start of their new lives together… I wondered just how happy they were feeling. I sighed again.
Why was I being so impatient? For all I know, Sterling wouldn’t even want to start a family any time soon.
Sterling's POV:
A while later, I turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. With the towel wrapped around my waist, I stepped into the room and saw Eden sitting up with her knees tucked to her chest.
"Hey, babe… How'd you sleep?" I asked softly as I grabbed clean clothes.
Flushing lightly, I raised a hand in greeting, then extended it to shake hers. "Hi, it's really nice to meet you."
Gray’s POV:
Amanda’s smooth hands clasped Violeta’s tightly, her lips in a thin line.
“This boy is completely whipped with you. You’re all he talks about,” she rolled her eyes, but there was a twinkle in them I could recognize anywhere. “I’m glad he finally settled down. It’s a pleasure meeting the girl who managed to keep him on his feet.”
Before I could say anything, she turned towards me again. She grinned.
“So, tell me, what brings you here?”
I motioned for Violeta to sit down, and we both took our seats. I told Amanda everything. From my aunt’s first call to the constant threats of having Aria taken away from me.
When I was done, she was red from fury. Her fists clenched tightly and she looked just about ready to blow a fuse.
“So what do you want to do?” She asked, her voice surprisingly calm for a woman who looked like she wanted to drive her heel through somone’s head.
“I was… wondering if there was a way to prevent that,” I swallowed. “If someone… could adopt Ari.”
Amanda raised an eyebrow at me.
“Who?”
I laughed nervously.
“Um…”
“Listen, I love you and Ari like you’re my kids,” she interrupted me. “I know what you want to say, and I don’t have any objections to that. I’m willing to take Ari as my own.”
I loved this woman. She was the best.
Sterling's POV:
A while later, I turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. With the towel wrapped around my waist, I stepped into the room and saw Eden sitting up with her knees tucked to her chest.
"Hey, babe… How'd you sleep?" I asked softly as I grabbed clean clothes.
Eden’s POV:
I looked up when Sterling exited the bathroom, the towel wrapped around his waist. His hair still wet, his chest exposed—I willed myself not to turn red, but it was impossible.
“I slept well…” I responded quietly, quickly looking down. “Thanks to you. I hope you were able to sleep peacefully, too…”
Throughout the whole thing, my eyes were glued to Amanda, anxiously watching each reaction she made. I clasped one of Gray’s bands tightly in both of mine, squeezing it comfortingly.
And in the end… she agreed. My shoulders sagged in relief, my whole face lighting up. “Oh thank god…” I murmured under my breath, looking over at Gray.
Gray’s POV:
“Thank you so much, Amanda,” I breathed in relief. “You’re a lifesaver.”
Amanda clicked her tongue, waving me off.
“Don’t give me that look now,” she chuckled, shaking her head. “Now get out and eat something.”
“Is it on the house?” I teased, a heavy burden lifting off of my shoulders.
“What do you think?” She scoffed before standing up, walking over to me and wrapping me in her arms, surprising me. “You stupid child. Don’t ever take all the burden on yourself. You keep forgetting I’m always here for you brats.”
I sighed in relief, sagging against her.
“Now move along.”
And I did, but this time I left with a lighter heart.
I stayed behind for a moment, giving Amanda a grateful look. “Thank you,” I said quietly, after Gray had left the room. “He was so upset about it—thank you so much.”
Gray’s POV:
I looked behind me to find Violeta hadn’t exited with me. When I walked back into the room, I saw Amanda rub Violeta’s head, an affectionate look in her eyes.
What just happened here?
“Did I miss something?”
I turned to face Gray, shaking my head with a small smile. “No, it’s fine.”
Gray’s POV:
“Then let’s go,” I shot Amanda a grin before grabbing Violeta's arm, pulling her along. What I wanted to do when we were alone was just kiss the life out of her now that my worries were nearly all gone. Ari would be safe. She’d be Amanda’s child, but she’d be safe.
I laughed and let him pull me away, raising a hand and giving Amanda a quick wave. “Where are we going?”
Gray’s POV:
I looked back at her, shot her a lopsided grin and squeezed her hand.
“A place where I can kiss you without anyone interrupting,” I answered cheekily.
My heart hiccuped in my chest, a slow, flustered grin spreading across my face.
“Oh?”
Gray’s POV
“Don’t want that?” I raised an eyebrow, pulling her forward so I could throw my arm around her shoulders. “All right then, if you says so.”
“Of course I want that!” I protested quickly, pulling him outside.
Gray’s POV:
I grinned and let her pull me along.
“Someone’s in a hurry~” I sang teasingly even though I wanted nothing more than to kiss her, and quickly.
Heat rushed to my cheeks as I pulled him around the side of the building. “Secluded enough for you?”
Gray’s POV:
I responded by pushing her against the wall, lifting her chin up with my hands and crashing our lips together.
God, I missed this. We kissed just a while ago and yet I missed kissing her. I wanted her arms around me and into my hair. I wanted them pinned against the wall so she couldn’t move, only be ravished by mouth against hers till she could hardly even stand, or mutter anything coherent.
Now that more than half of my worries were gone, I let myself slip into the kiss.
A groan of relief slipped from my mouth into his as I reached up and pushed my hands into his hair. “Gray…” I murmured, euphoria shooting through my. Slowly, in order to tease him, I slid my tongue over his lower lip.
Gray’s POV:
I growled into her mouth, the feeling of her fingers tugging my hair driving me insane, the feeling of her tongue on my bottom lip making everything go absolutely white.
I responded by parting my mouth open and letting my tongue meet hers, taking her bottom lip in mine and nipping at it, demanding entrance.