AllFreeNovel
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“We have so much to catch up on,” Addy tells me, pulling me aside as Alexa walks over to Eric. “I hope you’ve got some free time while you’re here?”
I smile, then hug her again. “For you, always.”
Luna and Willow walk in next, with Julian and Adriana behind them. The second my eyes lay on Adriana, her gaze is longing, and I wonder if she knows what’s been happening between her son and me. The chances are low, given what happened in Andy’s bathroom has stayed between us and not exactly something he would discuss with his mom.
I exhale a breath, willing the speculation to disappear. Julian extends his arms, welcoming me back. Adriana stops just shy of where I stand, grabbing both my hands to examine me closer.
“You’re a heartbreaker, always have been.”
“You’re just saying that because you want to steal my son, right?” I tease, tilting my head. “Aren’t you notorious for your raspberry kisses?”
“Some memory on you.” She grins, then winks. “And yes, I am.”
She touches my cheek, then goes off to steal Bentley from Uncle Lex. Julian stands beside me, glancing at Adriana with a genuine smile.
“Are you still managing to write?” he asks, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I can imagine your hands must be full with Bentley.”
I gaze over, watching Adriana blow raspberry kisses into Bentley’s cheek as he giggles, only for Uncle Lex to scold her for overwhelming him. They get into an argument, typical sibling behavior.
“I started a few weeks ago. It’s not much but something.”
“That’s where it all begins, with a few words.”
“I’d love to chat with you someday when I’m ready to write professionally again.”
“Anytime, you know where to contact me.”
I clear my throat, shuffling my feet on the ground. “Andy, um, he’s the one who pushed me to write again.”
Julian’s expression remains blank, but he’s never one to give opinions unless asked for. Slowly, his lips curve upward into a proud smile.
“That sounds like my son.”
With my shoulders relaxing, I find myself grinning. “Persistent, perhaps, is the best way to describe him.”
“That too.” Julian chuckles.
Rocky and Nikki arrive last, fresh off a plane from New York. Rocky smothers me in an overbearing man hug, then makes an inappropriate joke about age-gap couples. Eric’s face says it all, disgusted but also intrigued as no doubt he has some story he wants to share.
The party is just as I imagined Bentley’s first birthday. Tables full of food, bouncy castles, and those balloons you shape into animals or objects. Rocky is in charge of the balloons, and surprisingly, he’s quite good until Millie’s eyes widen.
“Is my son walking around with a giant dick?”
Ava snickers beside her. “I think it’s a sword.”
Eric crosses his arms with a satisfied nod. “That’s a pee-pee, sweetheart.”
“Why do I get the father-in-law who makes balloon penises!”
“It could be worse.” Will sneers, shaking his head in disgust. “It could be youractualfather making the balloons.”
Both Ava and I whistle at the same time. “Thank God our dads are different.”
“Yes, they are,” Eric asserts, though I don’t like where this is leading. “Arrogant, stubborn, and extremely needy in the bedroom.”
I let out an involuntary groan as Ava growls. “Why would you even say that to us?”
“Because, sweetheart, the truth will set you free.”
