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“I think the serum I gave you is helping,” Nat went on, pushing the chair closer to me, brush in hand. I wasn’t sure when I decided that my soccer playing daughter was the best person to do my make-up but I went with it. I’d take any bonding time with her. “Kiki told me her mom was using it, that’s why she looks so young. And I couldn’t tell you’re over fifty.”
“Thank you,” I offered her a smile as I watched her stand and smooth down the silk baby blue dress she was wearing. It had a subtle V cut and an A-line skirt that outlined her body. My best friend, Sarah, designed it specifically for her as she was my only bridesmaid. I still wasn’t sure why she insisted on it, but I liked having her by my side.
“Gabriel is here, I’m going to go down, before Sky and him fall down the rabbit hole of talking about the World Cup because last time that happened he hijacked my whole conversation with Sky.”
I chuckled, as her cheeks flushed from the mention of her boyfriend.
“See you in a sec,” Natalie waved at me, and throwing her long dark hair over her shoulder, she quickly hurried out of the room.
I remained there by myself, the music blasting through the speakers downstairs sneaking in under the door. Letting out a long breath, I reapplied my lipstick before stepping into my white high heels.
Aiden wanted to do a little celebration for our thirtieth wedding anniversary and to renew our vows. He was still the most attentive and romantic person I’ve ever been with. It was an intimate celebration since he knew I wasn’t a fan of all the attention, but being married to FC Barcelona’s legendary forward, being a mother to their also legendary and now retired midfielder as well as their newest signing for the women's team didn’t allow for anonymity especially since we wanted to do it in Spain.
So, there I was, stressing over the entire thing. I loved that my family was able to make a living of what they loved. I was proud of each and every one of them following their dreams and succeeding. But I wasn’t fond of the media.
All my life I tried to stay out of it, only to go ahead and fall for someone who was destined for big things. For most part of our relationship I managed to stay present, but not the center of it. But with Natalie going pro and being signed with FC Barcelona, I was once again pulled into it.
A knock dragged me out of my thoughts, and I turned to face the door, expecting to see my daughter.
“Hey, baby.”
I wasn’t sure ‘baby’ was an appropriate pet name in our age, but those damn butterflies still stirred up from his voice. My cheeks flushed, and when my eyes met his crystal clear blue ones, my knees shook.
Even after all those years, Aiden Hitchings still had the same effect on me.
I was madly in love with him.
Still.
“Hey.” My lips pulled into a smile, matching his, and my legs closed the distance between us. My arms circled his neck and I pressed a kiss on his lips.
“I wanted to make sure you weren’t freaking out,” he brushed my hair back and cupped my face. His thumb smoothed over my flushed skin and I saw his smile grow. “Are you going to murder me once everyone is gone?”
“I should have murder you thirty years ago… now… it's too late,” I sighed with a grin. “I’ll be fine, it’s only Vogue that you invited.”
“That was Sarah’s fault,” he replied immediately. “She made your dress and with her being such an up and coming designer…”
“I should have dated a nerd not a soccer captain in college,” I rolled my eyes playfully.
Aiden slapped my ass, making me squeal. “Don’t say that ever again.”
“Joking…”
“At least we know where our daughter’s dislike for attention is coming from… I’m sure it was in your genes.”
“Well, she couldn’t inherit everything from you… my genes had to come on top for Sky…”
There was a pause in the conversation as we haven’t really talked about Sky’s biological father. He existed and the media loved the drama, especially him being an ex-player for Real Madrid, the biggest rival of FC Barcelona. Now with all parties related retired, it was a story that needed to die off.
“Won’t argue with that… Sky turned out to be a decent kid.”
“Decent?” I arched my brow. Aiden adored Sky and acted like he was his own.
“Okay, he is a good kid… kid being an understatement,” he chuckled as Sky’s son was just a year and a half younger than Natalie. That was also another fun thing the media liked exploiting, the fact that Eric was Natalie’s nephew. “I can tell you are getting stressed,” Aiden said, his hands running down my arms, his touch leaving goosebumps. “It’s going to be okay, baby. I wanted it to be small and intimate, yes… but… it didn’t work out. It will still be memorable.”
“I know,” I offered a small smile as the nerves got to me. Exchanging vows in front of cameras was not on my bucket list.
“Our real wedding was small and intimate,” Aiden reminded me with a grin, making me laugh.
