Page 126 of Wildest Forever

My heart stutters in my chest and I know he said he was starting to fall but starting to fall and being head over heels... that's a big difference and quite a big statement to make.

All their eyes trail over my shoulder and Dixie's smile is wide like the cat who got the cream.

I finally allow my eyes to glance over where they're looking and that's when I see his eyes on me.

Soft and hazy, a small smile lifting the corner of his mouth and my heart bangs against my rib cage.

I twist around quickly, my chest rising and falling as I look at Aspen.

“Told you,” she winks playfully, “we know him all too well.”

And for some reason, them saying that has me feeling giddy like a schoolgirl with a crush.

CHAPTER TWENTY

PACEY

Sitting at the table, my arm is thrown around the back of her chair and my fingers up and over her shoulder, but with each stroke, the tingling intensifies.

I watch her with intent, the way her eyes light up as she listens to Amora's stories from back home in England, her lips pressing into a smile as she soaks up every word that leaves her lips.

Titus is sitting proudly next to his wife, his arm hooked around her shoulder. Nate and his wife James sit the other side of Titus and they're in quiet conversation with Tripp and Dixie.

Riggs and Aspen shuffled around next to me and Aspen seems to be bouncing between the two conversations that are going on. Trailing my eyes over my shoulder, I look at my friend and my chest feels heavy for just a moment. Austin is standing at the bar with Sunny, both sitting with sombre looks on their faces as they talk amongst themselves. It must feel weird for both of them to be sat at a 'couples' table and not feel like they belong.

Which is silly, because of course they belong, but I also get why they would think that.

Sighing softly, my spare hand reaches for my chilled beer bottle as I bring it to my lips and take a mouthful.

“So how long have you two been married?” Amora's British accent sweeps across me and I let my eyes land on her. Red hair, ivory skin with a dusting of freckles and indifferent eyes. One brown. One blue.

“Few months,” Morgan answers and I smile, placing the bottle back on the table.

“Ah, still in the honeymoon period,” she smiles back at me and leans into Titus.

My nose scrunches and I bite my tongue.

“No such thing as a honeymoon period,” Riggs grunts beside me, a cocky smile on his lips. Aspen rolls her eyes and shakes her head from side to side.

“For you,” Aspen twists her lips, “but we have good and bad days don't we.”

Riggs raises his brows as if this is new information to him.

“You may darlin' but everyday with you is a good day,” and I laugh softly beside him.

“I didn't mean that,” Amora smiles, looking up at Titus then back to Riggs.“I just meant right now, everything is so new and exciting. You soon fall back into the routine of life, just with an extra person by your side.” her hand moves to her stomach, “or an extra two,” she crinkles her nose.

“How exciting,” Morgan claps her hands, “when are you due?” a giddy smile on her face and I watch as her eyes light up.

“Still got another six months to go,” she smiles down at her bump, hand dipping beneath it.

“Ah, so not long after Dix,” Aspen flutters her eyes over to Dixie and tilts her head to the side. Dixie sighs, her hand rubbing her bump.

“I am so ready to have this baby out of me though,” she admits then shuffles in her seat.

Riggs tears his eyes away for a moment and I watch as his large hand covers Aspen's.

“Do you have kids?” James asks and I see the way Aspen's smile drops and sadness floats through me.

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