Page 103 of Blindsided
“I’m hoping not.” I lick my lips and kiss the hand that holds my engagement ring. “Now…let’s get back to our fight.”
She giggles and turns on her side. “Actually, I was thinking we could make up by doing one of thoseNever Have I Everthings we never got around to.”
“Aye, which one did you have in mind next? If we’ve only got two hours before this party, I want to make them count.”
She gets a cheeky look on her face. “What’s reverse cowgirl? Because I have to say, I’ve never heard that term onHeartland,and I’m starting to wonder if it’s not quite as wholesome as my beloved Canadian program.”
A salacious smile spreads across my face. “Oh, this is going to be the best night of my life.”
She hits me with a look. “I thought the night we got engaged was the best night of your life?”
I hold my hands up defensively. “It was…but…well, let’s get on with it, and I’ll let you know which one wins when we’re done.”
“Cheeky ox.”
It’s complete chaos when we walk into Allie and Roan’s new flat. The last party we went to with this lot was a No Bloody Kids Do that ended up in a dirty game ofNever Have I Ever.
This one…is not.
Our arrival goes completely unnoticed as we stand in the foyer and watch everyone buzzing around like their heads are cut off. All of the Harris Brothers are in attendance, along with their wives and substantial, wild offspring. Leslie and Theo are here with their daughter Marisa, and of course, Vi Harris and Hayden are here, running around after their wee Rocky.
I haven’t been to many parties where children are in attendance, but I have to say, watching all the grown-ups chase after their wee ones looking stressed, but still strangely happy, actually gets me thinking even more about the future.
I’d fancy seeing Freya with a wee bairn on her hip. An image of playing football with my son in our garden while she watches from the sidelines looking bored is a sight I could get used to.
Suddenly, panic overwhelms me, and I grab Freya and yank her back outside before anybody sees us. “I just realised we’re engaged, and I never asked you if you want kids.”
“What?” she asks, a laugh playing on her lips.
“Do you want children, woman?” I ask again, anxiety gripping at my neck.
She shrugs coyly. “Do you?”
I level her with a glare. “You first.”
She narrows her eyes. “How about we both say yes or no on the count of three. One, two—”
“Fuck yes,” I growl over top of Freya’s own, “Yes.”
Relief washes over me, and we smile at each other for a long moment, absorbing the fact that this one part of our lives together didn’t result in an argument. I wrap my hands around Freya’s waist as she reaches up and clasps my face in her hands. Our lips connect in a slow, cherishing kiss. The kind of kiss that says,come what may.
Suddenly, the door opens, and Allie’s voice yells, “I thought that was you guys! They’re here, everybody!”
Our lips part, and then I hear Allie gasp. “What is that on your finger, Freya?”
With cheeky smiles, we pull away from each other, our eyes still locked for a deliciously private moment before turning to look at the hoard of people that have gathered in the doorway.
“Is that an engagement ring?” Vi squeals, pushing her way to the front of the pack.
“Freya!” Sloan exclaims, moving out onto the doorstep for a closer look. She grabs her hand and yanks her away from me. “Are you and Mac…”
Her voice trails off, and Freya looks to me before replying, “We’re engaged.”
The entire group cheers with excitement, and a wee bairn begins crying in the background. Everyone laughs and swarms us, offering up their congratulations, and it’s the most grown up I’ve ever felt in my life.
Before we head inside, Freya pulls me back and whisper, “Mac, touch my ears.”
I smile and reach out, rubbing both of them in the pads of my fingers.
