Chapter twelve Aubrey
Chapter twelve
Aubrey
Peach cupcakes and royal demands.
~ Two Weeks Later / February ~
Today is Shane’s birthday and I’m excited.
I’ve never had to celebrate a boyfriend’s birthday, so I’m not exactly sure what is expected of me.
But I guess it’s pretty much like any other birthday.
Except, as his girlfriend, it’s my job to shower him with love and affection and make it the best day possible for him.
But I’m also really nervous, because today is also the day I’ll be meeting his family. Shane keeps telling me I have nothing to worry about, that they already love me. But I can’t help it. It’s been stressing me out over these last few days; I don’t know what to expect.
What if I’m not up to their standards?
I’m not wealthy or well educated like they are—what if that’s a requirement for them? But Shane told me it wasn’t, that despite his family’s wealth, they’re just like us. He even said they were happy about the baby news, so I guess that’s something.
We had our first ultrasound two days ago, where we got to listen to our little beany baby’s heartbeat as we watched it flicker on the screen. It was an emotional moment for both of us.
At first, I thought I was going to have to go to my appointment alone, since Shane was working.
But then he surprised me by showing up at the house just as I was stepping out.
When I asked what he was doing, he said he couldn’t miss meeting our baby for the first time.
I ran into his arms and didn’t let go for a good three minutes.
He had no idea how much that meant to me.
As of today, I’m now officially nine weeks pregnant. I still don’t have any symptoms, which my doctor said was perfectly normal and that I should count myself lucky. Although I have been emotional these last few weeks, I have a feeling that has more to do with my brother than the pregnancy.
Greyson still isn’t talking to me. It’s been over two weeks, and he still won’t even look at me.
I’ve tried calling, texting, even showing up at the house, but he wants nothing to do with me, and it’s ruining me inside.
At least he still lets me into his house, but I have a feeling that’s Emma’s doing, and also because my parents are still staying with them.
Everyone keeps telling me that he’ll come around, that he just needs time to wrap his head around it. But how can he do that when he doesn’t even know the full story? In his mind, Shane and I hooked up, I got pregnant, and now we’ve decided to be a couple for the baby.
But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
He doesn’t know how much we’ve longed for each other over the years, how hard it was for us to stay away, to pretend this attraction wasn’t there. I just wish he would let me explain.
I push all those negative thoughts away and focus on the present.
Today is Shane’s day, and I’ve planned a little gathering for him this evening.
His family is due to arrive just before noon, and they’ll be staying until tomorrow.
I just hope they’re okay with having a few extra people over for dinner tonight.
Damn it, I don’t even know if Shane likes parties… Maybe he just wanted to spend the day with his family and no one else… I probably should have asked, but now it’s too late.
I woke up super early to make a special little treat for Shane before he wakes up. I know cupcakes aren’t the best thing to have first thing in the morning, but it’s only one. Plus, Shane works out regularly and we rarely get a morning together.
Today is one of those few days when Shane isn’t going into the office, which is extremely rare. He practically works twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Even when he’s home, he’s on his tablet watching clips or working in his office, taking down notes and whatever else he does.
It doesn’t usually bother me since I often work in the evenings and only get home after midnight, but I do enjoy these rare little moments we get together. Which is why I’m taking the day off to spend it with him.
Although the email I just received about a shipment being made today instead of tomorrow tells me I’ll have to go into work to at least collect it.
I trust morning shift employees to put everything in its rightful place, but I like to be there when the shipment arrives since there seems to always be a problem with the order.
I sigh as I finish putting the turquoise-colored cream cheese icing on the dozen peach-flavored cupcakes I made, taking one out and adding a single orange candle right in the center.
I grab a lighter from the second drawer to the right of the kitchen island and head to our bedroom, leaving the rest of the cupcakes on a plate in the center of the island.
Since I found out I was pregnant, I’ve spent every single night in Shane’s home, or as he likes to remind me, our home. Even when he’s away with the team, I come home at night and climb into our bed, wearing one of his shirts.
I’ve met Shane’s whole staff. Apparently, Marianne and his chef, Antoine, aren’t the only ones who work for Shane. There’s a whole crew of them, but unlike the housekeeper and chef who come in almost daily, the rest are only here once a week.
I didn’t understand why so many people were needed, but after spending almost four weeks here on a daily basis, I now realize how hard it must be to clean this place properly on your own.
I slowly push the door open to our room as quietly as possible and tiptoe my way in.
Once at the side of the bed, I quickly light the candle and set the lighter down on the nightstand.
Then I climb onto the bed while balancing the little cake in my hand and crawl over to him, kneeling at his side and pushing a few strands of hair out of his face delicately.
God, he’s so beautiful it always takes my breath away.
How I found myself in this gorgeous man’s arms is beyond me. But I wouldn’t change a thing. He’s lying on his back, one arm above his head and the other resting on his bare chest, the light gray sheets covering him from his hips to his knees.
“Shane,” I call his name softly as I tuck my hair behind my ear and lean in to kiss him, all while holding the cupcake away from me so I don’t burn anything. “Sweetie, wake up.”
His hand comes up, gliding through my hair, and he pulls me in for another kiss. “Morning, Angel.”
“Happy birthday,” I whisper, smiling against his lips before pulling back and bringing the cupcake between us.
He opens his eyes, blinking a few times as a heart-melting grin spreads along his lips. “You made me a cupcake?”
“I did.” I giggle. I also baked him a cake for tonight, but he doesn’t know about it since it’s still at the bakery. I’m having Ronnie pick it up before she comes over for dinner.
“You should make a wish and blow out your candle before it melts all over the icing.” I smile softly as I watch it drip slowly.
He sits up, taking the small plate from my hands and looking down at the cake with a wistful look in his eyes. “There’s nothing I could wish for that I don’t already have,” he tells me, looking deep into my eyes.
My heart skips a beat at his comment, and if he didn’t have a lit candle in his hands, I would jump into his arms.
“Actually, there is one thing,” he says, then leans in, closes his eyes, and blows out the candle.
“What did you wish for?” I ask as my heart hammers in my chest.
“For you to be my wife.”
A lump forms in my throat as my face begins to heat. It suddenly becomes hard to breathe, and my head begins to spin. “Shane…” I’m not ready for that. I want it, yes, but it’s too soon.
“I know,” he says quietly as his thumb comes to stroke my cheek.
“I’m not saying now, I’m just saying it’s something I’d like.
” All I can manage is to nod. He puts the cupcake down beside him and cups both my cheeks.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you panic.
It was just a thought, Aubrey. I’m not proposing. ”
“I know.”
But it’s not the first time he’s hinted at marriage, and I don’t know what to make of it. Everything is going so fast between us. I’ve accepted us dating, practically moving in, a baby. But marriage? I just need time to absorb everything first.
He kisses me passionately, then picks up the cupcake once more, peeling off the liner before biting into it.
My man can’t resist my sweets, no matter the time of day.
He sighs happily, then frowns, takes another bite and moans.
His expression makes me giggle, and I know exactly where the slight confusion is coming from.
“What is this? It’s amazing, but I can’t figure out the taste,” he says, inspecting the inside of the cupcake.
“Peach.” I bite my lip, unsure how he’ll react. I know he doesn’t like peaches, but he doesn’t seem bothered by it if it’s loaded with sugar.
His eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. “Peaches? I don’t like peaches.”
“Well, you seemed to like the cupcake.” I laugh as he throws the rest of it into his mouth.
He pushes the plate and liner aside and wraps his arms around me as he turns us over on the bed, spreading me out on my back as he rolls over me. “How can you be this perfect and make everything taste delicious? What kind of sorcery are you using on me, woman?”
I laugh as he kisses my neck and nips my jaw. “It’s a little spell I learned in fifth grade called ‘make him fall in love with you.’ It took a few tries, but I think I finally got the hang of it,” I joke with amusement in my voice.
Shane somehow makes me feel so carefree that I can say anything and don’t instantly feel embarrassed about it.
Even my blushing curse feels like it’s starting to lessen.
Don’t get me wrong, I still blush intensely, but I’d say it’s only seventy-five percent of the time, instead of ninety-eight percent. Pretty good progress, in my opinion.