14. Shane #2
“But he’s still being a jerk and reminding us constantly how he’s still mad, so it’s hard to tell,” Clay finishes for him.
This time it’s my turn to sigh. “I’m sorry for causing you all this trouble. It wasn’t my intention. I knew getting with Aubrey would stir up some friction, I just didn’t think he would take it this far, to the point where he won’t even speak to her. He doesn’t realize how much he’s hurting her.”
“Yeah, well, that’s Greyson for you. The man can be fucking blind at times and doesn’t always think with his head before acting out.” Silas gives me a knowing look.
“I mean, he is the only one who didn’t pick up on your attraction to Aubrey, which by the way, was not subtle at all.” Clay chuckles.
“It’s true. Jesus, even our parents all picked up on it. My mother had practically made it her mission to get you together.” Silas laughs with a head shake.
“Ah yes, Mira definitely liked to meddle when it came to me and Aubrey,” I say with a smile as I recall all the times that she’d force us together, or would make little remarks about how beautiful my Angel was and that age was just a number. That woman was set on her mission.
“I think Ford noticed it too,” Clay starts as he closes his trunk with a few bags in hand.
“And I think that’s what’s bothering him most. Because he chose to ignore it and now, he’s pissed at himself for not seeing it coming.
And instead, he’s projecting his anger on you and Aubrey rather than himself. ” Hmm, I hadn’t thought about that.
After heading back inside and setting up everything for the twins to be comfortable as well as introducing everyone properly, the rest of the evening goes on wonderfully.
We had dinner together in the formal dining room, then a beautiful cake that Aubrey made for me that contained four different flavors in it.
Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and lemon, giving everyone the option to have their preferred choice.
The top was covered with thirty-eight different-flavored mini cupcakes. My girl knows the weak spot I have for her sweets. I just can’t help myself when she places one in front of me, which is why I’ve been doing overtime in the gym.
We then moved on to gifts, which really wasn’t necessary, since I already have everything that I want. And I know it can be hard to buy a gift for someone who already has everything. My sisters, as always, got me ridiculous gifts—it has become our tradition to get each other weird things.
Phoebe got me two socks that don’t match, Leah gifted me a throw blanket with a large picture of a single battery on it, and Eden probably won the contest with an empty storage box.
I couldn’t stop laughing when I unwrapped the huge transparent bin.
We all had the giggles for a little moment while my mother only shook her head at our antics.
I only have two gifts left, one from my parents and one from Aubrey. I told her I didn’t need anything, but apparently, she went against my advice. I pick up the one from my parents first, wanting to end the night with my Angel’s present.
I open the gift box in hand and look down inside to find a stack of papers, more like documents. I frown as I pull them out, reading over them quickly until it makes sense of what I’m holding.
My brows shoot up as I turn my gaze at my parents who smile fondly at me. “You bought me a house in Greece?”
“For you and Aubrey,” my mother says with love.
“You have your own family now, son. It’s time you had your own vacation home as well.” My father smiles as he holds my mother close.
“I don’t even know what to say…” I stare down at the papers, then to Aubrey who stares with wide eyes. I understand her reaction; it’s not a gift I was expecting either. “Thank you. Truly, this means a lot.”
“Jesus, this is unbelievable,” Andrew mutters as he throws his head back and sighs to the sky. “My kids are all going off with their own wealthy partner, and I’m stuck with a woman who can’t even get me flowers for my birthday.”
“Excuse me!?” Nancy slaps the back of his head.
My parents gasp, unaware that this is just a normal thing for Andrew to say with his strange sense of humor.
“You’re right.” Andrew brings his head back and places a hand on his wife’s thigh.
“You do have other… specialties. And if our daughter is anything like you, Shane knows exactly what I’m talking about.
” He winks at me, and I cover my mouth with my fist as I try to hide my amusement.
Andrew sure knows how to make people uncomfortable.
“Oh my God! Dad!” Aubrey hides her face behind her hands as her neck and ears turn red.
“Oh my…” I hear my mother mumble to my father.
Nancy sighs loudly with exasperation. “Please excuse my husband. He thinks he’s a comedian and doesn’t know what is appropriate and not appropriate to say in front of people.”
Everyone in the room who knows Aubrey’s father laughs and agrees with her.
I move on with the gifts, picking up the last one from my girlfriend. It’s a huge rectangular box that doesn’t seem to rattle as I move it. What could this be? I remove the wrapping, then peel off the tape from the box and pull out what looks like a huge frame covered in bubble wrap.
Ripping open the bubble wrap delicately, I’m greeted by a framed image of the Andromeda constellation. I recognize it instantly since we have it up in every one of our jewelry stores.
At the bottom of the frame, ‘Forever written in the stars’ is written in gold font with a date beneath it. One I’d never forget. It might be Silas and Cecilia’s wedding anniversary date, but it’s also the day I met my Angel.
There’s a folder attached to the top of the frame, so I set the frame down on the coffee table, not wanting to damage it, and peel off the folder without ripping it. When I open it and begin to read the certificates inside, Aubrey speaks up at my side.
“There’s this thing online, where you can pay to name stars.
I know they aren’t technically recognized by the A.U.I.
, but I thought it was pretty cool, and I know that specific constellation has meaning to your family.
You once told me not long ago that…” She stops herself, eyes darting around the room at everyone who’s eagerly paying attention.
Her face flushes as she clears her throat.
“You once told me that we were written in the stars, and now in a way, we really are,” she finishes in a whisper.
I look back down at the certificates of three stars that align one beside the other. One named Shane Jefferson, the other Aubrey Ford, and the last, Little Star Jefferson. My throat clogs up with emotions as I slide my finger over the name.
Placing the folder down, I turn to the woman of my dreams, the woman I get to call mine. I grab her face between my hands and fuse our lips together in a deep, passionate kiss. “I love you, Aubrey.”
She gasps against my lips, pulling back to look into my eyes as hers fill with tears. Her cheeks are a deep red, most likely due to everyone witnessing our moment, but she doesn’t pay them any attention as she whispers the words I’ve longed to hear.
“I love you too, Shane.”