Page 63 of The Sweetest Chirp

That fucking word.

When a photo of Aviva’s little sister, Callie, catches my eye, my grin widens. In it, her boyfriend, Evan Adler, who I guess isnow her fiancé, is on his knee with a huge ring just for her in the middle of an outdoor ice rink. It’s funny, when I was younger, that’s how I thought Thatcher would propose to me. On the ice, where he made his living and where I was dead set on being his biggest fan.

According to Arwen, my position has been taken.

I’m trying really hard not to be jealous of my daughter.

Then I remind myself I’m not supposed to be his biggest fan.

But apparently my heart didn’t get that memo.

The house is full of kids and IceCats players. I recognize almost everyone, and my heart catches in my throat because most of them were there when Thatcher let me have it.

I’m holding my breath in hopes that no one will notice me. I should know better. Beside me, Thatcher grins widely as Aviva comes out from the kitchen, wiping her hands with a return grin. “Thatcher!” Aviva has always been such a beautiful woman. She’s tall, with curves and such a kind smile. Her dark-brown hair is up in a sleek ponytail, and her green eyes are done up nicely with light makeup. She’s wearing a Paw-Patrol-patterned dress that flares around her hips and hits her knees. On her head is a helmet that Sky from Paw Patrol wears. Jeez, motherhood is a great look on her.

I watch as her brows knit when she sees Arwen, and then her smile falls quickly when she notices me. “Audrina?” Her voice is full of shock before her grin returns. “Oh my God! It’s so good to see you. Come here!”

I’m surprised by her welcome, but even more so when she wraps her arms around me like I haven’t been gone for more than three years. “Where have you been!? I’ve missed you! I tried calling and texting you.”

I grimace. “Yeah, I got a new phone. I’ve been all over.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re back,” she gushes, squeezing my hands. “I know he has to be too,” she says, nodding toward Thatcher.

“I am,” he says proudly, as if he couldn’t miss the opportunity to tell me so.

Smug asshole.

But damn it, the butterflies in my belly go wild.

I smile to myself as Aviva looks up to where Arwen is leaning her cheek against Thatcher’s. Her eyes widen as Arwen smiles happily. My kid has never met a stranger, pretty sure she could be best friends with a rock. She wears a brand-new pink Juicy jumpsuit that I didn’t even know they still made. Leave it to my mom and Maeve to not only find it, but buy it in every color for Arwen. She has on a pair of little pink Uggs with a huge pink Juicy bow in her hair.

My kid is dressed better than me.

Aviva’s brows knit tighter as she looks between us. Before either of us can confirm what she is suspecting, people start to gather. My name is called over and over as I hug Jaylin Litman, who is married to Kirby Litman. And of course, even with a huge pregnant belly, she’s an absolute stunner. She has always been such a chic lady, and I fully believe it has to be because she’s a ballbusting lawyer. Next, I’m wrapped up in Angie Adler’s arms, her belly poking into mine as she gives me a hard, warm hug. I love her hugs; they’re so tight and so real. She’s a shy girl, doesn’t really let anyone in, but when she does, man, it’s like the sun is shining on your face.

When Amelia Moon tackles me, I laugh as she kisses me loudly on the cheek and then scowls at me. “How dare you ghost us, asshole? My babysitter disappeared without a trace!” I snicker as she kisses me again. “I’ve missed you,” she tells me softly, and all of a sudden, I’m breathing again.

“I’ve missed you. Where are the kids?”

“Running amok somewhere,” she says with a wave of her hand. “They don’t know how to stay still.”

I grin as Chandler, her husband, hugs me next, and then I’m being passed around by all of Thatcher’s teammates. I tense up, hoping it doesn’t piss him off, but when I chance a glance, he’s only grinning as Aviva and Jaylin gush over Arwen. She has her ears on today, and I know she missed them. Things are so much clearer for her, and I know she’s eating up the attention. When Aviva and Jaylin turn to look at me with shock in their gazes, I know that Thatcher must have told them she is ours.

“What’s wrong?” Angie asks me, her eyes searching mine, and I clear my throat as my gaze stays locked with theirs. She follows my gaze and then looks back at me, confused. “Drina?”

She’s the only one to call me that. I don’t hate it, but it’s not my favorite.

It’s notdushen’ka.

Though, it would be weird if my friend called me that.

I take a deep breath. “The little girl Thatcher is holding,” I say, jerking my chin toward Arwen, who is now laughing as Thatcher tickles her under her chin. “That’s our daughter.”

Angie takes in a sharp breath and then looks back to me. “She’s gorgeous and, God, Thatcher’s twin.”

I snort at that. “For sure. Kinda unfair. Go through all that pain and carry her for so long just for her to come out looking like her daddy.”

“But she has your freckles,” Angie comments, and she brings her hands up to rub her growing belly. She then looks at me, sadness in her green eyes. “So that’s why you ghosted everyone?”

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