Page 100 of Taming You

We eventually fall into conversation as we watch the kids play. Gianna pops her head in a few times, but spends her time in the kitchen with Mrs. Carter. Cate looks like she’ll crawl a couple times, but not tonight, apparently. After dinner, we all gather in the living room for gift exchanges. Liv and Josh insist on going last, handing all four adults gifts the same size. We open them, and I’m crying before I get the box fully open.

“Really?” I ask, and Liv is crying, too. Putting the box aside, I wrap my arms around her. “I get to be an aunty again,” I say through my tears.

Liv nods. “And you’re the best aunty.”

Everyone hugs, and I stare at the copy of the sonogram that was in the box with a shirt that says:Two-Time Best Aunty.

I lean on Matt’s arm as I stare at it, and he kisses the top of my head. “One day, that will be us,” he whispers, and I nod, wiping at my tears. I can’t wait for us to get to experience that together. I look up and kiss him softly, and he wraps his arms around me.

Liv tells us she’s just shy of three months and doesn’t want to tell anyone outside of her family for a few more weeks, and that just brings more tears to my eyes. I’m family.

As Matt and I start to yawn, we decide to call it a night. We pack up and say our goodbyes before heading home. Home. Something about calling the place where Matt and Jayden are home is special. We always called my parents’ place home growing up, but it didn’t have that warm and inviting feeling or the feeling of safety I get when I’m at Matt’s. And at Henry’s I knew I was always welcome, but it was very much Henry and Maggie’s place.

When we get home, I get Jayden settled in bed, loving this part of our routine. I’ve taken nights for the most part, and Matt takes the morning, knowing I’m not a morning person. I’ve gotten more accustomed to it with Jayden now, but it’s still not easy.

While I’m rubbing Jayden’s back and rocking him, Matt joins me, quickly adding something to the mobile that he’s moved from Jayden’s tummy time mat to above his crib. I’m surprised to see he’s adding a little ladybug right to the centre of the mobile. He smiles at me.

“Why?” I ask.

He puts his finger under my chin and tips my head back. “Because you’re the centre of our world. He needs something to remind him of how lucky he is to have you in his life.”

He kisses me and heads back into the bedroom, leaving me reeling in all the best ways. I kiss Jayden’s forehead and get him settled in bed. I stare down at this perfect little boy, knowing I’m just as lucky to have him.

When I venture into the bedroom, I laugh as Matt points to the mistletoe he hung above the bed. “You’re a dork,” I say. I love that he can go from saying such heart-warming things to having fun with me like this. It just shows me how comfortable he is with me, and with our relationship.

He grins and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. “Maybe, but you love me.” He leans down and kisses my nose.

“That I do.”

He pulls me down onto the bed with him, pulling a giggle from me. “You’ve got to kiss me, Bug. It’s the rules.”

I kiss him as I smile against his lips, so happy he is who I’m spending the rest of my life with.

CHAPTER 39

Eliza

It’s New Year’s Eve, and we’re all at Matt and Zoey’s this year. Apparently, Zoey begged Liv to be able to host now that she had a space big enough, and Liv happily obliged. I love that they’re now family. They were always close before, but now with Matt and Zoey dating, and the fact that we all know she’ll be walking down the aisle in no time, it’s different.

They’re so happy, and so is Hannah. I’ve loved watching my friends fall in love and bringing Bailey into the fold when her and Caleb started dating. I’ve become an honorary aunt to Charlie, Cate, and even Jayden, something I never thought I’d get to experience as a kid. Being an only child to two very over-baring and controlling parents means I haven’t experienced a lot of what my friends have, and now that I’m creeping up on thirty, I want to break out of this box I’ve confined myself in.

Mac, the goalie for the guys’ team, stops at my side. Zoey wanted to fill this house with people to celebrate the new year, which means she invited the whole team and their significant others if they have them.

“And why are we hiding over here?” he asks, his British accent causing goosebumps to erupt across my skin. Something about this man has given a reaction ever since I first met him. He’s no model, but he’s conventionally attractive with strong features and dark-brown hair he keeps styled and out of his face, but I think it’s this air of mystery around him. No one knows much about him. Liv’s told me he’s a typical goalie, meaning he’s not typical at all. They all have their own eccentricities.

“Didn’t feel much for socializing,” I say, and he hums softly.

“Then why are you here?”

“My friends. How about you?”

“I have my reasons.”

I turn and face him, taking him in. He takes a piece of cubed cheese and puts it in his mouth before walking away, and I stare after him. The more I stare, the more I wonder, could Mac be the one to help me break this box I’ve put myself in?

Epilogue

MATT

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