Page 17 of Matched with the Grumpy Secret Prince

He steps forward, his grin widening as I throw my arms around him. “Hey, Soph,” he says, hugging me tightly. “You’re home.”

“It’s so good to see you,” I reply, hugging him tighter.

Emma steps up next, her smile lighting up the room. “Hi, Sophie.”

I hug her just as tightly. “Emma, it’s so good to see you. How was the honeymoon? I want all the details.”

“Later,” she promises with a laugh, glancing at the table. “We didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You’re not interrupting,” Aunt Dotty says, already on her feet and moving to embrace them both. “Oh, it’s so good to see you two back in Bardstown!”

Ethan stands, grinning as he shakes his cousin’s hand. “About time you got back, man. I was starting to think you were never coming home.”

Sam chuckles, clapping Ethan on the shoulder. “What can I say? We were busy.”

“Busy doing what?” Mia teases, wiggling her eyebrows.

Emma blushes, swatting Mia lightly. “Don’t start.”

Mia laughs, but it’s Aunt Dotty who steps in to diffuse the moment. “Come on, you two. Sit down and have some pie. There’s plenty to go around.”

Sam and Emma join the table, squeezing into the remaining seats as Aunt Dotty rushes to grab them plates. The conversation flows effortlessly as they catch up, and I can’t help but watch them both, marveling at how happy they look.

Sam always had a larger-than-life presence. He was the kind of person who could walk into a room and instantly make everyone feel at ease. Seeing him like this—settled, content, and completely in love—fills me with a kind of warmth I didn’t know I needed.

“So,” I say, leaning forward as I address both of them, “how was it? The honeymoon? The wedding? Tell me everything.”

Emma laughs softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It was perfect. We spent most of it exploring little coastal towns, trying new foods, and just… enjoying being together.”

“She dragged me to every historical site she could find,” Sam adds with a mock grimace, though the fondness in his voice is unmistakable.

“And he loved every second of it,” Emma counters, grinning.

“I might’ve,” Sam admits, his eyes softening as he looks at her.

“Oh, they’re insufferable,” Mia groans, though her smile gives her away. “Can you two not be so disgustingly cute for five minutes?”

“You’re just jealous,” Sam shoots back, winking at her.

Mia rolls her eyes, but the banter brings another round of laughter to the table.

The conversation shifts to Ethan and Riley’s wedding, and when Sam hears about my involvement, he leans back with a smug look. “Of course. Sophie swoops in to save the day. Classic.”

“Don’t start,” I warn him, narrowing my eyes playfully.

“I’m just saying,” he teases. “No wedding in Bardstown stands a chance of being mediocre with you involved.”

“Thank you, Sam,” I say, though my tone is more exasperated than grateful.

Riley smiles at me, her excitement palpable. “I’m so glad you’re here to help, Sophie. It already feels like such a weight off my shoulders.”

“And Ethan’s too,” Mia adds with a grin. “He’s terrible under pressure.”

“Hey!” Ethan protests, though he doesn’t look offended.

The table dissolves into laughter again, and as the evening stretches on, I feel the tension I’ve been carrying since I arrived in Bardstown start to ease.

This is what I came back for—these moments of connection, of being surrounded by family and feeling like I’m part of something bigger than myself.

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