Page 76 of His to Cherish

Cupcakes.

My lips pulled into a small smile.

Aidan had snuck out of my house early in the morning only to return with my favorite breakfast treat and left again.

My heart gave a little flutter.

I grabbed the bag and my purse and quickly poured a travel mug of coffee before rushing to my car to make it to school on time.

I didn’t have time to open my treat from Kate’s Kakes until I was at my desk in the library with the first morning bell ringing through the school.

When I did, I reached inside without looking and my fingers brushed against a piece of paper.

I pulled it out, opened it, and immediately felt my cheeks turn the same shade of pink as the bag.

Sorry to leave. Have something to take care of.

You’re beautiful…in every way.

See you later.

A.

The paper shook in my trembling fingers. Somehow, with a quickly scribbled note, Aidan had managed to quiet my earlier fears and concerns, and he wasn’t even in my presence.

He was an incredible man.

And for some reason, I felt as if he was becoming mine.

Mine.

I smiled, liking the way the word sounded rolling off my tongue as I repeated it quietly to myself.

Upon grabbing my phone, I unlocked the screen and typed out a quick text.

Thank you for the cupcake. I think you’re pretty great, too.

After setting the phone down, I grabbed my breakfast—a double-chocolate fudge cupcake with light green frosting on top that swirled high.

I ate the frosting first, licking it off my fingertips and the edges of my lips, and by the time kids began to enter the library, I was high on delicious sugar and chocolate, lost to the duties of the day, all my doubts forgotten.

Hope took its place.

Hope that I’d be okay.

Hope that Aidan and Shane would find their way.

Hope that Aidan and I would have a future.

Because I wanted one with him—more than I’d ever wanted anything.

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