Page 106 of Anteros' Return

“I love you too, Beck,” she whispered before placing a kiss on the bruise forming beneath the bandage.

“So, listen, next week I’ve got a surprise for you, okay?” I couldn’t hide my excitement, but she had no clue what I’d planned.

“A surprise?! What for?” Her eyes twinkled as her face lit up.

“Because I love you, cupcake. There is no other reason.” I lifted her into my arms and carried her back to bed.

I pulled the covers up around her before settling in beside her, the necklace I bought her years ago catching the light from the bedside lamp as she got comfortable.

“I’ll pick Liam up from Ashton’s tomorrow and take him to see my parents.” I linked my fingers with hers as she snuggled herself into the crook of my arm, her sweet, subtle perfume hitting me delicately in the face.

“I have a question, are you having your car shipped here?”

“No, I sold my car when I was back in Spain. As much as I loved that sports car, it wasn’t suitable for us three.” A quiet warmth stirred in my chest as I looked at Emily.

“Beck, you can get another sports car. We can use mine for family trips.”

“That reminds me, we need to upgrade yours too.” A grin tugged at my lips as I started planning our shopping trip in my head.

“No, we don’t need to upgrade anything.” She rolled her eyes as she let out a dramatic sigh.

“It isn’t suitable for transporting cakes around, though, is it? We both know that, so humour me and let me take you car shopping just to see if you like anything.” I pleaded with puppy dog eyes, hoping they’d work like they did when we were teens.

“Fine. I’m not promising I’ll let you upgrade anything, but I will humour you.”

“Thank you. Besides, I need to know you and our babies are safe when you’re out without me.” I winked, knowing that in asecond her eyes would widen and her mouth would fall open in surprise.

“Excuse me? We have one child, not multiple.”

Bingo… Right on cue.

“For now, but I don’t plan on only having one child with you, Emily Ryton. Neither do I plan on calling you Ryton much longer. I think Emily Ashmore has a nice ring to it, don’t you?” I teased, draping my leg over hers.

“Mhm, goodnight, Beckett.” She giggled as she closed her eyes and that laugh was all I needed to know she felt the same way I did.

Granted, those years apart happened but with each day that passed it felt as though no time passed at all. We grew up and got older, but we still loved one another like we did before, if not more than that.

“I’d like to see you as a girl dad,” she muttered as sleep was enveloping her.

Yeah, I could imagine having another little Emily running around, being chased by her brother, both of them giggling and squealing with delight. Watching her and Emily bake cupcakes in the kitchen one minute and kicking a ball in the park with Liam and me the next.

“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?”

“Too right, I am.” I chuckled, kissing her temple as she finally gave in and drifted off to sleep.

And after that conversation, I planned on having the sweetest dreams that included a family of four.

Liam and I walked into Emily’s bakery where we met my parents and Harry. They were overlooking everything when I couldn’t. They had the plans they knew not to stray from, too, which made it easier.

“Grandpa!” Liam shouted as he bounded over to my dad who held his arms open for him.

“There’s my boy!” He spun him around once before securing him tightly in his arms. “What do you think of your mum's bakery?”

“It’s amazing! She’s going to love it!” He beamed, sticking his tongue through the new gap from his recent loose tooth.

“Ah! Your tooth came out!” My mum exclaimed, pinching his cheeks softly.

“Yup! At Ashton’s house this morning. I’ll be putting it under my pillow tonight.” He was thrilled it had finally come out and over the money he was going to make.

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