Overcome with a tangle of emotions I can’t separate, I lean down, dropping my mouth to hers. “Oh baby, this is definitely happening,” I murmur against her lips before diving in, taking the kiss impossibly deeper, grinding my rapidly hardening cock against her.
“Fuck,” she mutters, tightening her hold on my waist before releasing me and stepping back. “Hold that thought. Breakfast first. Fucking afterwards.”
I’m about to protest, my dick practically throbbing at the thought of being inside her, but before I can say anything, my stomach growls, and I huff out a laugh. “Definitely breakfast first. It’s not every day a famous chef cooks for me.”
Her face flushes the prettiest shade of pink. “I’m not famous, and I really don’t want to be. I just like cooking for people. Taking care of them in that way. It kind of feels like what I’m meant to do. That’s why I want to start a catering company. It’s more personal than working in a restaurant, even though working in a restaurant is more prestigious, I guess. But this way, I get to be in people’s homes, be a part of their milestones and parties and celebrations.” She shrugs. “It’s what I’ve always wanted.”
Smiling, amazed and overwhelmed by her, I stroke a hand over her cheek, leaning down to kiss her again. “It sounds perfect.”
“I really think it will be. Now sit and tell me how you like your eggs. Let me wow you with my brilliance.”
I sit and watch her as she gets to work, memorizing the way she looks cooking in my kitchen and grinning at me from across the island. Her giggle when I kiss her senseless as she sets plates down and pull her into my lap so we can eat breakfast wrapped around each other. The way it feels to be here, staring into my future, knowing that every single part of it looks exactly like her.
CHAPTER NINE
OLIVIA
“Holy fucking shit, Liv.”
“Right?” I grin at my older sister Amelia’s reaction, doing a sassy spin to show off my sparkly gown. I knew it was mine the second I saw it in the fancy Shadyside boutique a few weeks ago. The deep green is perfect for Christmas, and the sweetheart neckline and thin straps do incredible things for my boobs. The gold shoes I bought to match are completely ridiculous and were a freaking fortune, but I love them so much. I didn’t think I would get the chance to wear any of this once Jeremy asked me to cater the gala instead of just being a guest, but he somehow managed to hire a second caterer to oversee the actual day of the event. All the cooking is done, so now it's mostly just the set up and execution, and I don’t mind handing that off, especially if it means getting dressed with my sisters.
“Oh my god, yes. You look fucking amazing.”
Sliding up to her, I wrap an arm around her waist so we’re standing side-by-side in front of the massive gold mirror Molly set up in one of their guest rooms so we could all get ready forthe gala together. “I’m really glad you’re here, Ames. I know you and Elliot have your hands full, so it means a lot that you guys made the trip. I’ve been missing you lately.”
Amelia lays her head against mine. “I’ve been missing you, too. There’s nothing in the world that would have kept us from this. Pam and Rob are thrilled to have Clara for the weekend, and the idea of three nights alone in a hotel room with El, with no toddler yelling for breakfast at five thirty in the morning? It’s a fucking dream.”
I laugh, thinking of Amelia’s incredible in-laws, and how much they’re probably spoiling her and Elliot’s eighteen-month-old daughter right now. “You look happy, Ames.” And she does. Her eyes sparkle when she talks about her husband, Elliot Wyles, and their daughter, practically radiating contentment. She has a really beautiful life in Boston with Elliot, his three brothers and their wives and kids, his parents and his grandma. The brownstone they all live in and the thriving app development business she started. It makes me think of Brian—of the kind of life we might have together. What it would look like to raise kids alongside Molly and Gabe and their friends. To take our kids to visit Boston and have Amelia’s kids here with us. I know it’s too soon for that kind of thinking, but god, I like it. I like it a lot.
“I really, really am. It’s absolute, utter chaos most of the time, but I love it.”
“I bet Pam is really in her element now that everyone is having babies.” I grin, thinking of Amelia’s hilarious, irreverent, mother-in-law.
She laughs, tucking a piece of hair back into her loose bun. “You have no idea. She has basically installed herself in the brownstone since Jo and Jordan had their second last month, and with both Hannah and Evan pregnant again, Pam is living her very best grandma life.”
“Looks like your sisters-in-law are doing the most to give her as many grandchildren as her heart desires,” I laugh. “You and El planning on doing your part anytime soon? I bet Clara would kill as a big sister.”
“As a matter of fact…” Amelia turns to me, massive grin on her face, and I know. Tears spring to my eyes before she even finishes speaking.
“Ames…”
She shrugs, beaming, her own eyes glossing over with tears. “Baby Sullivan-Wyles number two will be making his or her appearance at the end of the summer. It’s super early, but no way could I leave without telling you.”
“Sisters reunited!” Before I can say anything else, Molly comes whirling into the guest room in a cloud of bright pink silk, brown hair curling wildly down her back, wrist full of bangles, and bottle of champagne in hand. “Soph and Ellie are finally asleep, the babysitter is on her way, and I’m ready for some serious partying with my girls. Hang on,” she says, studying us. “Why are there tears? No one should be crying when they look as amazing as both of you do right now and when all three of us are finally together again.”
Amelia and I look at each other and laugh and then we both turn to Molly. “I’m pregnant,” Amelia says happily.
“Oh my god, same,” Molly squeals, launching herself at us and folding the three of us into a tight hug.
“Wait, what?” Amelia asks, pulling back. “Seriously?”
Molly laughs. “Extremely seriously. I literally found out yesterday. Gabe keeps walking around with this perma-grin, and I’m just all, let’s throw caution to the wind because three can’t be that much harder than two, right?”
“So the champagne?” Amelia asks with a laugh.
Molly grins and turns the bottle around. “Is actually super fancy sparkling apple cider. That’s how I was going to tell you, but this is so much better than that!”
Molly does a little dance in her strappy silver heels, and the emotion comes hot and fast. Too fast for me to be able to shove it down. “I’m so happy for you both, and I just love you so much,” I say, my voice breaking on the last word. I don’t know whether it’s all three of us together for the first time in a couple of months, thoughts of Brian and our maybe someday future, or the fact that I’m about to leave Pittsburgh for six months alone in Italy, but suddenly my tears are spilling over before I can stop them.
