I frowned at him.
The greenhouse door opened, and I gasped as Cillian came running toward me. I yelped as he wrapped me in his arms, lifted me off the seat, and then parked me on his lap with his chest pressed to my back, holding me tight.
“I caught ye spying on me, ye dirty wee cuddle bug,” he growled into my ear.
I shivered and stared over my shoulder at Cillian, shaking my head.
“What?”
“Conall says I should leave it alone.” I bit the tip of my tongue, but it didn’t help.
“Out with it,” he said, then smooched my cheek.
“Are you and Aspen?” I twisted my fingers together.
“That wasn’t a real thought. Are we what, bug?” he asked, rocking me from side to side.
“Holding hands now?” I squirmed on his lap. “I saw you!”
Cillian’s face flushed red and he squeezed me around the middle. “Aye.”
“I love that so much because I love you and I love Aspen, and if you and Aspen love each other—”
“Bug, breathe,” Cillian growled, giving me a shake, but he didn’t sound the way he did when he was actually mad. The sun caught in his brown hair and eyes and made his small smile warmer.
“We do love each other,” Aspen said.
Startled, I smiled up at him. I hadn’t noticed him walking in. He winked at me.
Joy swelled in my chest and I felt like I was going to fly apart. “Have you two gone any farther? Should I ask that? Conall said maybe I shouldn’t pry, but I really, really want to know.” I shot hopeful glances back and forth between them.
Cillian shrugged.
Aspen leaned down and kissed my ear. “Let Cillian get comfortable.”
“I’m right bloody here,” Cillian grumbled.
I patted his hands where they rested on my stomach. “I know, and I love you, and of course I can wait! But sometimes the best way to get comfortable is just to go ahead and do the thing causing anxiety. Just step out onto the stage or in front of the classroom, you know?” I gave Cillian a small kiss that he turned into a long one, and I groaned into his mouth.
Cillian harrumphed. “Ye just want to see me fucking Aspen.”
Conall snickered, then cleared his throat when Aspen turned toward him, and he glanced back at his paperwork.
I bit my lip.
“Or me fucking Cillian,” Aspen said with an eyebrow waggle that had Cillian sputtering.
“I don’t care what you two do, as long as you’re home with me. I missed you both so much. I’m glad you’re not mad at each other anymore.” I took Aspen’s hand in both of mine. “It wasn’t fun.”
“Didn’t we do a good job keeping our disagreement to ourselves?” Cillian asked with a frown.
“Everyone knew.” I shrugged. “Even Conall.”
Cillian and Aspen laughed, Conall groaned, and I tugged Aspen’s hand lightly until he bent down to kiss me again because I’d missed them so much while they were gone, and I couldn’t get enough of them.
EPILOGUE - PART 3
ASPEN
