“Hi,” April answers brightly.
“Hey,” June adds, suddenly very interested in the labels in front of her.
I lift my hand in greeting while opening the oven, sliding one finished loaf onto the cooling rack before placing another inside, the heat rushing against my face as I close the door. When I turn back around, Aiden is already beside me, leaning slightly toward the fresh loaf I just set down.
“Excellent score,” he says with a grin.
“Thank you,” I answer, smiling up at him. “I’m a good apprentice.”
From the corner of my eye, I see my sisters watching like this is the most entertaining thing they’ve ever seen, and I feel warmth creep into my cheeks.
“Aiden,” I say quickly, trying to redirect the attention. “Meet my sisters. This is April.”
He offers his hand easily, polite and relaxed, and she takes it with a bright smile. “Nice to finally meet you,” she says, throwing me a wink that makes me want to hide.
“And this is June.”
June doesn’t bother with a handshake. She walks around the table and wraps him in a quick, tight hug.
“You made my sister blush,” she says dramatically, “and for that I will love you forever.”
I smack her lightly on the shoulder. “Get back to work, you goblin.”
She rolls her eyes but heads back around the table, grinning.
Aiden’s gaze shifts then, finally taking in what’s happening around the kitchen. He reaches for a loaf that’s already labeled, his fingers brushing the paper as he reads under his breath.
“Plain Jane,” he says, smiling to himself, before picking up another. “Vampire Slayer…”
He continues down the line, reading labels and glancing at the crates, until he reaches the jams. The moment his eyes land on the blueberry jars, he pauses, his expression softening.
He looks up at me, something warm and shiny in his eyes, and then he crosses the space between us and pulls me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me in a way that feels both grateful and grounding.
“This is so incredibly thoughtful,” he says softly. “Thank you.”
Behind us, my sisters let out a synchronized “Aww,” and both of us laugh, Aiden’s arms still around me as I relax into the warmth of him. I don’t pull away right away, caught off guard by how good it feels to stand there like this, with his arms around me, knowing I got to do something that made him genuinely happy.
And for just a moment, I let myself stay there, tucked into his embrace, letting the feeling settle.
Friday afternoon sneaks up on me before I realize the week is almost over.
The last few days blur together in the best way, full and busy and louder than my life has felt in a while.
Wednesday disappears into meetings and prep at work, my phone lighting up constantly with pictures from my sisters at the farmers market. April posing in front of every stand like she’s a food influencer, June holding up jars of jam with dramatic captions, both of them looking completely at home wandering through town without me. When I get back that evening, the kitchen smells like sugar and fruit, overflowing with everything they bought, including what feels like half the jam supply from the market, most of which April insists she’s taking back to L.A.
Thursday brings my first whale excursion assignment, and having them there makes it feel bigger than just another day at work. The boat rocks gently beneath our feet as we head out, cold ocean spray misting my face as I slip into work mode, answering questions, explaining migration patterns, and pointing out fins breaking the surface in the distance. We’re lucky, spotting several gray whales and even a few humpbacks, and every time one breaches, I hear my sisters gasp behind me like kids at a fireworks show. April takes pictures of everything. The whales, the water, and me while I talk to tourists, my hands moving animatedly as I explain feeding habits and seasonal routes. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so aware of how much I love what I do until I see it reflected on their faces.
They’ve also managed to make friends with Uncle Mike somehow, joining him on his daily walks to the harbor with Andres whenever I’m at work. Every evening, I come home with new stories about their adventures and a new story about Aiden’s childhood.
I haven’t actually seen him much myself. Our schedules keep missing each other, crossing only through small moments and messages, but my sisters seem to be collecting Aiden stories like souvenirs.
Finn, on the other hand, keeps checking in through text, asking when he can see me, and insisting he wants to meet my sisters. Eventually, I give in and invite him to Cassie’s birthday party, hoping the group setting will keep my sisters from interrogating him too hard.
Which is how I walk into my house Friday afternoon to absolute chaos.
Music plays from somewhere in the living room, and the moment I step inside, I’m hit with the sight of my sisters in full preparation mode. Clothes are everywhere. Makeup spreadacross the coffee table, Neptune lying on his bed, watching their every move.
Cassie had immediately demanded they come once she found out they were in town, and somehow the girls decided the eighties theme meant recreating Madonna's looks.
