I showed the message to Tristan who laughed.
“You should tell her no,” he said.
“I know,” I said, typing back a response.
Me: You’re stuck with him. Just like I’m stuck with him being best man. We suffer together.
Kiara: This is your fault, you know. You’re the one who made us work together.
Me: I thought it would help!
Kiara: You thought wrong. The man is insufferable.
Me: But you’re still doing it?
Kiara: Of course I’m still doing it. I’m not going to let him run me off. I just needed to complain for a minute.
I smiled at that, at least Kiara wasn’t actually going to quit, even if she and Derek drove each other crazy.
“Crisis averted?” Tristan asked.
“For now,” I said.
He pulled me closer and I settled against his side, his hand still on my stomach even though there was no visible sign of the babies yet, I was almost seven weeks now and while I’d had some nausea and fatigue, I wasn’t showing at all.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, like he did multiple times every day.
‘Good,” I said honestly. “A little tired but good.”
“You’re eating enough?” he asked, his eyes scanning my face for any sign of discomfort.
“Yes, mother,” I said teasingly. “I’m eating enough.”
He’d been monitoring my food intake like a hawk for the past three weeks, making sure I ate regular meals and stayed hydrated, making sure I took the prenatal vitamins Mara had prescribed, he was attentive to the point of being slightly overbearing but I loved him for it.
I’m just making sure,‘ he said. “You’re eating for three now.”
“I’m aware,” I said. “You remind me every day.”
“Good,” he said, completely unapologetic.
We’d also had several discussions about me going back to work at the repair company, Tristan had initially said absolutely not, that I should rest until after the babies were born, but I’d argued that I’d go crazy sitting around the house doing nothing for seven more months.
13
Chapter 3.18
We’d finally compromised on me working two days a week, just enough to keep me engaged but not so much that I’d exhaust myself.
I still think two days is too much, Tristan had said when we’d agreed.
“And I still think zero days is too little, I’d countered. “Two days is the compromise.”
He hadn’t been happy about it but he’d agreed, mostly because he knew I wouldn’t back down and partly because Orion had supported me, pointing out that Sarah had worked throughout both her pregnancies.
“Speaking of work, Tristan said now. “You’re not going in tomorrow, right?”
“No,” I confirmed. “Tomorrow is the dress shopping day, remember?”
“Right,” he said. “The great dress hunt.”
“It’s not a hunt, I protested. “It’s shopping.”
‘Sarah has you scheduled at four different stores,” Tristan pointed out. “That’s a hunt.”
He had a point, Sarah had scheduled appointments at four bridal shops for tomorrow, determined to find the perfect dresses for both ceremonies.
“It’ll be fun,” I said, trying to convince myself as much as him.
“If you say so,” Tristan said. “Just promise me you’ll take breaks if you get tired.”
“I promise,” I said. “Sarah won’t let me overdo it anyway, she’s almost as protective as you are.”
“Good,” he said.
My phone buzzed again and I looked down to see a message from Sarah in the group chat.
Sarah: Reminder that dress shopping is tomorrow at 10am. Meet at the first shop. Don’t be late, Kiara.
Kiara: I’m never late.
Derek: Except for that meeting last week.
Kiara: That was traffic.
Derek: Sure it was.
Kiara: You know what, Derek?
Sarah: ANYWAY. Athena, make sure you eat a good breakfast tomorrow. It’s going to be a long day.
I smiled at Sarah’s attempt to redirect the conversation before Kiara and Derek could start another argument.
Everyone knew we stayed together.
Me: I will. Tristan will make sure of it.
2/3
1:24 pm P
Chapter 318
Tristan: Damn right I will.
Leah: Aw, you two are cute.
Kiara: Disgustingly cute.
Derek: Agreed. Stop being cute in the group chat.
Tristan: Never. Get used to it.
I laughed and put my phone away, snuggling closer to Tristan.
“Tomorrow is going to be fun,” I said. “I get to try on wedding dresses.”
“Just don’t send me pictures,” Tristan said. “I want to be surprised on the actual day.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
