Ana's POV
I was trying to control the blushing in my cheeks but I was failing miserably. Matt just looked so handsome and I felt all giddy, like the first time he'd kissed me on the pier so long ago.
"You look beautiful Ana." He said softly.
"Don't be silly." I told him, glancing over my shoulder hoping for something to look at, anything.
"I'm not." He went on and I looked back at him. "Um can we maybe talk tomorrow?"
Tomorrow, he wanted to talk tomorrow and I wasn't sure if I was ready to hear what he had to say.
"I guess." I said quietly.
He smiled at me and opened his mouth to say something else when a blood curdling scream interrupted us. It was Charlotte, I'd recognize her scream anywhere.
I spun around, not sure what to expect and what I saw was Charlotte, with her hands on her hips, screaming bloody murder, at Addie who had dragged a chair over and was promptly helping herself to the birthday cake.
"ADELINA GRACE." Sophie yelled, walking over and scooping her into arms.
Immediately Addie joined Charlotte in her screams.
"It's okay baby." I said, rushing over to her.
"She ruins everything." Charlotte sobbed.
"Aw come on." Matt said picking her up. "She doesn't ruin everything."
Charlotte nodded, tears falling down her cheeks.
"It's fine sweety, Aunty Sophie can fix it." Sophie told her. "BRIAN TAKE THIS DEVIL CHILD."
We watched as Brian smirked at Addie, took her in his arms and showered her tiny face with kisses.
I had to admit, I did feel bad for Sophie, she'd been blessed with two female versions of Brian, in looks and in personality.
"Help me get this inside." Sophie asked me.
We both gently carried in the huge princess castle cake, then we both stood there, assessing the damage.
"Can you fix it?" Matt asked, appearing behind me.
"Where's Charlotte?"
"She's fine Ana, off playing with her friends."
"Fuck." Sophie snapped. "Why?" She asked nobody in particular. "It had to be my child who ruined it."
Matt chuckled. "It's okay Sophie."
She glared at Matt. "Go get me some milk, butter and some food coloring." She told him.
He looked at me questioningly. "The food coloring is in the pantry." I told him softly.
"So." Sophie said as he walked off. "You two look kind of cute all Prince and Princessy."
"Sophie don't start."
"I'm just saying Ana, for fuck sake woman, can't you see he's tripping over himself to be near you."
"Stop it."
"Stop what?" Matt asked, placing what Sophie asked for on the bench.
"Never mind." I said, daring Sophie to say anything.
She didn't, she went to work on the cake, Matt and I watching, only I wasn't watching, because I couldn't concentrate, Matt was so close, I could feel his breath.
"You're doing a pretty good job." Matt said, encouraging Sophie, then suddenly putting his arm gently around my waist.
I wanted to push him away, thinking about all those hurtful words he'd said to me, but I couldn't because he was Matt, my Matt, my best friend and husband Matt and I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around him, I couldn't not love him, I'd tried, I just couldn't do it.
I closed my eye's and I could still hear him telling me. "Good, I want to leave, I can't stand the sight of you anymore."
I stepped away from him, I wouldn't let him hurt me anymore.
"Ana." He murmured, so only I could hear him, and he reached out, touching my waist again.
"What are you doing in here with the girls?" Brian asked, thankfully interrupting.
"Where is your daughter?" Sophie asked him, hands on hips.
"Relax babe, she's jumping." He grinned. "Come and have a beer." He said to Matt.
Matt nodded, turning to follow him, but not before giving my waist a gentle squeeze.
"It looks okay." Sophie said, standing back and admiring it.
"It does."
"Yeah well can we leave it in here until it's time Ana?" She asked, looking exasperated.
I smiled and nodded.
"Good, let me put this away then we can go and be princesses." She laughed, heading to the pantry.
I looked at the door, now I was nervous about going out there.
"Ana." Sophie called. "Can you come here?"
I walked over to the pantry. "What?"
"Look." She said, pointing.
I followed her finger and I couldn't believe my eye's. "How the hell did they get here." I cried, grabbing my rings and slipping them back on my finger.
Sophie shook her head and was saying something but I wasn't listening, I was looking at my rings, on my finger, where they belonged.
