Between Us (all of us #1)

F O R T Y

A U B R E E

Two Years Later

"Chloe, can you please hand me the spatula—Oh, and the icing." I pull the cake from the freezer, running back to the island while multitasking by grabbing a couple of sprinkle shakers I picked up in a rush today.

I should have just ordered a cake, but sometimes I forget I have connections for all of my party needs right in my phone—thanks to Lyssa hiring me.

Trenton found out I was planning this party a week ago. I was bummed that he ruined the surprise—and shot it down by proposing to do something with just the two of us instead—so I cancelled it.

After a lot of contemplation, I decided the party is back on. Why? Because I love him and I know he'll be happy to see his friends and family after having his head buried in books the past couple of weeks for midterms—while also working for PKG. I'm just glad he's finally gotten a better position at work. I always worried that working on the floor was going to kill his back, even though it did do wonders on his body.

"Of course," Chloe sings, handing me the cake spatula. She whisks little Aiden into her arms, not without him whining and kicking his feet as he's suspended into the air, though.

He's been such a handful, and I'm sort of glad Diesel's finally getting a taste of his own medicine with that one. He's his father times ten. A natural born menace, but only with his parents. With me, he's an absolute angel.

While scraping the white icing until it's perfectly flat, spinning the plate to smooth out the edges as well, I glance out the window at Diesel. He's grilling the burgers while chatting with Joselyn as she prepares the utensils and napkins beside him.

Gio and Martha look to have just finished draping the tables in dark blue table cloth and I'm just hoping everything's set by the time Trenton walks through the door. Not like he'll really care if it isn't. He'll come in with a big smile either way.

There's a knock on the door, then the bell rings.

"Chloe—"

"I'm on it." She jogs to the door, Aiden bouncing in her arms as I write Trenton's name on the cake in blue icing. The good thing about the party business is that I've picked up a ton of tricks. Business has been so great that Lyssa and I have been able to work this job full time. We're hoping to go on to wedding planning soon, depending on how everything goes with our first client, Marina.

She's getting married in the fall and we're currently drafting plans for something pretty in the mountains. I'm happy to give her the wedding of her dreams, because that just confirms she's finally over Trenton. He's mine.

I hear a deep voice speak and soon after, the man it came from appears in my kitchen, holding up a gift bag in one hand and the hand of a young girl in the other.

"Aubree." Roger smiles at me.

He and I were finally able to come to terms with everything last year. It was actually easy. I've been so happy living my own life that forgiving him for everything he'd put me through was just the last step in freeing myself.

If it weren't for him, I couldn't be in this position. I wouldn't be.

Trenton's the absolute love of my life, and although my past with Roger was filled with trials, it was all necessary in guaranteeing me this level of happiness.

"Roger." I huff out a laugh—finally removing my hands from the cake I was sure wouldn't be ready when Trenton got home—and dust my palms on the fronts of my jeans.