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“What’s that?” Ria asked, breathless.
“Ignore it.” Tristan leaned in again, but Ria pressed a hand to his chest, giggling.
“I think it’s our food.”
Tristan swore under his breath then gently lifted Ria down from the counter. “I’ll be right back.”
He disappeared down the hallway. Moments later, he reappeared with a paper takeout bag in his hand. He set it on the counter before reaching for Ria again, and they fell into each other.
After that, there were no interruptions. The doorbell didn’t ring, the phone didn’t chirp, and the triplets didn’t wake. Ria felt like this time had been carved for them, a small sliver of their lives when they could simply be together. They kissed, they talked, they made love, and they ate their dinner in bed from paper takeout boxes, their legs still intertwined.
“I never imagined today ending like this,” Ria said as she pinched a spear of broccoli between her wooden chopsticks.
“I hoped it might,” Tristan admitted. “But I was so glad to see you again this morning, I barely thought this far ahead.”
Ria leaned against his shoulder. “Thank goodness I decided to come.”
“Indeed.” Tristan kissed her cheek. “I love you, Ria.”
“I love you, too, Tristan.”
In that moment, everything felt perfect. All the misunderstandings and near-misses felt worth it, because they led to this moment. Ria wanted to stay here forever, with Tristan. She wanted to discover more about him, travel with him, and share many more moments together. She wanted to watch the triplets grow up.
And now, she could. They ate together, talking and laughing about everything and nothing, as the night slipped by and dawn approached. Finally, Ria belonged.
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER: RIA
“Happy Birthday to you,” Ria sang, smiling down at the triplets all snuggled in their beds. “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Jacob-Jamie-Jasmine, Happy Birthday to you!”
“Again, again!” the triplets chorused. Ria chuckled.
“Sorry, guys, but your birthday is over for now. It’s time to sleep.”
“Aw.” Three little faces fell.
“But don’t worry,” Ria continued. “I think being four years old will be amazing.”
“Yeah.” Jasmine grinned. “I like being four.”
“Ireallylike being four!” Jacob put in.
“I like squirrels,” Jamie added with a yawn.
Ria smiled at all of them, blew kisses, then slipped out of the room. They’d probably chat a little more, as they often did, but that was all right. It was their birthday, after all.
Tristan was waiting downstairs in the kitchen with tacos on the table. When he spotted Ria, he poured her a glass of lemonade and stood to pull her chair out for her.
“Thank you.” Ria sank into the seat across from him. “So, their birthday is over. Again.”
“Can you believe that they’re four?” Tristan shook his head in wonder. “It feels like just yesterday that they turned three.”
“It feels a bit longer than that. After all, it’s been a whole year that I’ve been living here now.” Ria smiled. “A whole year that we’ve been in love.”
Tristan took her hand across the table. “It’s been a good year, hasn’t it?”
“The very best.”