Page 56 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)

NOAH

TWO YEARS LATER

“ T he cake is here!” Tatum chimes as she strolls through the door, tailed by Sinnett and his best mate, Khai. A large white box balances in her hands. I take it from her before kissing her cheek in greeting.

“Glad you could make it.”

Sinnett slaps my shoulder, giving me a wide smile before closing the front door behind him. “Of course we’d come. Do you really think we’d miss the party?”

“Never,” I mutter as Tatum rushes into the kitchen, where Mia is setting everything up still. “The boys will be here soon.”

“Great,” Khai chimes before following after Tatum with an excited look on his face.

I turn back to Sinnett, whose smile grows wider. “What?”

His hand squeezes my shoulder tighter. We’ve grown a lot closer since Mia and I moved in together and got married within the last two years.

I couldn’t have asked for a better woman to be the mum of Jade.

She loves her like her own child, and I love Mia a bit more every day for it.

Seeing those two together makes me so happy.

I sometimes don’t know how I got so lucky.

“How has she been?”

I shrug one shoulder, still balancing the cake box in my hands. “A bit sick, but she’s fine. She knows she can use the pregnancy card on me, and I’ll do anything for her.”

Sinnett snorts out a laugh, hand slipping from my shoulder. “Sounds like her. Milking it for all she can get.”

Smiling, I shake my head. “I don’t care. I’d do anything for her either way.”

“I know you would,” Sinnett murmurs before Jade appears in the doorway of the kitchen and runs towards us. Bright green eyes and blonde hair pulled up into buns, she jumps right into Sinnett’s tattooed arms. “Jadey, I’ve missed you.”

“Uncle Sinny.” She lets out a giggle and wraps her arms around his neck. “Mum said I can have cake today.”

“Did she?” Sinnett’s eyes flare as he tries to sound as excited as my daughter does. “Do you know why we’re having cake?”

Jade shakes her head, looking at me for the answer.

“We’re finding out if you’re going to have a brother or a sister.”

Jade chews on her lip before whispering to us, “I want both.”

“Sorry, princess. Your mum isn’t having twins.” Disappointment seeps through my voice. “Believe me, we double checked.”

“Damn. Twins are the best,” Sinnett admits with a wink.

I just laugh and walk down the hallway. Mia is at the kitchen bench, a small pop in her stomach shows from the tightness of her white dress.

Her dark hair flows over her shoulders with a matching bow, glossy lips and shiny skin.

She looks radiant and happy as Tatum talks her ear off about Sinnett’s latest game .

Placing the cake down on the bench, she eyes me before coming around and sliding her arms around my waist. “Did you peek?”

“No,” I answer, trying not to smile. “I want the surprise as much as you do.”

“Good,” she chimes, making my stomach flip. “I want us to be surprised together.”

Kissing her temple, I catch her addictive scent that’s become even sweeter since she’s fallen pregnant. I love falling asleep beside her, holding her against me, being constantly surrounded by it. I never want to let her go, and I am guarding her with my life right now.

“Do you want to start the barbecue? Nathan, Caleb and Jason will be here soon. Damon and Dottie said they’re on their way, too.”

“And your parents?” I ask as Mia slips out of my arms.

She gives me a soft smile. “They’ll be here soon.” I watch her smile falter, and I know what’s going to come out next. “I wish she were still here for this.”

Pulling her against me again, my chin rests on her head as I let out a steady breath. “June would have wanted to see this. But I bet she’s watching with Joe in heaven.”

I hear her sniff and hold her tighter before releasing her. Mia wipes under her eyes before muttering something about hormones. “I just miss her a lot.”

“I know you do. But come on, it’s a day to celebrate.” My hands hold her slim waist as she smiles again, her grey eyes glistening. “I’ll start the food with Sin.”

“Thank you.”

Everyone arrives slowly over the next half hour. Mia’s parents come, looking a little calmer than they did at the wedding. I knew they were busy and uptight, but I never knew the extent until I saw her mum in full mother-of-the-bride zone. It was frightening, to say the least.

Caleb and Jason walk in with presents. Jade rushes up to them immediately in her flowery dress, and Caleb holds her. He has come a long way from the man who used to hate breathing the word kid .

“Hey, Daddy Noah,” Caleb chimes, elbowing me in the side.

Sinnett snickers. “Yeah, yeah. Just wait till you’re a dad. All of this teasing will come back to bite you.”

Caleb chuckles as Jade plays with his longer, dark hair. “Can I put a bow in it?”

He glares at her, but I know he won’t ever tell her no. “Fine. But no pink ones.”

“Okay.” Jade giggles as he carries her away.

Sinnett keeps tossing sausages as I focus on the burgers. Someone slaps my back, making me flinch.

“The life of the party is here,” Nathan breathes down my neck.

I just roll my eyes, stifling a growing grin. “Hey, Nate.”

Nathan squeezes my shoulder before throwing an arm around Sin, who I can’t tell is indifferent, or silently plotting Nathan’s death by being this close to him. “When will it be ready? I’m starving.”

“Soon.”

“Do you want a drink? Mia said she got us cider.”

Nodding, Sinnett asks for one too, and Nathan rushes off towards the kitchen.

Sin blows out a breath, and I glance sideways at his unamused face. “Do you not like Nathan?”

Sin looks at me, a ghost of a smile spreading across his mouth. He shakes his head. “It’s not that. He reminds me too much of Khai.”

I laugh at that because it’s true. Those two together are chaos.

Nathan returns with our bottles when Khai is called over. Chatting about sports and music, Mia wanders over with a hand on her stomach.

I pull her into my side, landing a kiss on her temple. “What’s wrong?”

She gives me a twisted smile. “I don’t want to be annoying.”

“You’re never annoying, Grey.”

Mia smiles at that. “The baby is hungry.”

“Then the baby shall eat. It’ll be ready in a few. Go sit down, and I’ll bring you something.”

Rising onto her toes, Mia kisses my cheek before moving towards the table decorated in blue and pink embellishments.

Sinnett and Khai take their seats, and I start taking everything off the barbecue. I notice Nathan beside me, messaging someone. There’s a pull in his features that has me wondering who it might be.

“Nate.”

Sending the text, he looks back at me with wide, chocolate eyes. “Yeah?”

“Can you take this to the table?”

Nodding, he takes the plate full of food and carries it to the middle of the table before sliding to my side again. I finish loading another plate when I see him focus on his phone again.

I peek over his shoulder, reading the girl’s name and grinning. “Who is she?”

Shutting his phone and jumping to face me, Nathan’s eyes narrow, mouth tightening as he puts his phone back in his pocket. “Nobody.”

“Really?” My head tilts slightly. “Didn’t look like nobody.” Jaw gritting, I sniff a small laugh. “Who is she?”

Nathan just shrugs, clearly not wanting to answer me. Sighing, I slap his back with my free hand, offering him a small smile. “I hope it works out,” I murmur before placing the second plate down .

Damon and Dottie come in carrying a salad and drinks. He slaps my back encouragingly before we all sit to eat lunch together. It’s loud and chaotic, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. As long as Mia is happy and enjoying herself, then it’s good.

When most of the food is polished off, Tatum disappears inside and brings out the white cake. Colourless, fluffy icing decorates the top and side. Jade peeks over the tabletop between Mia and me. I hoist her up onto my waist as she stares down at the cake.

“Are you ready, princess?”

“Yes,” Jade lets out before reaching out for Mia’s neck. “Mum, I want to see.”

Mia just smiles at her and nods. “Just a few more minutes, little lady.”

Everyone settles down as Mia thanks everyone for coming and joining us for the occasion. I see her parents looking happy together, holding each other like we are. Sinnett and Tatum are both standing, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Tatum bites her lip in anticipation of our reactions.

Damon and Dottie sit hand in hand. Nathan, Khai, Caleb, and Jason are clapping and cheering like we’re on the sidelines of a game. I just laugh at their enthusiasm.

“Should we do this, thirty-four?” Mia looks at me, a twinkle in her silver eyes that I will never stop loving.

Grinning, I take the cake cutter, and her smaller hand covers mine. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

“Go!” Jade shouts. I laugh as we slice through the cake. My chest heats, desperately wanting to know what gender our baby will be when we pull out the blade .

Mia drops the knife and is already hugging me, arms wrapping tightly around my stomach as I lean down and kiss her hair.

I can feel her shoulders shaking as she cries into my chest. Jade is giggling excitedly when Sinnett and Tatum come around, taking her away so that I can hold my wife, who is bawling her eyes out.

“Aren’t you happy, Grey?” I murmur against her ear.

Mia pulls back, tears running down her cheeks as she sniffs and nods, wiping her nose. “Yes, of course I am!” her voice loudens over her sobs. “I love you.”

My chest blooms at her words, still affecting me the same way after all this time. “I love you, too.”

I kiss her through her tears as I block out the rest of the voices surrounding us. Disconnecting our lips, I look back at the pink and white cake and smile. “Did we agree on that name already?” I arch a brow at her.

Her grin widens, teeth digging into her bottom lip as Mia nods excitedly. “Yes! It’s perfect.”

I put my hand on her stomach over hers and finally feel complete with Mia by my side, Jade, and our unborn baby. “It is perfect.”

I kiss her again.

Mia's parents congratulate us. Elijah gives me a hug. Her mum, Isabella, almost squeezes the life out of me with how tight she embraces me. “I am just so happy for the two of you.”

“Thank you, Mrs Baxter.”

She wipes tears from under her eye before smiling. “So, what will you name her?”

Mia and I exchange a look. Her silver eyes stare back into mine, and I think I am falling in love all over again when I clear my throat.