Page 107 of Settling the Score

She groaned, and lifted onto the tips of her toes, removing her finger and replacing it with her mouth – a much more effective and enjoyable way to silence him. Their kiss was slow at first, tentative, tasting; or maybe it was more of a promise? A pledge that they were going to give this another go and this time, it was for keeps. Which Sienna knew, from the moment their eyes had met in the mirror and she’d seen how utterly devastated he was, that they would both fight for their relationship, no matter what. Because they’d seen the alternative. They’d lived it. And they knew, without a shadow of a doubt that they were stronger, happier, and better together.

‘God, I love you,’ he said against her mouth. She swallowed those words up and buried them deep in her chest, the warmth radiating through her like nothing she’d ever known.

* * *

Sienna hadn’t come to New York for any reason besides seeing Aiden, but when, the next morning, the WhatsApp chat exploded with a flurry of messages, her whole world burst into technicolour.

Paige

Olly is meeting with a publisher in Manhattan this afternoon. We land in a couple of hours. Who’s around?

Bella

Meeeeeee! Yipppeeeeee!

Astrid

Count me in.

Bella

What? Aren’t you off being honeymooned?

Astrid

Pre-season. And morning sickness. Which FYI can last way past the first trimester if you’re super lucky. We’ll have a babymoon.

Bella

Nawww.

Paige

Sienna, don’t suppose you can hitch a ride? We miss you!

Sienna

Actually…

She lifted the phone up and snapped a photo of the panoramic Manhattan skyline she could see from Aiden’s massive bed. Beside her, he rolled over at the audible click of the camera.

‘Please, no photos. No autographs.’ He grinned.

‘I bet you say that to all your groupies.’ She sent the message to the girls.

Bella

OMG! You’re here! Why didn’t you tell me?

Sienna

I just flew in last night.

Paige

OMG! Yay! Where shall we meet?

That afternoon, Sienna arrived at the diner Astrid had suggested with cheeks that were flushed pink from the warmth of the day, and the way she and Aiden had spent the better part of the morning: thoroughly re-acquainting themselves with one another, and talking about their shared future. Their hopes, dreams, plans, and what would come next for them. It was all so perfect, she literally couldn’t stop shining like a moonbeam.