“I’m not hungry.” I press, and she looks at me all sad and teary-eyed, and I relent. “Fine.” I let her drag me to the dining table. She’s made my favourite pasta dish, and my stomach defies me and groans at the delicious smell of her cooking. I take my jacket off, and we sit at the table rather awkwardly, just looking at one another. I break the eye contact first, pick up the fork, and start to eat. I lift my gaze and catch her watching me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”Shayla smiles sadly and shakes her head. “Nothing, just an old memory is all.”“What memory?” I inquire, taking a sip of the white wine she poured for us both. Shayla takes a sip of her own wine and bites her bottom lip.“I just remembered the first time we cooked this dish together at your old apartment. I was teaching you how to cook, and we sat out on the terrace, eating and talking...”I frown, listening to her as she speaks, and my mind recalls the moment she was talking abou

Alaia was staying home with my in-laws, who jumped at the chance to watch her while we go out. I honestly didn’t want to leave her and go out, but the girls insist, so I figured I would agree to go for a couple of hours. I wear a silver sequin dress, and the girls curl my hair and do my make-up for me. “You look fierce, darling.” Aimee drawls with an exaggerated British accent.“Cole is going to lose his mind, baby girl.” Jo grins, spinning me around.“No! I want him to find it, not lose it more!” I quip, and the girls laugh. I pull my black stilettos on while they refresh their makeup. Aimee was wearing a red jumpsuit with her hair pulled up into a high ponytail with a pair of nude open-toe heels. Jo was in a black mini dress with a plunging neckline, her shoulder-length mousy brown hair straightened. My girls were hot.“Shall we, ladies?” Aimee smiles, holding up her phone. We pose for a couple of photos before we head down to the boys.“Jo, grab Alaia.

“And seize every opportunity.” I match his grin when we toast our nuggets and laugh. We spent the hour eating our food, drinking more champagne, talking, and laughing our arses off while driving around the city. While we were driving over Tower Bridge, I push the sunroof open and clambered up. It was freezing, but I didn’t care. I lift my gaze when I see the snow falling. It never snows in December in London. “Cole, get up here. It’s snowing!”Cole climbs up beside me and looks around in wonder. It was coming down hard and setting, everything slowly turning white. It was beautiful. Cole wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my jaw when I close my eyes. “Merry Christmas, baby,” Cole whispers in my ear, and I smile and look up at him.“Merry Christmas, baby,” I reply, and Cole dips his head and kisses me softly on the lips, his thumb stroking my jaw. I pull back and look up at him. “Let’s go home,” I whisper, and he smiles handsomely and nods. Cole pulls me back in t

I clear my throat and step away from Shayla, smiling sheepishly. “Do you two have any idea what time it is?” My father scolds us, and we press our lips together to keep from laughing. I felt like a teenager who got busted by his parents sneaking a girl into the house.“It’s Christmas day, and I want to see my baby girl,” I tell my parents as I take Shayla’s hand and pull her up the stairs.“Tristan, she’s sleeping.” My mother says, and I pick Shayla up and throw her over my shoulder as I carry her to our bedroom.She laughs a little, “Cole’s memory is back.” She tells my parents, grinning. I hear my mother gasp and my Dad chuckling.“Well, you can’t just say that and leave!” My mother shrieks excitedly.“Go to bed, mother! It’s a Christmas miracle!” I shout, elated as I walk into our bedroom and set Shayla back down on her feet. I walk over to the crib and see my beautiful daughter asleep. Shayla closes the door to our bedroom and walks over.

“All right, girls, are you ready to see the wedding dress?” I hear Aimee’s excited voice behind the grey satin curtain. Jo and I exchange looks and smile before we answer her.“Yes!” We chirp at the same time and watch as the curtain is drawn back, revealing an angelic Aimee in her beautiful lace wedding gown.Jo and I gasp, our eyes instantly pooling with tears. “Oh, Aimes, you look beautiful.” I cry emotionally, and she starts welling up.“You look gorgeous, babe.” Jo agrees, watching her in awe.“Do you think Josh will like it?” Aimee asks, looking down at herself before looking at us again. We both nod enthusiastically, dabbing away the tears with tissues.“Like it? He’s going to lose his shit when he sees you in that.” I assure her, and she bites her lip.“He’s going to be bawling like a baby when he sees you, Aimes.” We walk over to her, and the three of us embrace.“Can you believe it’s only a week till the wedding? We still ha