Chapter173 They’re actually engaged now?

Chapter173 They’re actually engaged now?
Chloe

Several months after the beach ceremony where we renewed our vows under the open sky, life had settled into something almost ordinary.

I pushed the front door open and stepped inside. The house smelled like baby lotion and something savory that Julian must have cooked earlier. Liora’s toys were scattered across the living room rug. The quiet hum of the baby monitor reached me from the kitchen.

Julian stood in the living room with Liora on his hip. She was chubby and alert, one fist clutching his shirt.

He smiled the moment he saw me. “Welcome home,” he said, walking over and pulling me into a one-armed hug. Liora reached for my hair.

Julian’s face brushed my neck for just a second. I felt him pause.

He straightened slowly. His voice stayed light, but something shifted behind his eyes. “You smell different,” he said.

I blinked. “Different how?”

Julian tilted his head. “Like men’s cologne. Not mine.”

Liora babbled and grabbed his shirt. I laughed, though the sound came out a little thin. “Work celebration,” I explained. “We were crammed in the elevator for a group photo after the champagne toast. One of the guys from accounting must have been wearing something strong. It got on everyone.”

Julian nodded once. He did not look convinced. He carried Liora into the kitchen and set her in the high chair. I followed, kicking off my heels.

“Marcus and Tiffany are on again,” I added, trying to steer the conversation somewhere safer. “She texted me an hour ago that he showed up with flowers.”

Julian spooned mashed sweet potato into a bowl while Liora kicked her feet. “Those two are exhausting,” he said.

I leaned against the counter and watched him feed her. “So which guy at work?” he asked, casual.

I watched the muscle in his jaw work. “Just a colleague. Nobody important. We were standing close in the elevator during the photo. That’s all.”

He nodded again, but the tension did not leave his back. Liora suddenly slammed both hands on the tray.

“Dada!” The word came out clear and bright. Julian froze. The spoon hovered in the air. Then he turned, eyes wide, and a huge grin broke across his face.

“Did you hear that?” he asked, voice cracking a little.

I nodded, smiling too. “She said it.”

He lifted Liora out of the chair and spun her once. She squealed. Julian let the question about the cologne go for now, his face softening completely as he looked at our daughter.

“She’s been trying for days,” he said. “I kept telling her Dada and she just stared at me. Guess she was saving it for when you got home.”

He set Liora down on the play mat and walked over. His arms went around my waist again. This time the hug lasted longer.

“Ethan texted me this afternoon,” he said against my hair. “Kim and him finally set a date. They’re doing it in September. Small thing, just family and a few friends. He asked if we’d be there.”

I pulled back to look at him. “Really? They’re actually engaged now?”

Julian nodded. “He showed me the ring photo. Said he didn’t want to wait anymore after everything that happened. Kim’s been helping him look at apartments in New York too. They’re thinking of moving after the wedding.”

“That’s fast,” I said. “But they seem happy. Kim told me last week she’s never seen him this calm.”

Julian’s mouth curved. “Ethan said the same thing about her. He actually sounded nervous when he asked about the wedding. Like he was worried we wouldn’t come.”

“Of course we’ll go,” I told him. “Liora will be walking by then. She can be the flower girl if they want.”

Julian laughed softly. “He’d love that. He keeps asking for pictures of her every time we talk.”

We ate dinner with Liora between us. She kept saying “Dada” every few minutes, delighted with herself. Julian lit up each time. By the time we put her down for the night, the house felt warm and ordinary again.

While we tidied the living room, our eyes met over a scattered pile of teething rings. The simple happiness of hearing Liora call him Dada lingered between us, quietly turning into something warmer.

Once the monitor showed her asleep, Julian took my hand and led me into the bedroom. He shut the door quietly.

His hands found my waist and slid up under my blouse. “Ethan and Kim are doing it right,” he said, mouth against my neck.

I kissed him back, slow. “They really are. Kim sent me a picture of the ring yesterday. It’s beautiful.”

Julian walked me backward until my knees hit the bed. We fell together. Clothes came off in pieces. His mouth traced my collarbone, then lower. “Tonight you’re mine,” he whispered. “No work calls. No friends texting. Just us.”

I arched when his tongue found the spot he knew best. “Still mine,” he said again, voice rough.

“Always,” I answered.

He moved over me, careful and sure. The rhythm was unhurried. His hand found mine and pinned it above my head. I wrapped my legs around him and held on.

Somewhere in the middle of it all, he murmured, “Ethan asked if we thought they were moving too fast. I told him some things you just know.”

I smiled into his shoulder. “Kim said the same thing. She told me she’s never been this sure about anything.”

When we finished, he stayed inside me for a long minute. His forehead rested against mine. Both of us breathed hard.

“I’m taking her to the park this weekend,” he said after a while. “You should come. Just the three of us.”

I closed my eyes. The cologne smell had already disappeared under the scent of us. “Sounds perfect,” I told him.

Julian pulled out slowly and rolled to his side. He dragged me against his chest. One hand rested on my stomach, warm and steady.

“Marcus texted me earlier asking for relationship advice,” he said quietly. “I told him to stop messing around and either commit or let her go. He said he’s trying.”

I laughed against his skin. “Tiffany will probably call me tomorrow.”

Julian’s arm tightened around me. His breathing steadied against my hair. I let sleep pull me under, safe in the circle of his body and the promise of a regular Saturday morning with our daughter.