Chapter 339

By the time we finished welcoming everyone, I was tired and exhausted, both physically and emotionally. Iris also chose that time to wake up, screaming her little lungs out.

“You go ahead; I’ll go pick her up.” Rowan gives me a little push towards the backyard.

Nodding my head, I head there to find the party in full bloom. Noah had abandoned us the moment some of his friends arrived.

Adults were seated and eating, while the kids were running around. I spot Letty and Corrine and head towards them.

“Where are Travis and Gabe?” I ask them.

Letty points in the opposite direction. “Over there”

They were talking to some men that I didn’t recognize at all. If my hunch was correct, those two were probably busy striking a business deal or something.

“By the way, Reaper sent a gift,” Corrine says, surprising both me and Letty. “He said he’s sorry he couldn’t make it because of circumstances, but once things cool down, he’ll come for a visit.”

Well, it seemed things were progressing well between them if he was sending Corrine with gifts on his behalf.

We continue chatting, and minutes later, Rowan appears with Iris. She seemed calmer, and she wasn’t crying at all.

“I’ve fed her; do you want to take her?” he asks I nod my head, but the moment Rowan tries to put her in my arms, she screams her little lungs out while clutching his t–shirt like it was a damn lifeline. The moment she’s back in his arms, she calms down and stops crying.

We try it again, and the same thing happens. In the end, we give up after the third try.

“Looks like you’ve been replaced,” Corrine says with a little laugh as I watch Rowan walk away with Iris.

Damn it. It does something to my heart to watch him and Iris. He was smiling down at her and talking to her. She had him wrapped around her tiny little finger. Every woman in the vicinity except for Kate, mom, his mother, Letty, Corrine, and shockingly, Emma, were all staring at them with adoration in their eyes. I think he’s managed to get them to fall in love with him.

“Hi Aunty Ava,” I’m distracted as my eyes fall on a cute little boy who kind of reminded me of Emma.

My eyes budge out when I realize who it is. I was told that Calvin and Emma had a kid and that he’s Noah’s best friend. I’d yet to meet him because he was supposed to have a sleepover, but some things came up and he didn’t get the chance.

“Gunner! How are you?” I ask in excitement.

“Sorry we are late; I had a project to finish.” I turn to look at Calvin. I remember him from the hospital.

I’d been so overwhelmed that I hadn’t dwelt on him much.

He did look like how I remembered him from high school, only more mature.

“It’s okay, Calvin; the cake hasn’t been cut, so you aren’t late.”

The rest of the girls greet him, and they start chatting. Letty had told me that we were all friends, so it’s not surprising.

Gunner surprises me by throwing himself at me, almost knocking me out of my seat.

“I missed you so, so much,” he cries, and I just hold him and try to calm him down. “I don’t want to ever lose you.”

I feel touched, and my heart goes to him. It seems like we had a strong relationship. I wonder how that came to be.

“Don’t worry, sweetie, I’m not going anywhere. Not for a long, long time,” I assure him while wiping away his tears.

Once he’s calmer, he kisses my cheek before leaving to find Noah and the rest of the kids.

I feel burning eyes on me. I twist around trying to find whoever is looking at me, and that’s when I spot.

Emma.

Even from this distance, I see the tears she’s trying to fight. She’s looking between me and Gunner, who has already found Noah, with nothing but pain and anguish.