The Best Friend's Contract novel Chapter 42

Kenna

Maybe, just maybe, I was too happy to begin with. The love that Aidan has been giving me is worth more than put into words and because of that, I truly believe in our own happy ending. Even though there isn't a happy ending in reality but only in fantasy yet I choose to believe and look forward to the kind of ending where Aidan and I get to share a kiss underneath the moonlight or even more like The Notebook where we get to kiss under the rain.

It has crossed my mind for me to make a new list. Something not on my own but with Aidan that we can fulfil it together, more like a list to complete the journey of our life and our marriage. After everything we've been through, I think it's fair to say that my life isn't everything without the appearance and presence of my twenty-two years best friend.

Like I said . . . being truly and fully happy has made me forget about the whole reality of the world, of what's happening in the East or even in the West which makes no sense. Aidan make me forget those things, no matter how important they tend to be, no matter how much value they mean to everyone else because he makes me focus onto my own path while being aware of my surroundings and somewhat the people around me.

We've been married for two years and a half now and our friendship is only growing stronger with every passing year which makes me believe into what I call 'fairy tale'. Not only does my friendship with Aidan keeps on growing stronger but also my friendship with Dimitri. There's nothing else that matters to me other than Aidan, my family which includes his and of course, Dimitri and yes . . . my career.

So, I guess there's only a few left of us in this.

''Wake up, we're going to be late!'' I exclaim before running around the room as I try to look for my phone that has somehow went missing as Aidan continues to snuggle with the sheets still wrapped around his body.

My eyes widen at the sight of him, wanting to rip his boxer off and just push him into the shower so he can finally get ready but I hold myself back by pulling the sheets away from his body. ''Aidan Gabriel Ashton, you're going to be late for your sister's wedding if you don't wake up in this instant!'' I say, clenching my fists.

Both of his droopy brown eyes open as they look at me, ''What is wrong with you?''

''What is wrong with me? What is wrong with me?!'' I mentally smack my own head, ''You have less than an hour to get ready. You're your sister's groomsman or flower boy, whatever you want to call it and she would be upset if you show up late.''

Aidan starts to lean on his back, only to realise that he has been sleeping on a red rose for the past few hours which causes him to grab it before eyeing it for a few short seconds as he continues to watch me running around the room for my phone. ''Aidan, can you please get up and take a shower. You're stressing me out,'' I breathe.

Within seconds, I find him slowly getting off the bed as he starts to make his way towards me, both of his hands placed on my hips before he leans in to kiss me on the lips. The softness of his lips has never failed to intrigued me into something more and by far has been magic, ''What's wrong? You're tense,'' He replies as he kisses down my neck.

''I can't find my phone,'' I mutter.

''You mean this?'' He reaches down to the comforter to find my phone being hidden. Both of my eyes widen at the sight of my phone—not exactly expecting to find it on the bed and hidden underneath the comforter.

My body relaxes at the touch of his hands running down my arms and with his lips slowly giving me kisses down and my neck and near my collarbone, ''It's not good for the baby if you're stressing out. Relax, love . . . breathe,'' He whispers near my ear as one of his hand travels down to my small baby bump, not even big enough to be seen with clothes on.

''I'm breathing . . . I'm breathing and I will not be stressing out if you're already taking a shower right now,'' I reply with my eyes piercing into his which causes him to smile down at me. ''You're smiling, why are you smiling? You shouldn't be smiling, you should be in the shower and getting ready.'' I add.

He caresses the side of my face, ''Relax.''

''I'm relaxed,'' I fake a wide smile, causing him to laugh.

''Okay . . . I'm getting in the bathroom to take a shower. Just give me about forty-five minutes and I'll be standing in front of you in my suit and tie with my hair perfectly managed and my face handsomely made.'' He replies before leaning in to kiss my lips, leaving me to smile at the way he has been lately due to my pregnancy.

Not only has he been passionate or caring when I started getting pregnant but ever since he woke up from his coma . . . he has been different, good different. He remembers everything that we've done in the past when we were kids, teenagers and even up till now—he would sometimes remind me of what I've forgotten and it has made our relationship stronger. It's just that when we found out that I was pregnant, he has becoming more and more passionate.

Yet, the memory of me telling him is still fresh, a week ago:

''Are you busy?'' I lean near his doorstep to find him glancing up at my direction, his hands moving away from his laptop before shaking his head. ''Are you . . . really, really not busy because I want to talk,'' I add, causing him to freeze for a few short seconds.

''I'm not busy. We can talk,'' He replies.

Just like that, he starts to take off his glasses and place it on his desk as I make my way inside his office and straight towards him—my body slightly nervous with this current situation as he starts to eye me up and down, trying to find the flaw somewhere. The words 'we need to talk' or 'I want to talk' or 'we have to talk' are quite scary if the person means a lot.

''What's wrong, Kenna? Did I do something wrong? Is there anything wrong with us that I did not realise?'' He asks, his brows frowning in confusion before standing up, standing in front of me as he starts to reach out for my hands. ''Tell me . . . tell me what's wrong,'' He adds.

''I've been doing a lot of thinking about us and about our future. Things will change in the upcoming weeks and I want to know what do you expect from our marriage,'' I reply with my lips slowly curving up into a smile as he continues to stare at me in confusion, his thoughts probably running wild of trying to figure this whole thing out.

I don't simply want to tell him like 'I'm pregnant' and not hear any point of view from him, only to force him into a certain situation where he's forced to be in this with me. We've talked about how babies are cute and children are a blessing to the world and even to the parents, I've seen Aidan treat Ava and Leo—Mia and Tony's boy with care and love. I see how he looks at them with light glistening in his eyes yet I still wonder if he ever want one of his own.

He clears his throat, ''You're asking if I see something in our future?''

''Yeah, sort of. When you think of me and what we have, what do you see? If you look at other people who are also in a relationship, what do you think? Do you get envious? Do you feel like you want to have what they don't have?'' I continue to ask, trying to solve the hints.

With his hands still gripping tightly onto mine, I find him leaning back on his desk before taking a seat, pulling me closer towards him as I stand in between his legs. ''When I look at you, I see the woman that I love. My best friend, my wife and my lover—you're the one that completes me in every single way that I lack . . . when I look at other people in a relationship, I think that I have more than what they have which answers to your other questions.'' He replies, his eyes looking deeply into mine as if he's trying to ensure me.

''I don't understand, Kenna. What is it that's in your mind?'' He raises an eyebrow, taking one of my hand and place it on his chest near his heart.

Without even thinking, I place his the palm of his hand on my flat stomach which causes his frown to grow as he looks down at my stomach and up to my face but everything crushes down as soon as I realise that he doesn't seem to understand a single thing. ''Do you have a stomach ache? Are you on your period?'' The next couple of questions that has escaped his lips, ends up making me laugh.

''Do you want to have kids, Aidan?'' I ask, straight forwardly.

The way his pupils dilate at the word 'kids' has somehow ensured me of the possibility. My heart is somehow 'jumping' up in joy at how his grip softens, ''Yes, I do want to have kids. Is that question has been bothering you? You do know that I love Ava and Leo, which means more than just me liking my niece and nephew, right?'' He continues.

''I mean, do you see yourself with one?'' I keep on asking, trying to make sure that I get the answer that I need.

He chuckles softly, ''Yeah, I see myself with one or more if it's with you—''

I cut him off, ''—generally speaking, Aidan . . . do you see yourself as a dad? Do you see yourself having kids to take care of and unintentionally end up wasting your youth? Do you see yourself waking up in the morning to change their diapers or sing them to sleep?'' I say, as I start to grow impatient, wanting an instant and clear answer instead of something blunt.

After staying quiet for a couple of seconds, ''Yes. I do see myself as a dad, I see myself having kids to take care of and unintentionally end up wasting my youth, I see myself waking up in the morning to change their diapers and I see myself singing them to sleep. At the end of the day, I see myself having kids with you. I see myself experience it with you,'' He lifts my chin up.

''So, Kenna . . . the answer to your questions is yes. Now, tell me, what's wrong? Why is this suddenly bothering you?'' He asks.

I breathe out, ''Because I'm pregnant.''

Just as I expected, he would be frozen at his spot. Rigid. The way his body tenses for a short couple of seconds as both of his hands loosen its grip around my own causes me to look deeply into his brown eyes and search for some kind of escape if he ever needs one but what I find is his lips curving up into a smile as his arms begin to wrap around my waist.

''When did you find out?'' He asks, one hand on my stomach which spreads warmth all over my body, letting me relax.