FredEpilogueOne year laterThe breeze was soft that morning. The sky was a painter’s dream — all cottony clouds and blue so bright it almost hurt to look at. People were already seated on the garden chairs, music playing low in the background, flowers arranged in a perfect archway in front of the altar.And I… I stood at the front, heart in my throat, hands clenched around a bouquet I wasn’t even supposed to be holding. I was shaking. Not from nerves — from joy. From disbelief. From everything.Because today, I was marrying Rafael.Rafael, who was now walking toward me in a perfectly tailored cream suit, a single sunflower pinned to his lapel. His eyes were locked on mine, sparkling like the whole world existed in them. His mother held his arm, trying not to cry. I couldn’t blame her. I was barely keeping it together myself.When he reached me, the first thing he did was wipe a tear off my cheek with his thumb.“You’re crying already?” he whispered with a soft laugh.“You’re lucky I
RafaelGod, I loved the way he looked at me.I leaned up, trailing soft kisses along his collarbone, letting my fingers slide down his torso, teasing the waistband of his pants. I could feel him twitching beneath the fabric; needy already, and that smug little smirk curled on my lips.“You sure you’re not jealous?” I whispered against his throat as I bit lightly at his pulse point.Fred breathed out, “Shut up and kiss me.”And I did.I kissed him like I’d been starving. Mouths hot and hungry, tongues tasting, lips smashing together like we were trying to make up for every second apart. His hands slid into my hair, tugging as I deepened the kiss, and I groaned against his lips.He tasted like sweetness and frustration — and mine. So damn mine.I kissed down again, this time slower, licking a stripe down his chest. I paused to suck at his nipples, circling one with my tongue until he gasped and arched into me. I switched to the other, biting just enough to hear him curse under his breat
FredIt’s been a month since we buried grandma.And somehow, life’s been moving forward—quietly, steadily.I still go to work, and Rafael? His bakery has become the town’s new obsession. The place is always full. People just… love him. Especially women. They fawn over him every time I stop by. Can’t really blame them, though—he’s got skilled hands and that face? Trouble. Cute, boyish, disarming. But he’s mine, and I love reminding him of that.This Saturday, he told me to clear my schedule.“I’m taking you out,” he said with that little smirk that meant something was up.We had a table booked, and when we got there, everything felt perfect. The food, the soft lighting, the quiet buzz of the restaurant around us—it was all just right. We drank a little, laughed too much, and I felt the weight of work slipping off me. I’d missed this. Us. Like this.He stood up halfway through. “Be right back,” he said, brushing a kiss to my cheek.I nodded and kept picking at my plate, smiling to mysel
RafaelTwo days had flown by like a breeze.I stood outside the bakery—my bakery—watching as the movers bustled around, hauling in countertops, the heavy mixer, racks, and all the sleek wooden furniture I’d handpicked with love. The walls were still fresh with paint, sunlight poured through the big front windows, and the golden letters spelling “Rafa’s Bakes & Love” gleamed proudly on the glass.It was real. My dream was coming to life right in front of me.But even with all this excitement, there was a little ache in my chest. I missed Fred.I knew he’d be at work right about now, probably eating lunch and gossiping with Wendy and Liam like they always did. And now that Fred was out of the closet—open, glowing, and unapologetically himself—it made me even prouder to call him mine.I pulled out my phone without thinking. It was lunchtime anyway. He’d probably be free.I tapped the video call icon.A few seconds later, Fred picked up. He was in the cafeteria, a tray of food in front of
FredMy hand flew to my face. “Mom, I swear it’s not what it looks like.”She blinked.“Sweetheart, I have eyes.” Her voice was calm. Too calm. “It is exactly what it looks like.”I buried my face in my palms. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.“You said I’d meet your partner this weekend,” she added, slowly turning her gaze to Rafael, who gave a shy, panicked little wave. “I didn’t expect a front-row seat to the—previews.”“Mom!” I groaned.Rafael looked like he was about to faint. He cleared his throat. “Ma’am—I am so, so, so, so sorry.”She just raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be in the kitchen. You two… breathe.”And then she turned around and walked off like this wasn’t the most traumatic event of my entire life.Rafael looked at me, eyes wide. “I swear I thought we were alone!”“I thought you locked the door!”“You distracted me with your mouth!”“Oh, I distracted you?”We both burst out laughing at the ridiculousness, our foreheads falling against each other as we whe
FredBefore Liam left, Rafael tried to insist on driving him home, but of course Liam being Liam, wasn’t going to leave his precious car behind. I gave him a quick hug before he left and whispered, “I’ll call you soon.” He winked and strutted off.That left just me and my overprotective, obsessive, kind-of-stalkerish boyfriend.Not that I’m complaining.We got into his car, and Rafael made sure I was buckled before he started the engine. I leaned a little closer, just to feel his body heat. I don’t know—being with him just made me feel safe… and kind of excited, in all the ways a person shouldn’t be while someone else is driving.Then out of nowhere, he grinned and said, “I think I have a lollipop here.”He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out two—one cherry, one grape. He handed me the cherry without asking. Of course he remembered it was my favorite.“Thank you,” I said, unwrapping it.We both popped our lollipops in our mouths at the same time, and the car filled with