Choosing You: The Pierced Hearts Duet: Book Two

by M. Robinson

  I scoffed out a chuckle, never expecting him to follow it up with that.

  “I had a dream last night and Bailey gave me her blessing.”

  <>Aiden<>

  It was my turn to take a step toward her. Reaching out, I caressed the side of her face with the back of my knuckles. Needing to feel her soft skin for what I was going to share next.

  “She told me she brought you to me through the sunflowers, and our middle holds the truth.”

  She lowered her eyebrows, not understanding.

  “I’m assuming it’s Jagger. He wanted you to find our wedding video. I think he knew it would bring us together.”

  “You hated me.”

  “I loved you. I love you.”

  She gasped, “Aiden, don’t say things you don’t mean.”

  “Do I ever say things I don’t mean? You more than anyone know I don’t.”

  I wiped away the tears as they fell out of her glossy brown eyes.

  “Bailey wants me to move on. She wants me to be happy, and I think a huge part of me already knew that. Although, I still couldn’t get rid of this guilt, this remorse that festered in my heart. I tried to not love you. I tried to stay away from you, but I couldn’t, my Tiny Dancer. You were mine since the first time you opened your eyes. Bailey is my past and you’re my future. She will always have a place in my heart as my first love and mother of my children, but that doesn’t take away the love I have for you. You’re my last and forever love. My second chance at happiness. Do you understand me? You’re mine, Faith. You’ve always been mine.”

  “And what if she hadn’t appeared to you, Aiden? Would I still be here? Would you still want me? Would I still be your choice?”

  “Yes, I can’t live without you anymore. I’m standing here with you, at my wife’s gravesite, where we laid her to rest, telling you… I. Choose. You.”

  “Don’t hurt me.”

  “I’d die before I ever hurt you. I love you. I’ve loved you since the moment you were born.”

  “I love you too.”

  I growled, pulling her toward me. Kissing her fucking senseless.

  For the first time since Bailey left me, I knew it was time for me to move on. With the only other woman who’s ever consumed me.

  Faith.

  My Faith.

  Has been restored.

  All thanks to the woman standing in front of me. She was mine now and forever more.

  Chapter 28

  <>Camila<>

  “Ma! Ma! Ma!” Journey shouted as loud as could be, barreling down the hall into my bridal suite.

  “Yes, baby?” I replied, turning around to face her.

  She gasped so loud I swear you could hear her on the other side of the resort. “You look like a princess!” she excitedly shrieked, barely able to say the last word in the most adorable voice. I spent a lot of time working on her speech, and her vocabulary was amazing because of it.

  I smiled. “Thanks, Little Miss.”

  “Mama, hurry to dance!”

  I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Our three-year-old shook her booty as much as I did.

  “Look what I can do!” She spun in a slow circle, twirling her flower girl gown high off the floor.

  “Oh, gorg—”

  Before I could even finish what I was going to say, my little miss dropped it to the ground down low. Popping her butt out.

  “Ay, if your daddy sees you do that, you know what will happen, Journey?”

  She cocked her head to the side, “He’ll yell at you?”

  The room full of my bridesmaids busted out laughing.

  “Camila, you look flawless. You are glowing.”

  I smiled, looking at Skyler through the floor-length mirror in front of us. My wedding dress was a form fitting gown that flowed to the floor with a lacy sweetheart neckline and triple beaded spaghetti straps that ran over my shoulders and down my back.

  It was the first dress I tried on, falling in love with it instantly. I knew when I saw it hanging in the window of the bridal boutique it was going to be the dress I married Dr. Aiden Pierce in.

  “Gurl, Dr. Daddy gonna lose his shit when he sees you in that.”

  “You think?” I replied, standing in front of my mom, Skyler, and Danté, wearing the gown.

  “Hell yeah, and by that, I mean he’s gonna rip it off.”

  “Danté!”

  He shrugged, looking shameless.

  “Mamita, he’s right. It’s good though. I want more grandkids.”

  As soon as she heard we were engaged, my biological clock started ticking in my mother’s body.

  “Next, everything needs shaved.”

  “Mom!”

  “How do you think I keep your Papi happy after forty-two years?”

  “Ugh, I’m going to throw up.”

  “Oye! Remember who taught you how to bounce ese poto!”

  “Mom!”

  “Gurl, your mom just schooled you. Best believe she taught you how to bounce dat ass.”

  I shook my head, giggling.

  Now the big day had finally come, where I was going to forever be with my soulmate.

  My love.

  The last two years had been a whirlwind to say the least. First and foremost, we were a family. I never moved out of the Pierce’s home, but we also didn’t jump into a full out relationship.

  We dated, and he courted me like a gentleman. He didn’t sleep in my room, unless the kids weren’t around, but he didn’t sleep in the bedroom he used to share with Bailey either.

  It was all too much for him to bear.

  About eight months after I learned the truth, it was evident we couldn’t continue living there. Especially after we cleaned out his wife’s belongings, which was a very emotional day for all. There were too many memories lingering within the walls of their home. Not only for Aiden, but for the boys too.

  “Maybe we should keep these for Journey,” Jagger suggested, holding onto a few pieces of jewelry, photos, and her wedding gown.

  “I think that’s a great idea.”

  “The rest we can donate to a charity for dementia?” he added, setting those things aside.

  Aiden nodded. “Your mom would love that. What do you think, Jackson?”

  “I don’t care. Do what you want with it.”

  “You boys should keep whatever you want as well,” I advised, only staring at Jackson.

  “I don’t need anything,” he responded, grabbing one of the boxes that were full. “Makes no difference to me.”

  We watched him leave the room, taking that box down with the rest of the boxes we’d finished up without so much as a second glance.

  “I’ll save stuff for him,” Jagger chimed in after he left.

  “You’re a good brother,” I stated, smiling at him.

  “He was her favorite, you know. He still hasn’t forgiven her for forgetting him first.”

  “Your mother didn’t have favorites, Jagger,” Aiden insisted.

  “It’s okay, I know I’m your favorite, Dad,” he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

  Once we finished cleaning out her stuff, their father sat them down to discuss the future. I didn’t want to be a part of the decision.

  However, Aiden was adamant I at least be present during the conversation about putting their home up for sale. The boys weren’t even bothered by the news. They agreed it was time for the next chapter of their lives.

  A fresh start we all needed.

  It didn’t take long to find a breathtaking three-story home, overlooking the ocean in Oak Island. Practically neighbors with Lucas and Alex, Harley’s grandparents.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a home this big,” I stated, looking every which way one evening when we were looking at homes.

  “Great, I bought it for us this afternoon.”

  Abruptly, I turned to face Aiden. Except he wasn’t at eye level like Jackson and Jagger, who was holding Journey.

  Aiden was on one knee in front of me, holdi
ng out the biggest diamond of life.

  My hand instantly flew to my mouth.

  “Faith Camila Jimenez de la Ramirez, from the first moment I held you in my arms, I knew you were mine. I want to move forward in the future with you. Your love, your kindness, your smile, your laugh. I love you. For so long, I was lost thinking I could never feel again. You brought my kids and I back to life, and without you, we’d still be lost. I don’t want to go another day in my life without you being my wife. Would you do me the honor of becoming the mother of my kids and future babies, and say yes to being Mrs. Aiden Pierce?”

  “Oh my God, are you sure this is what you want? This isn’t because you want to sleep in my bed, right?”

  “I have never been more serious about anything in all my life.”

  I peered up at the boys. “And you guys are okay with this?”

  Jagger nodded. “Of course.”

  Journey screamed out, “Ma, love you!”

  And Jackson, well he gave me a toothy grin before saying, “You’re here all the time anyways, and you’re already a pain in my ass acting like my mother, so this only makes sense.”

  “Jackson,” Jagger snarled.

  “What? That was nice.” He pointed to himself. “That was me being nice.”

  I laughed, tears falling down my face as my eyes shifted back to Aiden. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I jumped into his arms, feeling like I was home.

  The Pierce’s were my home, they’d always been my home.

  This was the beginning of our love story.

  For the next sixteen months, we planned our wedding. Aiden didn’t hold back when it came to the cost. Even when I said it wasn’t necessary, he’d buy it.

  The man knew no bounds when it came to spending his hard earned cash. He pretty much made it rain money on the daily for the best caterer, DJ, venue, you name it, we had it.

  He made sure of it.

  The boys still hadn’t taken the genetic test for the Frontotemporal Dementia gene, but I knew they would on their own time. We didn’t want to pressure them. It was a lot to take in.

  We discussed their mom often, or at least Jagger and I did. Jackson was a different story. He was the closest to her, and I think a huge part of him struggled with the fact he didn’t say goodbye to her.

  He covered up his anger the same way he always did, terrorizing the shit out of Harley. They were now fifteen and the little shit had a different girl come to the house every week. He was horrible.

  While Jagger was the golden child, Journey was the wild one. The time would eventually come when baby girl would have boys knocking down doors for her, killing her daddy in the process.

  “Dayum, Miss Thang, look at you!” Danté hollered, grabbing my hand to make me twirl. “That man gonna be lookin’ at you like you’s a snack all day.”

  “You’re horrible!”

  “Hey, from the hood rat you were datin’ Sean to marryin’ Christian Grey.”

  Yes, Skyler hooked Danté on her romance books too. Aiden never said anything about Sean when I asked him how he knew he was arrested other than he got what he deserved. I knew in my core, it was because of him going to Damien.

  Aiden made the problem go away using his intelligence not his fists. He was fucking sexy in that way.

  “Are you ready to become, Dr. and Mrs. Aiden Pierce?”

  I nodded, knowing in my heart…

  I was born ready.

  <>Aiden<>

  Noah called out, “You ready, old man?”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Bro, you’re almost forty-nine years old, and your wife to be is barely thirty-one. Can ya even keep up wit’ her anymore?”

  “You’re such a dick.”

  He grinned, “Listen, someone’s gotta remind you you’re old as fuck.”

  “You know for my best man, you fuckin’ suck.”

  After months of watching Camila, Eva, Skyler, and Danté plan our wedding, the day was finally here.

  We were getting married on the beach and the reception was being held at a pristine, five-star venue downtown. I think half of North Carolina was in attendance between Camila’s family, who was at least a few hundred on their own, and my associates, staff, and extended family. We had about five hundred people on the guest list.

  “Dad, you ready?” Jackson questioned, walking up to us.

  “I am.”

  And I was.

  There wasn’t anything I wanted more in this world than to have Camila take my last name.

  As soon as I saw my Tiny Dancer, coming down the sandy aisle to become Mrs. Pierce, all I thought about was how fucking lucky I was. My eyes never left her the entire time.

  She was stunning.

  Breathtaking.

  All fucking mine.

  Her hair was in soft waves pinned to the side of her head. She wore a white lacy gown that fit her petite body in all the right places down her body. Her train descending down the back of her gown was at least ten feet long. Blowing in the soft breeze coming off the water.

  She was classy, elegant, and so goddamn sexy, making my cock twitch at the mere sight of her.

  I smiled a reassuring smile as Mario placed her hand in mine.

  “You take care of my baby.”

  “Always,” I replied.

  The minister proceeded, and once we got to exchange our vows, I peered deep into her eyes and stated what was in my soul.

  “Faith, I was a lost, broken man until you. If it wasn't for your existence, I don't know where the kids and I would be. You took my children in and loved them like they were your own. You've shown me that I can love more than one person in my lifetime. You brought me out of the darkness and made me want to live in the light. You have made a huge impact on our lives, and I’ll be forever grateful to call you my wife. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I promise you I will spend forever showing you how grateful I really am that you came into our lives. You own my heart, body, and soul. I choose you, now and forever to be my everything.”

  Although she was crying, she’d never looked more beautiful to me.

  “Aiden, words cannot express how much I love you. I never imagined I could be this happy, this fulfilled, this head over heels in love with you. I can’t wait to start this new journey together. You’re everything I ever wanted and didn’t know I could have. I will forever stand by your side, not only as your wife but as your best friend and family. Your kids mean more to me than they’ll ever know, and I am so blessed to be able to call them my own. I love you in ways I’ve only read about in stories. You’re my soulmate, Prince Charming, and happily ever after. Thank you for choosing me to piece your heart back together.”

  “By the power vested in me by the state of North Carolina, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Aiden, you may kiss your bride.”

  I gripped onto the sides of her face and brought her over to me. She came effortlessly, and I devoured her for the first time as husband and wife.

  We spent the better part of the evening, dancing in each other’s arms and enduring all the wedding traditions. Although, Journey was who stole the show by dancing it up with her moves Camila still taught her.

  An outsider wouldn’t know my kids weren’t biologically hers, and what would come next was actually their idea not mine.

  During the reception, they pulled us aside and handed her three files, wrapped in a bright red bow.

  “What is this?”

  “Open it and find out, Mary Poppins.”

  “Jackson, if something bursts out of these files and you mess up my dress, I will show the next girl you bring to the house your baby pictures with your ass sticking out in the air.”

  “Relax, my next prank isn’t until tomorrow. It’s an epic one though, so be prepared.”

  She glared at him.

  “By the way, this was all our idea. Not just Journey’s and mine. Jackson wanted this too,” Jagger emphasized, winking at me.

  She opened the first file and her mouth dropped open. “If this
is a prank, I’m going to kill you,” she wept with tears instantly springing in her eyes.

  “No, it’s not. Journey, Jagger, and I would love for you to officially adopt us. We want you to be our mom. I mean… that’s if you wan—”

  She cut him off, throwing her arms around his neck.

  “Oh, fuck! This is completely unnecessary, Mary Poppins!”

  “Shut up, Jackson.” She hugged him tighter, pulling Jagger and Journey into her embrace as well. “I would be honored to be your mom. I love you all so much, and I know I’ll never be able to take her place, but if you’ll let me, I’ll try to be the best substitute in her absence.”

  “Ma!” Journey chimed in, hugging her so hard, her eyes closed.

  Camila spent a lot of time, showing Journey pictures of Bailey. She never wanted her to not know who her mother was. Journey listened, loving her birth story, though in my baby girls’ eyes…

  Camila was her mother.

  And now my boys would have one too.

  If I’d learned one important lesson in all of this, it’s not about the love story, it’s about the journey of making all your dreams come true.

  It’s hard.

  At times unfair.

  However, where there was hate, there was love.

  Where there was hope, there were prayers.

  Where there was hurt, there was happiness.

  Where Camila was, I’d always be standing there.

  By her side.

  As her husband.

  Her soulmate.

  The man who’d live and die for her.

  She was mine.

  Then, now…

  Forever.

  It was us.

  Epilogue

  <>Aiden<>

  Six years later

  “Aiden, stop! I’m not on birth control yet, and you’re going to knock me up again!”

  “I don’t see a problem with that,” I rasped, kissing the back of her neck.

  We were in the clubhouse bathroom, or actually she was, and I’d followed her in there.