Submitting to my Ex Uncle Chapter 117

Celeste arrived five minutes earlier than she should have. She always did, especially when it ca to Amara.

She sat by the wide glass window of the little restaurant. The place was tucked between a flower shop and a bookstore, humming with the faint sll of roasted garlic and butter, while soft jazz trickled through the air.

Outside, the sunlight pressed gently against the glass, lighting up the little vase of daisies on her table. She kept her hands busy, smoothing over the hem of her blouse, and scrolling aimlessly through her phone, while pretending she wasn’t restless.

Amara finally walked in.

She spotted her instantly. She always did. Who wouldn’t? Amara was tall, graceful, and with a presence that never had to announce itself.

Amara’s hair caught the light, her lips curved into a smile that made half the restaurant pause, and her eyes landed directly on Celeste. That was the thing about Amara; she made you feel like you were the only person in the room worth looking at.

"Hey, sunshine," Amara’s voice lilted, warm and teasing, as she slid into the seat across Celeste.

Celeste’s lips curved into a smile before she even realized. "You’re late."

"By two minutes." Amara rolled her eyes dramatically, tossing her bag onto the booth beside her. "Relax. You act like I abandoned you at the altar."

Celeste laughed. The soft sound drew a few glances from nearby tables. "Please. I wouldn’t have you as my bride. You’d wear sothing ridiculous and steal the spotlight."

"Exactly." Amara leaned her chin on her palm, watching her. "You’d thank later. So, what’s up? Why did you sound so dramatic when you texted to et? You wrote, and I quote: Lunch, urgent. Bring wine energy."

Celeste covered her face with her hands, groaning. "Don’t remind . I regret that already."

Amara laughed, bright and unrestrained, and the sound settled like warmth in Celeste’s chest.

They ordered pasta for Amara, and a grilled sandwich for Celeste. For a while, the conversation floated between lighthearted things.

Office gossip. A girl at Amara’s mum workplace who couldn’t stop bragging about her new car. And the ridiculous trending videos Celeste had been bingeing on when she should have been sleeping.

Celeste forgot about the heaviness in her chest. She forgot about the thing she was supposed to say, and everything that had been clawing at her since last night.

Amara paused, and leaned back. She swirled her glass of lemonade lazily, and said, "So, spill. Why do I feel like you didn’t drag here just to hear rant about coworkers?"

Celeste blinked. Her fingers fidgeted against the napkin. She looked down, then back up, her lips pressing into a thin line before she finally whispered, "Dominic asked to marry him."

The world seed to pause.

Amara’s mouth parted, and then the most radiant smile blood across her face. "Oh my God." She slapped the table lightly, drawing curious stares. "Oh. My. God. He did? He actually did? Celeste!"

Celeste tried to shush her. Her cheeks flushed red, but Amara was already leaning across the table, grabbing her hand. Amara eyes sparkled like she was the one being proposed to.

"Do you know how happy this makes ?" Amara’s voice was thick with joy. "Finally! Finally, soone who looks at you like you’re their whole damn world. I’m so proud of him. I’m so proud of you."

Celeste couldn’t help but smile. She wanted to drown in that happiness. She wanted to let Amara’s joy be enough to cover the flicker of unease inside her.

But her smile faltered.

It was small at first, just a dip of her lips, but Amara noticed imdiately. She always noticed.

"Celeste," she said softly, tilting her head. "What is it?"

Celeste hesitated, her throat tight. She glanced down at her plate, untouched, then back at Amara. Finally, in a voice that cracked, she whispered: "He doesn’t want kids."

Amara froze. For a second, she wasn’t sure she’d heard right. Then, slowly, she set her glass down, and a soft chuckle escaped her lips. It was not a mocking one, but a light tender chuckle.

She leaned across the table, brushing Celeste’s hand gently. "Oh, honey."

Celeste’s chest tightened.

Amara reached further, letting her palm settle warmly over her friend’s restless fingers. "There’s so much of the world to see, to trample, and to dance on, before kids." Her voice was soothing, like silk. "You have him now. You have love. The rest can wait."

Celeste shook her head, biting her lip. Her eyes shimred as she whispered, "But I wanted to see the world with kids. With mine. I..." Her voice broke, and she pressed a trembling hand to her chest. "I didn’t grow up in a place I could call ho, Amara. I never had... that warmth. I never had that safety. So I’ve always... I’ve always dread of it. Of giving them everything. Treating them right, and being the ho they’d never want to leave."

An unplanned tear slipped down her cheek.

Amara’s heart clenched so hard that it hurt.

Without hesitation, she pushed her chair back, circled the table, and dropped down on her knees beside Celeste. She wrapped her arms around her friend, pulling her into her chest. Celeste’s breath hitched, and she lted into the hug, burying her face in Amara’s shoulder, sniffing softly.

"I don’t know if I’m moving too fast," Celeste whispered against her. "But I just want everything to be alright."

Amara held her tighter, patting her back, pressing soft kisses into her hair. "Shh. It will. It will, my love. Everything will work out. But you’ve only known him for five months. Five months, baby girl. A baby now won’t be perfect. Not yet. Just let the story breathe."

Celeste let out a watery chuckle, parting from the hug just enough to wipe her nose with a napkin. "God, I’m so stupid."

"Hey." Amara reached up, brushing at her tears, her own eyes shimring now with unshed ones. "Don’t ever call yourself that."

Celeste gave her a half-smile.

"You’re like the little sister I never had," Amara said suddenly, her voice thick. She cupped Celeste’s cheek, her thumb grazing the damp trail of tears. "You know that, right?"

Celeste’s nose was red, but her smile turned genuine. She nodded. "I know. And I’m proud of it."

Amara smiled, holding both of her hands in hers.

"Look, girl," she said softly, her voice threading through the air like a vow. "It doesn’t matter what we drive, what we eat, or who we et. It’s always gonna be us. Both of us, forever."

Celeste let out a shaky laugh, squeezing her friend’s hands. "You’re a part of . Always, and forever." She vowed.