Chapter 267. An Unsettling Discovery: pt. 1

Aurora’s POV

The morning sunlight was warm against my skin as I laced Riley’s little sneakers, his excitement bubbling over like a soda can shaken too hard. He could barely stay still, his little hands fidgeting at the hem of his shirt, eyes bright as he whispered again, “Are we really going to see the turtle today, Aurora? For real this time?”

I smiled and pressed a kiss to his forehead, standing up and brushing off my jeans. “For real this time, baby. Ashton and Maggie’s place. You’re okay to go there, right?”

He nodded furiously, already half-skipping toward the door before I even had the chance to grab my keys. “Avery was telling me all about it. I can’t wait to see Nova.”

I chuckled, locking the door behind us and grabbing his hand as we made our way down the sidewalk. He was practically pulling me along, too excited to take in the details around him. I, on the other hand, was suddenly very aware of every step, of every breath. There was a quiet a