Page 80 of Finding Forgiveness

“Then what is under your shirt?”

“Rude much,” Cassandra says as her hand skims over her stomach. “I just ate, I’m bloated.”

“You must’ve eaten a box? Because your stomach looks awfully … rectangular.”

“Hah,” she scoffs, but when she can’t think of a believable comeback, Jacinta steps in.

“I can’t tell you until I’ve spoken with Mason.”

“Mason,” I call out over my shoulder.

A minute later, he appears in the doorway. “You called?”

“Your fiancée has something she wants to tell you.”

“Red?” he asks, confused.

Jacinta’s eyes are everywhere but him as she opens and closes her mouth a few times. “Oh, for God’s sake,” Cassie says. “You knocked her up.”

My sister elbows her friend in the side just as my open palm clips the back of Mason’s head. He gives me the side-eye before taking a step forward. “You’re pregnant?”

Tears rise to Jacinta’s eyes as she nods her head, and when he slides his hands under her arms and lifts her off the tiled floor, my gaze darts to Cassie. She’s beaming as she watches them celebrate the news, but a few seconds later, she dips her face and I can see the underlying sadness hidden behind her joy. For an instant, my mind went to the same place.

Reaching for her hand, I pull her from the room. I don’t speak until I’ve led her into my bedroom and closed the door behind us.

I back her against the wall and cup her jaw as my eyes scan over her face. “Are you okay?”

“Of course I am. I’m going to be an aunt … why wouldn’t I be thrilled with that news?”

“Cass, you don’t have to pretend with me.”

“But I am happy.”

“And a little sad because it got you thinking of our baby?” She doesn’t answer me, but when she bows her head, I know I’m right. “One day I’m going to put another baby inside you, Princess.”

Her gaze snaps back to mine. “You are?” she asks with eyes as wide as saucers.

“Yes, if that’s okay with you.” When she nods her head once, I beam. “We’ve only just gotten back together, but when the time is right, we’ll try again.”

Her eyes widen a little further. “We’re back together?” Those words have my heart dropping into the pit of my stomach.

“I just thought—”

She must hear the confusion in my voice because she raises her hand and places her finger against my mouth. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted that.”

“Of course, I want that … you’re all I’ve ever wanted, Cass.”

“So, I’m officially your girlfriend again?” she asks with a little trepidation in her voice.

“Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

“Hell yes,” she squeals, leaping into my arms.

The exhilaration her answer brings has warmth spreading throughout my body. I lean in and cover her lips with mine, kissing her like my life depends on it, because in a way it does. She’s the only woman in this world that can make me feel whole.

I know exactly what it feels like to live without her, and I never want to experience that type of heartache again.

By the time we make it back into the main room, hand in hand, my parents have been given the news that they’re going to be grandparents. We all have huge grins on our faces, but mine is extra big, for obvious reasons.