Page 81 of Finding Forgiveness

My mum does a double take when she notices Cassie’s fingers are laced with mine. She releases her hold on Mason and heads straight for us. “Are you two back together?” she asks as her eyes ping-pong between us.

“Yes,” we say in unison.

“I’m so pleased,” she shrieks, throwing her arms in the air before wrapping them around us. “We have a double celebration.”

“Thanks, Mum.”

“I hope you two find the happiness you both deserve.”

“We already have,” I reply, tightening my grip on Cassie’s hand.

My mum turns to my dad. “We should take Blake back to our hotel with us tonight so the kids can celebrate their good news.” I throw up a little in my mouth when she says that, because I know exactly what she means bycelebrate. I think my best friend has already done enough damage. He needs to keep his monk dick in his pants.

Blake’s completely on board with their plan, because my parents spoil him rotten when he is with them.

The three women start clearing the table, despite my insistence that they leave it. I’ve enjoyed having everyone here, but I’m also eager for them to go so I can have some alone time with my girl.

Mason rushes towards my sister when he notices her hands laden down with dirty plates. “I’ll take them, Red,” he growls.

Jacinta ignores him as she dodges his attempt to remove them from her hands. “I can carry plates.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“Exactly.”

“You shouldn’t be lifting heavy things,” he says, manoeuvring himself in front of her.

“They are plates.”

“I don’t care, hand them over.” I bark out a laugh when he takes them out of her hands, and in return, she stomps down on his foot.

“You’ve known for one-point-two seconds and you’re already acting like a caveman.” He schools his face, but I know my friend well; he’s thoroughly amused by her outburst. She may be a pocket rocket, but she can get feisty when provoked. She raises her pointed finger towards his face. “You better snap out of this real quick, or we are going to have issues.”

I lift my head off the pillow and place my lips against Cassie’s bare shoulder. It didn’t take much convincing on my end to get her to sleep in my room last night. Today, I plan on moving all of her things across the hall.

From the outside looking in, you’d think we were moving way too fast, but like me, I think she realises we’ve lost enough time.Six long years.

I hear Cassandra’s phone ding from her old room, and mine does the same thing a split second later. I roll onto my back and scoop it up off the bedside table. It’s a direct message from my sister. I click on the app and see we’ve been added to a group chat titledWedding.

Jacinta: Morning my beautiful family, just an FYI, with my pregnancy news, I thought I’d let you guys know that the wedding is being brought forward. We have four weeks to organise everything. Dresses, suits, menu, flowers, cake … the list is endless.

Mason: Why are you sending me messages when you’re sitting right beside me?

Jacinta: Stop complaining, you are the one who got me into this mess.

Mason: I believe it takes two to tango, Red.

Connor: Do you two want to take this argument somewhere else, I haven’t had breakfast yet.

Jacinta: Morning, Con.

Connor: Morning, Jaz.

Jacinta: How’s my BFF this morning?

Connor: She’s lying beside me, sound asleep.

Mason: You two are a couple now I take it?