Epilogue – Eric
Six months later
Clover and Damon’s engagement party danced with life. So many guests fluttered about celebrating the pair. I absentmindedly rubbed Cassidy’s belly. She’d only just started showing but I found myself protectively gravitating toward patting the baby and I’d be fucked if I gave a shit if others considered me doting or “too much” because of it.
What I considered “too much” was my mother, who now called every day delighted and offering advice on parenting. By now she’d stopped calling me directly and called Cassidy instead, who seemed more than happily obliging.
“So how are you finding it in Chicago?” Issobelle asked Cassidy. Issobelle was one of the few friends of Cassidy’s I did like. She was no-nonsense and gave no shits about what anyone else thought.
“It’s beautiful. Not the same as New York but nothing else is. But this one makes it all worth it.” She patted my arm. “Although he seemed awfully grumpy with me this morning before we flew out, maybe I’ll reconsider.”
I let out a breath; she’d been teasing me over it all morning. “Well, if I hadn’t spent the entire morning freezing my ass off and letting Twinkles pee on the grass I might’ve had a nice sleep in.”
Cassidy laughed. Twinkles, the newest member to our household, was a smart-mouth Chihuahua who I was still in the process of training to pee on the grass instead of our bathroom mat. Cassidy had pleaded to get a friend for Shadow and he’d stared at the rat-looking dog in the same way that I had. And despite promising that she’d look after and train it, I’d ended up freezing my ass off every morning. But granted, Cassidy had been dealing with some intense morning sickness.
It was only a month after adopting Twinkles that we’d discovered we were due for our own. Had it been a year ago, I would’ve been bone deep terrified at the thought of having a baby, but with Cassidy it felt right. I hadn’t even been looking for her, and yet she’d been what I needed all along.
And despite their upbringing and expectations, her parents had finally come around to the idea of accepting me as any kind of son-in-law figure, although it was more the bank account and company I ran that “permitted” their blessings. But I didn’t give a fuck; I wasn’t in a relationship with her parents. I pressed a kiss to her temple thoughtfully.
“Your sister looks like she’s getting pretty chummy over there,” Issobelle pointed out. I scowled at Lori, who was laughing at some asshole’s jokes all night. And I was not a fan.
“Apparently he’s one of Hayden Zilch’s players,” Cassidy said thoughtfully. “Speaking of Hayden, I haven’t seen him for a while.”
“Or Megan,” Issobelle said, raising a suspicious eyebrow. I’d since found out Megan was Clover’s sister with two children who were already running around high on candy; and Hayden was some bigwig sports manager who also collaborated with Damon’s company.
Cassidy chuckled. “Look at those two, they’re so ridiculous.” She pointed over at Alex, Damon’s best man, and Sotiny, his wife. “How long do you think until they start their own family?”
Issobelle laughed, folding her arms. “She’ll make him wait as long as possible, I reckon.”
Thomas was surrounded by three beautiful models, completely in his element. I rolled my eyes. Although it was kind of them to extend an invitation to any friend of Cassidy’s, including some of my siblings, it was still unnerving watching them flirt and mingle.
“Your kid brother’s going to love it in Seattle, the women are beautiful there too,” Issobelle remarked as she munched down on a bowl of nuts she’d stolen from the table.
“Yea his placement’s soon. He’s still trying to find a place to stay. I considered buying an apartment for him, but I’d made the mistake of buying my other brothers a place and now they’re too comfortable and ‘between’ jobs.”
Cassidy laughed; I didn’t find it as funny.
Issobelle seemed to consider this for a while. “You know I have a friend called Nina, who has a spare room in her apartment. She recently had a friend who passed away and has holed herself up since. I think though it might be good for her to have someone move in, just so she’s not so alone. I could ask her if you’d like?”
I rubbed my beard thoughtfully. “I don’t think it’s the best idea if she’s grieving. My brother can be very… charming with the opposite sex.”
Cassidy laughed. “What a polite way of saying he’s a fuckboy.”
Issobelle chuckled. “Trust me I don’t know anyone more uninterested than Nina and I’ve been thinking on it for a while, but I really do think she needs someone to move in. I’ll send her a message and let you know.”
“Okay that sounds good,” I said politely. I still wasn’t convinced it was the greatest idea but if anything eventuated from it, it could be discussed another day.
Cassidy sneezed. “Are you okay? Do you want me to grab your jacket.”
“I’m fine,” she laughed. “I’m pregnant not helpless.”
“You seemed awfully helpless this morning when someone had to take Twinkles out to the toilet.”
She laughed and my entire chest spread with warmth, my own smile forming. I kissed her on the forehead. “Well, I don’t care, I’m getting your jacket anyway. I’ll be back.”
She sighed. “Fine but I’m going to go over to Michelle and Phillip and meet their new little one.” She pointed over to the couple. Michelle was Damon’s sister and co-CEO of Be True . It was a mind whirl trying to remember who everyone was.
I excused myself and walked into the giant cloakroom. After pushing through one of the racks, I found Cassidy’s jacket when a noise caught my attention. Curiously, I rounded the corner just in time to see a very ruffled Hayden Zilch and Megan Granture push one another away.
Right. I turned for the door and called out, “I didn’t see a thing.”
That was their business. Well, that explained why they’d been gone from the party for so long, but it wasn’t my place to say. And from what I’d heard, Clover had sworn Hayden off her sister since they were university friends. She was strictly off-limits. I’m sure if anything eventuated I’d hear it through Cassidy.
I stepped back into the dazzling room filled with music, light chatter, and laughter. I found Cassidy, standing beside a small water fountain, the overhanging chandelier glistening the water’s reflection against her face.
I watched from afar as Cassidy held a small baby, cooing and rocking it back and forth naturally. She’d always been beautiful; from the moment I’d first saw her, she’d taken my breath away. In a very uncomfortable way, because although I might’ve not been ready for Cassidy in my life back then, she’d burrowed into my heart, her smiles and light laughter melting away all barriers and resistance.
And every morning I woke up with her in my arms, I was shocked and terrified she’d decided to stay with me. And not that I’d ever admit it out loud, but once again, I found myself grateful for Lori’s interference.
I watched my sister laugh and place a hand on the unknown player’s arm and swallowed hard. I wanted her to find happiness. Just not with that guy who looked like a total hotshot.
“Eric,” Cassidy called out, grabbing my attention. “Come and hold Rosalie.”
My jaw tightened as I held back a tear, the dawning realization that soon that’d be us with our own child. Our family. Our love.