From Ashes

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. From Stacey, I knew all about the issues of having too many people to invite, but I had hardly anyone. I had the Bradleys, who were Gage’s family; Jackie and Dana, whom I’d met because they were dating Gage’s best friends . . . The only people who were solely mine to invite were Jesse and Isabella—hell, even they were technically linked to his family now—and Lori and Stacey.

“Okay, well how many people in the wedding party?”

I glanced at Amanda, then back to Tessa. “I don’t know.”

Thankfully Gage came back in then and Tessa asked him the same question. “Uh . . . Ty, Ethan, and Adam.”

Tessa looked back at me and leaned forward to ask quietly, “Do you have three girls you’d want in the wedding?” She finally understood my sudden awkwardness.

“Amanda, Jackie, and Dana.” I looked back to Amanda. “Will you be my maid of honor?”

“Oh my God, really?!” she screeched, and threw her arms around my neck. “Thanks, Cass! Okay, what about colors?”

“Green,” I said at the same time Gage said, “Gold.”

I turned to him with a confused look and he pointed to my eyes. My stomach warmed and I kissed his lips quickly. “Green on the guys, gold on the girls.”

Gage smiled widely and cupped my cheeks to deepen our next kiss. “Gotta get some work done, darlin’, have fun. Ma—”

“I know, I know!” Tessa said somewhat distractedly. “As soon as possible!”

As soon as Gage slipped out the door, the wedding planning took off.

GAGE

I WALKED INTO my old room, where Cassidy was now staying until she moved into the house with me, and my heart stopped before kicking into overdrive. Cassidy was curled up on top of the comforter with her phone in one hand, that hand resting on a notebook with a list of names, all of which had checks and numbers next to them. I looked at the floor and picked the pen up; put it, her phone, and the notebook on the nightstand; and turned to look at her again. Her hand was still out like it had been when she was holding her phone, and the other was curled around a sleeping Sky. Deciding to let them be, I kissed Cassidy’s forehead and turned to leave.

“Gage?” Her voice was husky from her nap, and damn if the sound didn’t shoot straight through me.

“Hey, sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s okay.” She patted the bed behind her and I carefully climbed in so I wouldn’t wake Sky. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“Y’all get a lot done today?”

“Oh my word, like you wouldn’t believe. You weren’t lying; your mom has connections any wedding planner would kill for.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised y’all have anything left.”

“We really don’t. Just the dresses, shirts, ties . . . that’s about it. I decided it’s going to be semiformal. I don’t want you in a tux.”

Thank God. “Sounds good to me.”

“Can you tell me something? Why do you want to marry me so soon?”

My body went rigid. “Cass, I thought we already went ov—”

“No, I remember what you said, but is it because we can’t do anything with your mom not letting us live together? Because if that’s it, Gage, I’ll find a way to be with you. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to marry me so we can be together in that way.”

“God no. The only person who can keep me from you is you. If you aren’t ready for this, Cassidy, all you have to do is say the word; but if you are . . . darlin’, I’m so ready to marry you. The way I see it, I’ve already found everything I want in you, and I know that’s never going to change. So why wait? I’m ready for it all: marrying you, living in our house, having a family. As long as it’s with you, I’m ready.”

“ ’Kay, good.” She smiled and pulled my head down to hers to kiss me. “Might have to hold off on the family though. I just got used to the idea of having kids; that’s gonna take me a while. Oh, but just so you know, everyone except Isabella and Jesse thinks this is a shotgun wedding.”

I threw my head back and laughed. “I don’t care what everyone thinks as long as I’m married to you at the end of the day.” I turned her body to face mine and cringed when Sky made an adorable little puppy grunt and stretched. When she just rolled onto her back and fell back asleep I relaxed and took Cassidy’s mouth in mine, letting my tongue lightly trail along hers. “Did y’all figure out when we can have the wedding?” I asked when her hands began unbuttoning my shirt, her lips pressing openmouthed kisses onto my chest each time one was undone.

“Two months.”

Fuck. I groaned. “Two months?”

“Mmm-hmm.” She finished the last button and ran her hands over my stomach and chest. My hard-on was pressing against my jeans and for the hundredth time today I wished we were in our house. “Or nine days. It was one of those.”

“Nine?” I brought her face up to mine. “Nine days?”

Her cheeks flamed as she bit the corner of her lip and nodded. “Adam, Dana, Ethan, and Jackie will all be here in five days to help with last-minute stuff and just hang out, since I made the last two weeks of school kinda crappy for everyone.” I squeezed her hip and she continued. “Per your mom, the guys are all staying in our house, and the girls are all staying here. Then come next Saturday, I’ll be yours.”