Page 28 of Crazy Little Thing Called Love

“Things happened,” Del continued, “and I’m not going to go into them, because it’s our personal business, but we hit a rocky patch for a bit. But we’ve worked it all out now.”

He lifted their joined hands, making sure everyone in the room got a good look at the ruby rock she sported. “I asked Cassie to marry me, and she said yes.”

The room fell dead silent.

Del sighed, dropping their hands back to their sides. “I’m glad to have finally stunned you all into silence, but congratulations are usually in order.”

No one spoke for a moment, until Penny squeaked out a soft, “Congratulations, Delta, Cassandra.”

“Th-thank you, Penny,” Cassie managed. There, she could speak like a normal person even with her throat clogged by fear.

“Yeah, I guess congrats, you two.” BJ rubbed the back of his neck, shaking his head.

He didn’t believe them. At least he was making an effort. Ace simply stood there all stoic and broody. Typical Ace.

Charlie threw her hands up into the air, mouth agape. “Are you freaking kidding me?!”

She winced at her best friend’s screech.

“Seriously, Cassie? Last week I was helping you set up online dating profiles because you needed a husband, and now suddenly you have a secret relationship with my brother I’ve never heard about?”

Del let out a growl. “Yeah, hence the secret part.”

He dropped her hand, wrapping his arm around her waist and tugging her closer. She went willingly. Sad to say, she needed the support.

“So the secret boyfriend you told Mandy about was the truth?” Charlie said. “Honestly, you’re not just marrying him to get your grandmother’s house?”

Unable to lie to her best friend without her heart breaking, she said nothing.

Del stared down his sister. “Back off, Charlie.”

“No. She’s my best friend. Or I thought she was.”

At those words, Cassie’s heart cracked, pain sucking the very air from her lungs.

“Seriously,” Del’s words were a low growl. “Stop.”

Charlie ignored Del and focused on her. “We tell each other everything, Cassie. If this is true, why would you keep it from me?”

Dammit! Those were tears in her best friend’s eyes. She hadn’t made Charlie cry since the time they went skiing in high school and she accidentally ran into her, knocking her down, spraining both their ankles. Sure, they fought occasionally, but silly stuff, nothing deep and painful. This was painful, the hurt and betrayal coming from her best friend’s eyes cut worse than any sprained ankle.

“Charlie, I…” But she didn’t know what to say. There was nothing to say, nothing she could reveal without jeopardizing everything,

“Forget it.” Charlie shook her head, a few tears escaping to trail down a tightly clenched jaw. “Congratulations. I hope you both are very freaking happy together.”

With that, her best friend stormed off.

“You two better be serious about this.” Ace stared at them, the simple warning all he gave before he turned and followed Charlie through the distillery door.

“Give her time, guys.” BJ shrugged, dismissing them to turn to Penny who had buried herself in her ever-present laptop.

“Hey,” Del said softly, gently grasping her chin. She gazed up to see Del, staring at her with concern. His hand reached out, thumb brushing something wet and cold off her cheek. Tears? When had she started crying? The moment she lost her best friend, that’s when. “It’s going to be okay,” he whispered. “I promise.”

“How?” Everything she feared about telling his family had come true.

“You didn’t lose Charlie,” Del said, reading her mind. “Like BJ said, just give her some time. You know what a hothead she is.”

Cassie nodded, rolling in her lips to keep the sobs inside.

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