Page 60 of Cass

“No, Mom. Aunt Cass would doanythingfor us. I can do this for her. It’s just a bonus that it benefits Trevor too, though I’m not sure how I feel about brewing the devil’s spawn.” I smile at Trevor, and he smiles back.

Skylar clears her throat and grabs my other hand. “I would do it too. Anything for Aunt Cass. I suppose for Trevor too.” She winks at Trevor.

Harley has tears in her eyes. “If I was allowed to be pregnant again, I would do it too. I’m sorry I can’t. I wish I could do this for you, Aunt Cass.”

Aunt Cass blows Harley a kiss as Brody consoles her.

All eyes turn to Mom.

Mom laughs. “Don’t anyone look at me. That ship has sailed. She’s a few months younger than I am anyway.” We all laugh.

* * *

CASSANDRA

I’m pretty overwhelmed at this moment. All three of the girls offering to do this for me.

I take a breath. “Girls, thank you for offering. I can’t begin to tell you what it means to me. I hope you know how much I love each of you.” They all nod.

I have to pause for a moment because I’m choked up with emotion. “We are getting way ahead of ourselves. We are not at this point. We are simply dating.”

I turn to Trevor’s mother. “Melissa, I completely understand where you’re coming from. I can’t change my age. I wish I could. I would give anything to go back twenty-five years and meet Trevor as he is now.”

Reagan interrupts. “He probably wouldn’t like the twenty-five-year-old version of you. Too young.” She smiles. I know she’s just trying to break the tension.

I turn back to Melissa. “All I can do is promise you that I’ll always value Trevor and what’s best for him. We’re happy together right now. There’s no promise of forever, but right now, we want to be together, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

I don’t think there’s much left for Melissa to say. She’s made her feelings clear. Frankly, I don’t blame her. I’m sure I’d feel the same if our situations were reversed.

We finish the meal with our normal banter. Beth turns to me at some point. “You know, I’m willing to do it for you, too, when the time comes.”

“Wow. I don’t know what to say. Thank you for offering. I appreciate it.”

* * *

Trevorand I are in my bed later that night. I lay the back of my head on his chest, while he runs his fingers up and down my arm. “You’ve been distant since dinner. What’s going through your head right now?”

“Trevor, we just fucked our brains out for over an hour. I wouldn’t exactly call that distant.”

He laughs. “You know what I mean. Something is churning through that pretty little head of yours.”

I sigh. “I guess I’m overwhelmed. I went from never feeling loved, to having you in my bed every night, and four women just offered to carry our baby.”

“Four? I’m pretty sure that Darian was a hard no.”

“Beth pulled me aside later and told me she’d do it too.”

“Wow. That’s amazing. A lot of people love you, Cassandra. I hope you realize that.”

“I do. That’s what’s overwhelming me. It’s shocking.”

I look up at him. “Thanks for connecting me to Beth and Barbara. Darian told me it was your idea and you did all the legwork.”

He smiles. “How did it go with Barbara?”

“I learned that things with my father weren’t exactly as I thought. I definitely have some regrets when it comes to my relationship with him. I may have misread the situation a bit. I wish I could do things differently.”

“I had a feeling that was the case. I’m sorry. I wish I could help.”

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