Page 106 of The Perfect Melody

“An unserious argument?” I ask, confused.

“Yeah, like, if we’re out for drinks and want to get a snack to share, I will absolutely bring that up to get my way, but I won’t bring it up when the conversation is serious. It’s emotional blackmail, but in, like, a fun way.”

I try to suppress my laughter, I really do, but then I can’t contain it any longer, and soon enough everyone around the table has dissolved into giggles.

After we’ve all caught our breath, Daphne asks, “Do you want to talk about it? If not, we can totally pretend nothing’s changed—which it hasn’t. Not in any of the ways that matter.”

“She’s right,” Gem agrees. “You’re still just Cassie to us.”

Relief floods my system, and I smile at them all, beyond grateful to have found such a wonderful group of friends. “I know you’ve probably got questions, and I promise I’ll answer them, but I’m kind of over talking about me.” It feels like that’s almost all I’ve done over the past few days between telling Austin the truth, then repeating the process with his mum, and filling Liam and Bailey in on everything about my life here. I’m sick of the sound of my own voice. “Could we treat today like any other day? Or at least try to?”

“We absolutely can,” Phoebe agrees with a firm nod. “So, on Saturday this guy came into Wordplay asking about monster romance ‘for a friend’ and now he’s joined my spicy book club.”

The next hour flies by and soon enough it’s time for us all to get going. Everyone agrees to join me, Austin, Ant, Liam, and Bailey at Quill and Dagger for dinner tomorrow night and I leave with a spring in my step knowing that I’ll get to introduce my favourite people to each other before it’s time for two of those people to head back to London.

* * *

Our table at Quill and Dagger is overflowing with good food and even better company. My new friends from Pine Grove are getting along with my older friends even better than I hoped. Liam and Phoebe talk about books and their favourite book-to-screen adaptations, and Bailey and Daphne bond over their mutual love of baking. It turns out Gem—secret badass that she is—has a black belt in karate and is currently taking boxing classes. She and Ant chatter away effortlessly.

“You look happy,” Austin says, leaning in close, his lips brushing the shell of my right ear as he talks. He looks unfairly handsome in his burgundy henley with the sleeves rolled up to reveal his toned forearms. If I hadn’t been so excited for tonight, I would have made us late after seeing him in it and the dark-wash jeans that fit him perfectly. As it is, knowing I get to have him all to myself when we get home has kept my desire steadily simmering all evening.

I let my head fall to rest against him. “I am happy. Tonight is exactly what I needed. Thank you for setting it up with Jeremy.”

Austin gives my thigh a comforting squeeze over the blue satin of my skirt. “Anytime.”

“I still can’t believe your mum has been so cool about all of this. I was convinced she was going to hate me for hiding so much from you both.”

“Mum had a soft spot for you right from the start. She could never hate you.”

“I know the two of you have had your differences in the past, but Abby really took me under her wing—I’ll always be grateful to her for that.”

“I’m glad she’s been here to support you. It won’t make up for everything you went through with Miranda, but I’ll gladly share my mum with you, although you may end up regretting that.” He gives me a wry smile. “I overheard her referring to you as her daughter-in-law at work yesterday.”

Hiding my face in his arm, I groan, “Oh my God. That’s adorable, but I’m going to need her to stop before the whole town ends up thinking we got married. Not that us being married would be abadthing, but we’re not so?—”

“Relax, I knew what you meant. I already asked her not to call you that until it’s official.”

He says it in such a matter-of-fact tone that it takes a moment for the words and their implication to register, but when they do, I nearly choke on my mocktail. “Official?” I take another sip to wet my suddenly parched throat. “You planning to marry me, Boss?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not getting down on one knee anytime soon, but one day? Sure. If that’s something you might be interested in?”

Butterflies flit around in my stomach at the idea. “One day?”

He nods.

“I’m good with one day.”

Our group stays until closing when Jeremy good-naturedly sends us packing. Even after a long evening filled with laughter,I’m reluctant to let go of Liam and Bailey when it’s time for us to say goodnight.

“I’m going to miss you so much.”

“Are you drunk?” Liam asks, his tone threaded with amusement.

I roll my eyes. “You know I’m not.” He witnessed the one time I tried drinking on my meds and took responsibility for getting me home safely. Turns out when your medication’s information booklet says you shouldn’t consume alcohol, it’s important to take that advice. “I’m going to miss you both.”

“We’ll miss you too, but we’ll see each other way more now than we did before,” Bailey insists.

“She’s right,” Liam agrees. “We might still be a few hours away, but at least we’re in the same country.”