Sweet As You

(40) Kathie Jane

"I need you within my visual range." Nathan puts a protective arm around her and smiled at me in acknowledgement.

"Hi, soon-to-be daddy of two," I chirped.

He chuckles and gives me a quick hug. "My cousins are by the pool. They would like it if you go and say 'hi.'"

"I will."

"Nathan, I'll be fine with my sister. Go man the grill like you said you will." Chassie clasped a hand around my wrist.

Her husband sighed then plants a kiss on the top of her head. "Call me if you need anything."

"We will." I winked.

"You join the guys. I'll entertain my guests." Chassie blew him a kiss and led me inside, to the living room where her best friends, Andrei Parkinson, Francisco Peiro and Summer Daniels were drinking wine while sorting heaps of gifts. They hollered me over, raising their wineglasses.

I linked my arm around Chassie's. "What are all these gifts for? I thought you're not having a baby shower."

"Yes. I told everyone that, but these gifts keep coming anyways." She lowered herself on the couch and leaned back, sighing.

I leaned to touch her cheek. "Are you okay?"

"My back is killing me." She closes her eyes and heaved out another sigh.

"Do you want me to call Nathan?"

Her eyes flew open. "No. He's been worried enough already. It's just a slight discomfort."

"Sweetie, if it's any consolation, pregnancy suits you very well," France lifted himself off the floor and sat next to her. "You need a pillow?"

"Yes, please."

Andrei gathered all the throw pillows which I took and piled neatly behind Chassie to ease her discomfort. "Better, Bunny?"

She nods.

Summer sits next to her and patted her knee. "Just a couple more weeks, hun. Just a few more weeks and the whole mystery of the baby's gender is going to be over. Look at this onesie," she withdrew a sparkly fabric out of a box with a pink gift-wrapper, "poor thing just assumed it's going to be girl."

I laugh. "I'm thinking the baby might be a girl."

France pours me a glass of wine and hands it over with a flourish. "You and me both."

"You know, I think it's a baby boy." Andrei beams.

Summer raises her glass. "I think it's a girl."

"If we have a baby boy, I can't dress him with that unicorn onesie." Chassie giggles.

"You can always make another baby. Don't let Nathaniel Forester's beautiful gene go to waste. Make the most of it."

"Here's a thought," Andrei clicks his tongue, "if you're that concerned about the Foresters' bloodline, why not procreate with his younger brother? Well, that if you still have feelings for him."

France and Chassie guffawed. "Yep, she still does."

"You know, he's in town with their older sister, Starlet. And they will be at our parents' dinner party next week." I wagged my brows at her.

Summer turned red. It wasn't a secret that she had a thing for Jett Forester from when they were in high school. And apparently, she still has because she never gone out with anyone even when Jett left town to pursue a music career.

We would've teased her more, but Nathan enters the living room with a white apron over his shirt. "Ladies, barbecue's good. Grab your wines."

"Thank, God." Summer was on her feet faster than the speed of light.

Chassie put on a brave face when she saw her husband. Although there was discomfort in her face, she didn't ask for help to stand up. She waddles toward him and gestured us to follow them to the backyard.

I immediately spotted the huddle of men by the swimming pool. Nathan's cousins are a group of four alpha men that I only had a few chances of having small conversations with. And that's only on formal events. It was a group of dark headed men and ice-cold eyes, but there was Cade who probably looked the same months ago. Maybe much more aloof and unresponsive back then if I were to be honest. Now, though, all I see are his dimples and his unquenchable sweet tooth.

Andrei nudges my elbow, jerking me away from my thoughts. "Whatever you did to my sourpuss brother, I approve of it."

"I just taught him some of those people skills." I shrugged.

"Oh, I know it's more than just the "people skills" he never had." He winks at me then headed to the table they set in the backyard.

I gulped down the blush that spread in my cheeks. I look over to Cade who look like he was enjoying the conversation. In the back of my mind, I know it wasn't just the people skills that made him so perfectly charming. Lately, I had felt different around Cade. And it escalates every single moment I was with the man.

Cade's blue eyes found mine.

I smiled and wriggled my fingers at him.

His dimples poked slightly.

My heart actually swelled. It was a cheesy thought, but it did when I saw his eyes twinkled with a version of a smile he reserves for me. My mind traces moments like this that I had with anyone and it came up empty. Not even with Owen.

I swallowed a cold knob in my throat and I slink toward Chassie who was preoccupied keeping an eye on Ethan across the expansive backyard. "Chassie," I whispered.

She flinched. "Jesus, why are you whispering?"

"Sorry," I gulped.

My chest felt so full and when I opened my mouth, the words went stumbling out. "Chassie, I know I shouldn't, but I'm in love with Cade."

Her head snapped toward me with a threat of a whiplash. Then slowly, her right brow made an arch. "Tell me something I don't already know."

Okay, ladiesss. When do you think is the next update? What do you think it'll be about? I'll give you a clue. It starts with my evil smile and my palms rubbing together. 🚨🚨
I'll see you guys on the next update which, by the way, will be a surprise. Even I can't tell. lol.

Anyways, leave me a comment below if you like this chapter. Don't forget to vote. Love you! Xoxo