Page 86 of Because of Her

She doesn’t know the truth about whose winery this is, so I find it odd she calls it Noah’s winery, but I let it slide. I was sworn to secrecy when I found out. All Cassidy knows, all she needs to know, is that Noah organises the events. Like the one I’m surprising Cassidy with this morning. When I told him I wanted to surprise Cassidy with a date, he said he knew just the thing.

For months he has been working on securing a hot air balloon vendor for the coming spring/summer season. Today is their maiden voyage. Technically only for staff and ‘selected guests’ so the company can take some promotional photos before they launch in a months’ time.

Noah clearly has a soft spot for his cousin and gave up his tickets. He had choked when I asked who he had been planning to take, brushing off the question as though it meant nothing.

“Oh my God,” Cassidy squeals as we make our way around the cellar door building to see the giant balloons spread outacross the lawn.

She jumps up and down on the spot before cowering into herself.

“Remember the fair, you had fun.”

At the reminder of the last time she put aside her mild fear of heights, Cassidy turns to leap into my arms. Her body collides with mine and I scoop her up. She wraps her legs around my waist. I hold her tight, planting a lasting kiss on her lips and soaking in the feeling of her body against mine. Even through so many layers, the feeling of her legs on my waist, her core against mine, sends electricity coursing through my veins.

We spot Noah, standing by the closest balloon, with a clipboard under his arm.

“Hey lovebirds.” He laughs from across the field.

Writing something on his clipboard, he tucks it under his arm to walk over. Turning to me his voice is stern, “you better make this worth it.”

Squished in like sardines with the other guests, it’s claustrophobic in the basket, despite the wide open air spreading for miles around us. Cassidy’s fear of heights forgotten, she gazes out into the distance as the sun rises behind us. The wind drifts the scent of Cassidy’s tropical shampoo my way, and I pull her close to nuzzle into her neck.

“I love you,” I whisper, for her ears only.

She turns to face me, nodding with a smile that lights up my world more than the sun at my back.

We turn toward the horizon together, taking in the sweeping hills and the picturesque shadows they make as the sun ascends into the sky. Beside us, a gentleman pushes back, trying to make space where there is none.

When he realises we have nowhere to go, he takes a step back toward his partner, reaching a hand into his pocket and pulling out a tiny box. His words are lost in the wind, but from the girl’s squeals and the kiss they share, it’s clear they got engaged.

Cheers of congratulations ring out from the basket of witnesses. I clap the man on the shoulder as I say, “congrats mate.”

Cassidy turns to me, there’s a hint of hope in her eyes that feels like a knife in my throat. I love her, but it’s too early for something quite so grand.

“Hope you weren’t planning to do that. Because if so, he definitely stole your thunder.”

Hugging her from behind, I run my hands down her arms before holding her hands. My fingers find her ring finger and I press down where an engagement ring would go. Where my engagement ring will go. Eventually.

“One day,” I say, “but it’ll be better than that.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” She laughs, leaning back into my shoulder. “But not yet,” she adds.

The knife in my throat dissolves and I hug her closer as we begin our descent.

A complimentary brunch picnic awaits us between the vines once we are safely back on the ground, along with the huge bunch of flowers I had Noah order in secret.

“You bought me flowers?” Cassidy drops to her knees on the picnic rug, smelling the colourful blooms.

I follow her to the ground, hugging her from behind and kissing her neck. “Even florists need someone to buy them flowers.”

She hums as she leans back into me, nestling herself between my legs. Leaning back on one hand, the other wraps around her waist.

The champagne swirls with anxiety in my stomach, mybreaths shaky as I prepare to recite the speech I practised last night.

My hands on her waist, I twist her around to face me. “Cassidy, I’ve been kidding myself about a lot of things for a long time. I thought I had no space for someone new to enter my life, and that held me back for a while.” I pause to inhale, drawing in oxygen and savouring her lavender scent. My heart feels somehow heavy and light at the same time.

“But you aren’t new,” I continue. A stray piece of hair falls from Cassidy’s messy bun and I reach out to tuck it behind her ear. My hand lingers on the side of her face, and I rub my thumb along her cheekbone. “My soul has known yours for so long, Rogue. I didn’t need to make space for you, because all the space you need in my heart was carved out years ago.”

Her eyes start to glisten, and when she holds them closed, a single tear escapes. I wipe it away with my thumb. My own tears form as I hold back the lump in my throat to force the words out.

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