“I’m sorry, what is that?!” Tiffany exclaims when Cass and I pull apart.
We all look to her in shock, wondering what she’s referring to but her eyes are locked with Cass who’s barely holding back a grin.
“You mean this?” Cass asks, bringing her left hand and the stunning new ring on her ring finger into full view.
I’m not sure how I missed it before, but the marquise cut diamond ring with side clusters on a thin gold band is breathtaking.
“Cassandra!”
We all envelope Cass in more hugs, squealing and talking over each other in happiness.
“Where’s the champagne we need to celebrate!” Reagan says.
Reagan pops open one of the bottles of champagne I brought and pours each of us a flute. We raise our glasses in celebration , all of us grinning from ear to ear.
“I can’t believe you’re engaged!” Maia says. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Wedding planning is going to be so fun,” Tiffany says. “Have you and Cyrus thought about dates? Or maybe just a season, we can start there.”
“So about that,” Cass says.
The room goes quiet as we all look over at her wondering what the hell she’s talking about.
She takes a big gulp of her champagne and swallows before she replies. “Cyrus and I aren’t engaged.”
I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion
“What do you mean?” Reagan asks.
“Shut up!” Maia says, catching on before the rest of us. “Where’s the champagne we need another toast!”
“We aren’t engaged because we got married on Friday,” Cass says.
I bring my hand to my mouth, stunned. “What!? No you didn’t.”
Cass giggles and nods her head. “I did!”
Maia refills our champagne flutes and we raise them again to ‘cheers’.
“To my sister,” Tiffany says with tears in her eyes. “You’re my best friend and I am so happy to get a front row seat to this amazing life you’re creating. I love you so much and I’m so happy that you have found your person.”
We clink our glasses together and Tiffany and Cass tearfully hug each other. I am overcome with emotion and feel tears well up in my own eyes. I feel so incredibly grateful to be able to share this moment with my friends, in celebration of Cass and Cyrus’ union because they truly are meant for each other.
“Okay I know you have pictures. I want to see,” Reagan says.
Cass takes out her phone and shows us the beautiful behind the scenes of her and Cyrus getting ready together the day they got married.
“I can’t believe you eloped. I literally would have never expected that,” I say to Cass, looking at the picture of her in her white dress.
“Honestly me either,” she replies. “But on the flight home I just thought why not. I was never one of those girls that dreams of my wedding day. I just wanted to marry Cyrus, so we went to the courthouse the next day and I love that we did.”
“Girl, I don’t blame you,” Maia says. “Planning a wedding is stressful as hell!”
“Mama is gonna kill you, you know that right,” Tiffany says.
“Why do you think I told you before her,” Cass says. “I need backup!”
We all burst out laughing.