As much as Ben loved being engaged to Cassie, there were some things he wasn't looking forward to. For example, his engagement party that his mother had put together was more of an excuse for Wanda to basically take over planning the wedding.
The party itself was fine, but she kept pulling him and Cassie away to discuss plates, colors, types of tables, things he and Cassie could care less about. "Mum, just remember that Mark and Jenna are paying for this, so don't go too crazy," he reminded her. "And as far as plates and all that go, we really don't care. Honestly, we have a venue and a date, now all we're worried about is what to wear. If you don't mind, I'm going to go back out and join my fiancée."
He walked out of the kitchen and went out to the party. He spotted the guys and went over to them. "There's the man of the hour," Adam greeted. "How's it going, mate? Feel the chain around your ankle yet?"
Ben chuckled and told him, "No, of course not. With my mum? Yes. With Cass? No. You know she is." He looked over to Cassie, who was talking to Tom on the other side of the room. Ben smiled adoringly at her, then heard Martin say, "She's perfect for you, mate." Ben sighed blissfully and said, "Don't I know it."
In the meantime, Cassie looked over at Ben and saw him smiling at her. She smiled back and gave him a small wave, before turning back to Tom. "I'm happy for you guys," Tom told her. "Honestly, I was planning him to pop the question a lot sooner."
Cassie giggled and said, "I didn't! I didn't even see this coming. I'm glad it did, though." Tom watched as she looked down at her ring and gently stroked her thumb over it. "Are you ever going to tell him?" He asked. She looked up at him and seemed confused, so he elaborated, "About us."
She immediately shook her head and told him, "No. No, if he finds out...I don't even want to know how he'll react." Tom sighed, "It's not like you cheated on him. You two were broken up. I'm sure he had sex with a girl or two in that time."
Again, she shook her head. "No, he told me...he told me he didn't. That just makes me feel worse. No offense." He shrugged and said, "No offense taken. But if it does come out eventually, I don't want to be the cause of any problems you two might have. Bloody hell, he's going to be your husband, you shouldn't keep secrets."
She scoffed at him. "Then why don't you tell him?" She asked. "He dislocated your jaw when he found out you asked me out, remember? You really want to find out what he'll do when he finds out we had sex?"
He actually shuddered at the thought. "I think he might actually kill me. Look, just give me a heads up if you do." She sighed and rolled her eyes. She can't tell Ben. Ever. This would break him. It would break their relationship.
Shaking away the thought, she excused herself and went over to Ben. "Hello, my beautiful fiancée," he greeted, as he put his arm over her shoulder. He planted a kiss on her head, then said in her ear, "Two more months. Can you believe it?"
She pulled him down for a kiss, then said, "No, but I can't wait. I love you." He smiled and ran his thumb down her cheek. "I love you, too. You alright? You seem a little pale." She nodded and told him, "I'm fine. This is just...a lot. I'm glad my parents were able to make it, but I feel bad for Jordan."
Jordan started school, so could travel to London with Mark and Jenna. He was staying with Angelo and Donnette, but never failed to call Cassie and express how upset he was that he couldn't be there. He really does miss them.
"He'll be alright," Ben told her. "We'll see him soon." She nodded, but he could see she looked like she had something to say. "Darling, seriously, you're worrying me a bit," he said. "Come here." He took her hand and led her into the hallway, where it was a little more private and quiet.
"Tell me what's on your mind," he said. She wasn't thinking about Tom or the wedding or Jordan. There was something else on her mind that she needed to get out, or else she was going to burst. She took a deep breath and said, "I have some news."
He nodded and said, "Alright. And what is this news?" She took his hands and gripped them tight. "You know that publishing job I applied for? Well...I got it!" Ben's eyes widened and he dropped her hands in shock. "You did?" He asked.
She nodded with a wide smile. "And...they want to publish one of my books!" Ben breathed out an "oh my God", then scooped her up in a hug. "Oh my God, baby, I am so proud of you!" He laughed. She buried her face into his neck and smiled.
"It's all coming together," she said. He kissed all up and down her neck, then said, "It really is."
**
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It seemed like hours later when Ben and Cassie walked into their new house, which was still packed with boxes that needed unpacking. After telling her parents the news of her job, the engagement party turned into an engagement/new job celebratory party and they ended up staying longer than they planned.
"I am exhausted," Cassie said, as she shucked off her heels. She mentally vowed to never wear those again. The only reason she did was because her mom - yes, her mom - made her. "Well, we can't go to bed, yet," Ben told her.
She whined, "Why not?" He pulled her flush against him and said, "Because we need to celebrate your new job." She leaned her head against his shoulder and said, "But we've been celebrating for five hours."
Ben started kissing her neck, then said, "Not that kind of celebration." She smiled and raked her fingers through his hair. He hummed in approval and ran his hands down her body and to her ass, where he gave her a firm squeeze.
He nipped at her neck and made her gasp. "Ben," she gasped, "you have school tomorrow. You need to get some sleep." Groaning, he just kissed her neck harder, then ran his hands up her dress. "I would much rather have sex, wouldn't you?" He asked.
She giggled and told him, "Of course! I'm just thinking about your well-being." He pulled her along with him and made their way upstairs. "I've been staring at your beautiful body all night, wanting to do absolutely nothing but ravish it. So...that's exactly what I am going to do."
