Mess Is Mine • The Pack

Chapter Eighteen

this chapter is 8,958 words so uh... buckle up.

Chapter Eighteen

The day of Jess's graduation was a cursed day. At least that's what it felt like. In the week leading up to it Jess could handle the rehearsal, but when the day actually came for her to walk across the stage she really did not want to do it.

"I look like a fucking watermelon!" Jess huffs, throwing the cap off of her head.

"Your belly is smaller than a watermelon," Ruby says after careful inspection.

Lachlan smirks, holding in a laugh.

"You were excited just yesterday," Preston challenges.

She crosses her arms, thinking. "Yeah- well, now I'm not. I'm gonna walk across the stage with my cantaloupe-looking stomach and everyone's gonna think 'wow look at that pregnant bimbo.'"

"How many girls are pregnant in your grade?"

This makes Jess pause and think it over for a moment before going for the classic, "That's not the point!"

"Isn't it?"

"And what about all the ugly kids?" Lachlan suggests.

Preston does an awkward hop of the chair and smacks him on the arm. "Yes! Like the ones with the patches of facial hair or a unibrow."

"The ones who think they look good with long hair."

"You had long hair," Alfie says.

"And it was hideous," Lachlan replies solemnly.

"The ones who haven't brushed their hair a day in their life."

"The ones who still don't know how to do their makeup," Jess adds, talking quietly like she doesn't want to admit it.

Lachlan laughs at the defeat, "Exactly! No one will even think twice about your appearance."

"You promise you're not bullshitting me?"

"I completely, truly promise," Lachlan swears and he means it.

Ruby closes her hand over his ear and whispers, "Daddy, you have to pinky promise."

"Oh, right," He holds out his pinky. "I pinky promise."

Jess chuckles and takes his pinky with hers, solidifying the promise.

"And besides, the graduation ceremony isn't for you. It's for us to embarrass you by shouting and clapping for you once they call your name to make it a memory worth remembering," Alfie says.

"So, are we good? Can I call Jerome and let him know it's go?"

"Yes, we're good."

• •

Promises weren't a magical solution to everything. At least not to Jerome. His own promise he made to himself was crumbling apart. He wanted an elaborate proposal, but what if Lachlan was right? What if it's something they should talk about before he jumps in head first and gets his heart broken?

He tried to be logical and take awhile to really think about marriage, but seeing how hot Mitch looked dressing up for Jess's graduation stirred up all these feelings.

Would matching suits be tacky? Is a diamond ring too much? Does he like roses? But one question that lingered was inspired by Lachlan. Would Mitch want to marry him?