See Me (See Me #1)(49)

“It’s nothing,” she insisted, pulling out a small item I recognized as her pocket calendar. “I’ve been keeping track of the date. Do you know your birthday’s only six days away?”

“Yeah, I know.” My insides leapt with nervous energy at the reminder. I plopped myself down next to her and we both laid back.

“You okay, Cass?”

“I don’t know.”

I took her hand and we continued to stare up at the low thatched rafters.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked.

“A lot of things.”

“Please don’t be sad. Especially about me. I think everything’s going to be okay.”

She waved it off and cleared her throat. “How did it go when you gave him the gifts?”

I rolled toward her, curling up and smiling into her shoulder.

“It was amazing,” I whispered.

“Really?” I could hear the happiness in her voice. “Finally.”

“Everyone outside is dancing and stuff. Will you come with me?”

She shrugged and said, “I guess.”

“I wish Rock could come,” I whispered.

“You do?”

“Yes. He’s fun, and he makes you happy.” I touched the tip of her nose. “I do want you to be happy, even if I worry. Now, come on.”

We struggled out of her bed and got ready, pulling our hair back in ponytails. We walked out to the open area where a light rain still fell, finding McKale sitting with our parents. He stood when he saw me, and his face lit up.

“Whoa,” Cassidy whispered as we approached them. “Must have been a really good date.”

When we got to the table I stretched up to kiss McKale on the cheek before taking his hand. My family appeared ready to burst into a round of applause. Instead, Dad stood and announced he would get us all a round of mead. Cassidy made a face, sticking out her tongue.

“I’m sick of that stuff. I’d kill for a soda.”

“Sorry, chickadee. I’ll get you some water.” Dad walked off with a grin.

“Ready to dance?” I asked McKale.

He kicked a small tuft of grass. “I’m no’ the best o’ line-dancers.”

“We’ll get through it together. Come on.”

I tugged his hand toward the dance formation. It was the middle of a song and the dancers were holding hands in a circle, moving back as they lowered their arms, and moving in as they lifted joined hands to the sky. When we stepped into the circle of dancers, a few people started clapping, and soon the entire clearing of Chaun broke into cheers. McKale’s grip tightened on my hand. They were cheering for us.

It was mine and McKale’s first time dancing in front of the Chaun as a couple. Our first true appearance together. Seeing their expressions of relief and joy made me realize they’d been worried that McKale and I weren’t hitting it off. So much was riding on our union. Seeing us hand-in-hand brought the clan’s hopes to the surface.

Emotion swelled inside me as McKale and I took our places among them. Every person who wasn’t dancing circled around us, clapping in sync.

Brogan stood with my family, and even from a distance I could see firelight reflecting the moisture in his eyes. This was the confirmation they’d all been waiting for, and I was glad to give it. Maybe I was biased, but as I linked hands with my betrothed and we stepped in tune to the music, I was certain it was the happiest dance ever performed. Despite his worries, he moved lithely, full of grace. And the way he captured my eyes… there was no way anyone watching could doubt what had grown between us. Especially as the dance ended and he tilted his head down for a kiss, which was met with a round of hooting from the clan.

Leilah and Rachelle came running over afterward, and I embraced them.

“By glory!” Leilah whispered in my ear. “I’ve never seen our McKale so sure of himself! A lucky lad, he is.”

Brogan climbed atop a table and belted out, “Well, Leprechauns! It looks as though we’re going to have ourselves a binding!”

Raucous cheers bellowed and I smiled up at McKale as that roller-coaster sensation wooshed through my body.

“Leon Mason!” Brogan shouted. “As the father of the binding female, you shall name the date.”

Daddy looked at me. I nodded, though nervous energy ratcheted under my skin.

“Six days from now!” Dad announced in a loud, clear voice.

“Six days it is!” Brogan lifted his glass and the clan raised theirs with him. “Here, here!”

“Here, here!” the clan chanted.

Oh, wow. Oh, gosh. Oh, shitballs. Six days.

One by one, Chaun members and village women approached us, kissing our hands and hugging us. In that moment, I admitted to myself I’d been harboring mild negative feelings toward the majority of McKale’s people. It bothered me how McKale was treated, and how they seemed to think women were lesser in many ways. But with each well-wish received, hurtful emotions shed away into forgiveness, leaving behind fresh, new sentiments.

My family was the last to embrace us. Dad held me close and kissed my head.

“You’ll always be my baby girl,” he whispered. I swallowed hard and squeezed him in return.

Mom and Cassidy cried. Shocking, I know. But I understood their happy tears now. I knew love was bursting inside their hearts for McKale and I, and it made me adore them more than ever.