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6

RAYNA

“ Y ou absolutely need that! It would look so freaking good on you!” Serena gushes, pulling a cute red crop top off the rack.

I laugh, her enthusiasm for shopping is truly contagious. “I thought we were done?” I tease her, earning myself a roll of her eyes.

“Last thing!” she promises. “It’s your twenty-fourth birthday. You deserve to be spoiled.”

I know Serena well enough to know there’s no point in arguing, so I let her buy me the top that, admittedly, will compliment my coloring really well, and add it to our giant pile of bags before we leave the mall. We’ve been out shopping all day and grabbing coffee and treats from the food court when we need a break, and it’s been the best way to spend my birthday with my best friend. I’m already trying to figure out how to add all these new editions to my half of Rhett’s and my shared wardrobe. Maybe it’s time to subtly move his clothes to a smaller section…

Serena plays our favorite artist’s newest album as she drives me home, and we sing at the top of our lungs, laughing our heads off when we can’t hit the high notes. She helps me carry the bags into the hallway of the house Rhett and I share, and then gives me a kiss on the cheek and says, “Have fun!”

Confused, I ask her what she means, but she’s already skipping out of my house and to her car, laughing to herself about whatever plans I’m clearly in the dark about. I wave her off and then realize that Rhett’s car is gone from the driveway.

“That’s weird,” I murmur to myself as I walk through the house, searching for my boyfriend even though it’s clear he’s not here. If he were, he’d have already carried all my shopping for me like the gentleman he is. We moved in together a month or so ago, and it’s been like living in a dream ever since. He truly treats me like a total princess, and I love him so much for it.

I reach the bedroom, and while I don’t find Rhett, I do find a surprise laid out for me on the bed. I squeal in excitement, rushing over to the new dress and shoes that have been laid out for me. Not only that, there’s a box of new makeup from my favorite brands, and I could cry over just how well this man knows me.

Truly, how did I get so lucky?

“Oh my God…” I whisper as I pick up the dress, loving the way it shimmers in the late afternoon sunlight streaming in through the windows. It’s a sky blue color, short enough to show off my legs without showing my ass, with thin straps and a scooped neckline. It’s beautiful and will go perfectly with the silver, red-bottomed heels he’s picked to go with it.

Noticing a piece of paper tucked under the shoebox, I set down the dress and snatch it up.

Get ready and meet me at La Luna at seven.

There are details of the time a car will come to pick me up, too, and my heart swells with so much love I can’t contain it. I do a little happy dance, grinning from ear to ear. Time and time again, Rhett has proven just how much I mean to him and how much he means it when he says he’s going to take care of me, but every time, it makes me well up with adoration. I can’t wait to see what he has planned, and the anticipation has me knowing this will be the best birthday of my life, no matter what his plans are.

I take my time playing with my new makeup, settling on a pretty pink sparkly eyeshadow and a darker pink lip to complement, thinking about how I need to recommend my new blush to Serena because it would suit her, too.

I keep an eye on the time to make sure I’m not late for the car, but take a second to admire my outfit in the mirror. Of course, the dress and shoes fit me like a glove. Rhett really has thought of everything.

Just like he said in his note, a car is waiting for me outside at twenty minutes to seven, bang on time. I greet the driver as I slide in, making small talk on the way to the venue.

I haven’t been to La Luna before, but I know it’s a fancy restaurant and event space in the city. I admire the classy, luxurious style of the place as I walk up to the entrance, surprised when someone opens the door for me and greets me by name.

How does he know who I am?

I don’t get time to ask that question, though, because I’m immediately shown to a private room, escorted like royalty or something.

My jaw drops as I walk in.

It’s like something out of the romance movies Serena and I binge during our girls’ nights.

“Surprise!” the gathering of my friends and family call out as I enter. They line up on either side of the room to make a pathway to the huge French doors at the back, which open wide and lead to a beautiful garden beyond.

I can barely see through a mist of tears, overwhelmed by the fact Rhett’s thrown me a surprise party with all my favorite people here.

“Go on outside, darling. You’ll want to see this,” my dad whispers to me, coming up on my left and giving me a nudge with his arm to start me forward again.

I blink to clear my vision, walking as steadily as I can down the middle of the guests, smiling at everyone as I go. When I step outside, I realize why my dad said what he said.

Rhett is waiting for me in front of a flower patch, as handsome as ever in his fitted suit. I’m so caught up in him that it takes me a minute to see the huge, lit-up sign behind him that spells out:

Will You Marry Me?

“Oh my God,” I breathe, half a second away from pinching myself to make sure this is actually real. “Am I dreaming?”

Rhett chuckles, stepping towards me to take my hands in his, pulling me close. “This is very real, baby,” he assures me, placing a soft kiss on my lips before he drops down to one knee.

“Rhett,” I blubber, already a mess despite the fact he hasn’t asked the question yet. “I love you so much.”

He grins up at me. “I love you endlessly, Rayna,” he says back. “I love your beauty, inside and out, your passion and spark, your confidence and your determination. You are incredible, and I am so damn lucky to call you mine.”

I can feel our family and friends gathered behind me, but in this moment, the world disappears until nothing exists but Rhett and me. He lets go of my hand to open a ring box, the diamond inside sparkling in the orange glow of the sunset around us.

“Rayna Baker, will you marry me?” Rhett asks, and I can’t hold back my happy tears a second longer.

“Of course, yes, yes, yes!” I shout, throwing myself at him before he can even attempt to put the ring on my finger.

He stands, grabs me in his arms, and spins me around. The cheering of our family and friends fills the air around us, lifting my spirits even higher as Rhett and I kiss.

“I love you so much, baby,” Rhett repeats against my lips, and I smile so wide our teeth click together, making me laugh.

“I love you,” I whisper back, my voice all hoarse from my happy crying.

“Do you want to put the ring on now?” he asks, grinning just as wide as I am.

I nod eagerly as he sets me down, and gasp when I get my first good look at the ring. It’s perfect, classy but unique, the diamonds making me drool. He slides it onto my ring finger, and just like the dress and the man, it’s the perfect fit.