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Reid pulls up to my house, straight into the driveway. He shifts the car into Park, then turns it off but doesn’t make a move to get out of the driver’s seat. He turns his head, his eyes finding mine, and then he clears his throat.

“I love you, Lorelai. I just want you to know how incredibly proud of you I am and how happy you make me.”

“Reid?” I ask.

He simply smiles, releases my hand, and then opens the driver’s door and unfolds from the SUV. I watch him round the front of the vehicle before he tugs my door open and holds his hand out for me. Slipping my palm in his, I place my feet firmly on the concrete driveway for less than a second before he begins swiftly walking and tugs me behind him… hurriedly.

I don’t know what we’re in a hurry for, but then my belly flips, and I wonder if he’s in a hurry to get me to bed. I’m always ready for that.

Always.

But when he leads me around the side of the house instead of through the front door, I’m a bit suspicious. Although I have no idea what I’m suspecting, just that it’s odd to go around the side of the house.

I don’t say anything and happily follow behind him.

When he opens the gate and swiftly guides me toward the back porch, I don’t quite comprehend what I’m seeing. A huge balloon arch leads to the entrance of the side of the porch.

As I walk through, I see tables and chairs set up, but more importantly, I see my friends and Reid standing in the middle of the yard. Reid’s parents are there as well. My breath hitches as they all shout, "Congratulations!"

I turn to Reid, my eyes wide, my lips parted. I am in awe. “Congratulations on finishing school, baby,” he murmurs.

“I just can’t believe…” I whisper.

He smiles and cups my cheek. “Believe.”

Then his hand falls away, and he clears his throat. Our friends and what we have as far as family goes quiet. I turn to face them, and they’re all smiling hugely. I don’t understand why they seem so incredibly happy. I mean, sure, it’s a party, but they appear more excited than even I do.

“I know that I said I was going to do this later, but I don’t think I can wait another minute,” Reid says, his voice booming loud enough for everyone to hear.

Slowly, almost as if I’m moving through honey, I turn to face him. I don’t say a word. I can’t. I am simply frozen in the moment as I watch him, waiting for him to continue. And he does. And my world is turned upside down completely—in an amazing way.

“Lorelai, it’s no secret that the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew that you were special. You’ve shown that to me every day in a million different ways. I know I don’t deserve you. I probably never will, but I love you. I swear to you that I’ll spend the rest of my life earning you, loving you, keeping you. Will you marry me?”

He drops down to one knee and produces a little blue box, opening it and facing that opening toward me. I can’t see the ring. My tears have not only filled my eyes but are rolling down my cheeks with no signs of stopping.

“Yes,” I whisper. “A million times, yes.”

Reid stands to his feet and wraps his arms around me. He picks me up off the ground and spins me around in a full circle before his lips slam against mine in a hard, owning, excited kiss. He slowly releases me, my feet steadying on the grass before he takes half a step backward and slips the ring on my shaky finger.

It’s beautiful. A simple round-cut diamond on a rose gold band. Nothing too flashy, beautiful, simple, and sparkling. It’s a statement piece, and I can’t believe I get to be the girl who wears it—forever.

He says he doesn’t think he deserves me, but I know, without a doubt, I don’t deserve him. I love him—every single part of his beautiful self, inside and out. He’s perfect for me in every way imaginable.

Wedding Day

LORELAI

ONE YEAR LATER

“It’s beautiful,” my new mother-in-law rasps.

She’s standing behind me, her gaze finding mine in the reflection of the mirror. I’ve just slipped into my dress. My hair and makeup are complete. My pale-blue high heels are firmly in place on my feet, and I am ready to marry the love of my life.

“I would have never thought pearls, but they’re perfect,” she rasps.

My dress is a simple off-the-shoulder tulle gown that sits snug at the chest and waist and flows out into a princess-style A-line skirt. There is a satin lining with small hand-sewn pearls all over every few inches. I love everything about it. I’ve never felt more beautiful and elegant than I do right now.

“Thank you,” I whisper, tearing my gaze away from my reflection.