Her lips wobble, and her eyes go misty. It takes considerable restraint not to bound to my feet and pull her into my arms. But I’ve got to be a team player right now.
Reaching up, I cover her hand with my free one, needing more connection. More heat and skin. “I could have never known how perfect our outcome would be, but here we are.”
I jerk a finger toward Gabe and Alex.
“Asking you to be our wife. To be ours. Everyflowbegins with you. Our beginning, our landing. And we promise to be that for you. Your soft place. Your support. Your rock. Your lighthouse. Your light and laughter. Your friends, your lovers, your plant dads.”
I glance over to make sure they’re nodding along.
Gabe holds up the ring. The pale green diamondis unusual, just like our woman. With a hint of turquoise and in an oval cut that is sparklier than anything has the right to be, it’s surrounded by six smaller diamonds. The double wedding band will surround it, completing the illusion. She’s our heart. Our center. The person who brought us together and the glue that will bind us as a family.
“You guys…” Her words are all breathy and awe-struck.
“What do you say, Princess? Want to make your grandfather roll over in his grave?”
She lets out a shaky laugh, squeezing our tangle of fingers. “This would send him to an early grave if he wasn’t already dead,” she says, a note of satisfaction—one might call it evil glee—in her voice. “But that’s not the reason I’ll marry you.”
My heart swells in my chest until I’m sure I’m going to burst and send Kingston chunks all over this gorgeous room I worked so hard to create.
“Don’t leave us hanging, Katie Bird.”
“I don’t care about a dead man’s expectations. I only care about yours. About us. About how we feel when we’re together.” Her gaze flicks to Gabe and holds. “And how we feel when we’re apart.”
“I don’t like being apart,” he blurts.
“Neither do I.”
“So that’s ayes?” he confirms.
There’s a split second where time slows, and my heartbeat roars in my ears. The corners of her sinful lips turn up.
“It’s a hell yes.”
I let out a whoop and jump to my feet. We untangle our hands just enough for Gabe to slide the ring on her finger. She studies it, and her smile turns to a tumultuous grin.
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“There’s a story behind that,” Alex says, rising to his feet.
“For later,” Gabe adds, standing.
She glances past us. “And the story there?” she asks, nodding to the dress.
19
KATHERINE
I’m not the most superstitious person in the world, but as I glance from the dress to King and then at Gabe and Alex, I ask the more important question. “And is it bad luck? For you to see the dress before the wedding?”
King huffs a laugh.
“Babe, I designed the dress,” he says, that trademark cheeky grin lighting his face.
Of course.
My secret designer.
The bestie who’s been filling my closet with gorgeous gowns for years.
