Page 134 of Big D!ck Energy

“It's our anniversary. I'm allowed to be mysterious.”

“One year.” She said it softly, wonder creeping into her voice. “Can you believe it's been a year?”

“Best year of my life.” I reached over and took her hand, threading my fingers through hers.

She squeezed back, and when I glanced over, her eyes were suspiciously bright. “You're going to make me cry before we even get wherever we're going.”

“That's the plan. Soften you up for the big reveal.”

“The big reveal!” She sat up straighter. “So there IS a reveal!”

“There's always a reveal. I'm a showman. It's what I do.”

The GPS announced our turn in half a mile, and my pulse kicked up another notch. This was it. The moment I'd been waiting for, planning for, dreaming about.

I made the turn onto a tree-lined drive, and the landscape transformed. Endless rows of grapevines stretched out beneath massive oak trees. A wooden sign appeared on the right, elegant script announcing: Sunset Ridge Vineyards.

Davina gasped.

“Oh my God.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Dallas. Oh my God.”

“Surprise.”

“I know this place!” She was craning her neck, taking in the views, eyes huge and sparkling. “I came here once with Matt and Brooke when they were looking at wedding venues. It was… Dallas, it was gorgeous. The barn and the oak tree and the little cabins…”

“The cabins are pretty nice,” I agreed, pulling into the main parking area. “Or so I've heard.”

“We almost convinced them to do their wedding here.” She stopped abruptly, turning to look at me. “They chose Vegas.”

“They did.”

“I guess we did too.”

The words hung between us, loaded with meaning neither of us fully acknowledged. I put the truck in park and turned to face her, drinking in the sight of my wife, flushed with excitement, practically glowing in the late afternoon sun, completely oblivious to what awaited her tomorrow.

“I wanted to bring you somewhere special,” I said. “Somewhere that wasn't just another hotel or resort.”

“It's perfect.” She leaned across the console and kissed me, soft and sweet and full of a year's worth of love. “You're perfect. Well, not perfect. But perfect for me.”

“I'll take it.”

My phone buzzed again. This time, I had to check; I needed to know where Brooke was so I could steer Davina in the opposite direction.

Brooke: Your parents are here. They're in Cabin 7. Cheyanne's in Cabin 8 and Austin’s in Cabin 9. Matt's handling Davina's family and Kali, James, Marcus, and Abby. ALL GUESTS CONFIRMED and either in cabins on the opposite end of yours or on their way. We are GO for tomorrow.

My heart stuttered.

All guests confirmed.

Everyone who mattered to us, our families, our friends, was here. Hiding in cabins scattered across the property, waiting to watch us say vows we'd remember this time.

“Matt again?” Davina asked, eyeing my phone.

“Yeah. He's very needy today.” I typed a quick response.

Dallas: We're here. About to check in. Where are you?

The reply came immediately.