AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Breakfast in bed was just the beginning to the day of fun I planned for Jax. We spent the morning riding bikes along the bay, soaking in the sun on the deck of a private boat, and enjoying an air-conditioned lunch at a local artisan restaurant. Hope had a blast at the doggy daycare in the hotel, but we made sure to also take her on a long walk. By late afternoon, we’re both exhausted, so I suggest we rest at the hotel before we have to get ready for the big surprise at night.
The undercover birthday mission I’ve been planning with Michelle has been slightly tricky. Every time my phone dings, I tell Jax it’s Gemma asking for details. By now, he must think she’s super co-dependent on our friendship. But I can’t tell him I’m texting his mom. Only a few hours left and then all will be revealed. Luckily, we both pass out and wake up just in time to start showering.
“We have to hustle,” I tell Jax. “Can’t be late.” I instruct him to wear the nicest shirt he’s packed, which basically means any shirt in his collection and he just has to decide on a color. He chooses navy.
Likewise, I put on a berry floor-length tiered boho dress with tropical flowers on it, because when in Florida, dress cute and comfortable. The A-line fit and V-neckline add a touch of sexiness. I pull my hair into a side braid to salvage it from the southern humidity. Since Jax and I are official, I brought back my lip color. But rather than ravage him in red, I choose a light cranberry gloss.
“You look gorgeous,” Jax says. He comes up and places his arms around my waist. Holding me close, Jax says, “Thank you for today.”
“Hold the applause until the grand finale.”
* * *
JAX
Cailin refuses to let me drive to our destination, because it would ruin the surprise. At this point, I’m just grateful she hasn’t blindfolded me yet. Maybe I shouldn’t speak so soon. When our rideshare stops at a local club, I give her a look. I was hoping for something more intimate, but I’ll appreciate whatever she has planned.
Cailin checks her phone and looks nervous as we exit the car. For a mother with a young baby, Gemma sure has a lot of time on her hands to constantly check-in on Cailin. But I’ll approach that subject another time. I get a weird feeling as we enter the club. For one thing, the music isn’t blaring. And it’s oddly dark.
“Are you sure they’re open?” I ask.
“For us, yes.”
“What are you up to?” There’s no way she would rent this whole place. It would cost a fortune and also not make sense for just the two of us.
Cailin takes my hand and leads us inside. I hear a scuttle and then a light switch being flicked. The entire room illuminates in string lights. A crowd of people yell, “Surprise!”
She got me. She genuinely got me. I never would have expected this. “I cannot believe you did this. No one has ever done something like this for me.”
I scan the room and see my mom. She runs over and informs me, “This one is special, Jax. It was all her idea. I only helped her make contact.” So that was all the secret texting.
One by one, people who have held important roles in my life circle around me. Ridge, Oliver, Mario, and Jack are here. It’s the first time in years that 5 Leo Hearts are all in the same room. Harry takes that opportunity to snap a photo. Some of my cousins and childhood friends that I’ve stayed in touch with patiently wait their turn to say hello. Past them, I even see Cailin’s mom and Gemma.
“This is incredible,” I say out loud to anyone close enough to hear.
* * *
CAILIN
Phew! I pulled off the surprise. The tears I saw in Jax’s eyes were worth the stress. At Michelle’s urging, I even invited my mom and Gemma. Of course, neither of them would pass up this opportunity. I’m really glad I did though.
Gemma comes up and pinches me. “If you would have told me over a decade ago that today our dream of meeting 5 Leo Hearts would come true, and that Jax would be in love with you, no offense, but I wouldn’t believe it.” We break out in girlish giggles at the absurdity of this whole situation. It’s just unbelievable really.
My mom is talking Michelle’s ear off and I take that as a good sign that they are getting along. That’s my cue to do something that’s long overdue.
“Come on.” I grab Gemma’s hand. We walk over to Jax and I excuse myself for interrupting him with his bandmates. I whisper in his ear, and a minute later he pulls his fellow 5 Leo Hearts members into a huddle. Then they make their way towards me and Gemma.
“I don’t believe you all have met,” Jax says. He introduces us to everyone during an epic moment. Gemma swoons with each hug. As conversations begin, Jax interrupts, “One more thing, fellas. Let’s get these ladies a photo.”
No shame. This photo of Gemma and I with 5 Leo Hearts represents years of friendship, memories, and dreams. It represents how far we’ve all come to be standing where we are at this moment. It’s about never letting go of your inner child, because within her lies a guide to happiness and finding your purpose in the future. We look into a lineup of cell phones in front of us and smile in front of the flashes.
The rest of the night flows better than I could have imagined. Gemma even convinced the guys to sing an a cappella version of her favorite song. They are happy to oblige and end up liking the sound so much, they begin discussing a reunion to record an acoustic album. They have a big anniversary coming and we all agree it would be a special way to celebrate and thank their fans.
After we sing Happy Birthday to Jax and cut the cake, we all wander outside. My mom and Gemma are jet lagged and have an early morning flight back home, so they wish me safe travels. Everyone disperses into little groups under the moonlight.
Jax takes my hand and we stroll along the sidewalk. Tomorrow concludes our time in Florida. Every stop of our post-tour travels has brought us closer together. In Jersey, we learned to live together and accept each other’s flaws. In Florida, we dug deeper into our backgrounds and how our experiences made us who we are. Tonight, our families and friends came together as one. New dreams for 5 Leo Hearts were realized. One longtime dream for Gemma and I came true. I can’t imagine what California will bring our way, but I’m here for all of it.
Trash the Dress Online Chat
