My free hand slaps over my mouth as I gasp, hearing Juls’ dramatic reaction next to me. I glance down at movement on my lap and see Reese’s other hand, holding out a bunch of tissues for the two of us.

I look at him. “Did you know about this?”

He simply smiles his response as Juls and I both take the tissues, readying them for use.

“Joey,” Billy says, his voice much softer now but somehow steadier. “Can you come over here, please?”

Everyone’s eyes are on my dear assistant as he falls apart, head down, shoulders shaking with his cries. I want to get up and console him, but I know these are happy tears. So I stay put next to my severely emotional, pregnant, best friend, and my husband who apparently knew about this all along.

Joey makes it to the center of the dance floor, slowly, but he gets there. And when he does, Billy drops to his knee in front of him. I’m a mess. Makeup be damned; there is no stopping my tears right now. Billy holds the microphone to his mouth, ready to ask the most important question of his life. Until suddenly, he brings it down and sets it next to him on the floor. He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a ring box, holding it open for Joey as his lips begin to move. Juls and I lean in, wanting to hear Billy’s words, until we both realize this moment is for the two of them. His words are only for Joey. And we must sense it at the same time because we both sit back together.

Billy’s face breaks into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen him have before he stands up and grabs Joey’s face, kissing him passionately in front of everyone. I stand, along with everyone else, and cheer for them at the top of my lungs. Once they break away from each other, which seriously takes a good several minutes, we all join them on the dance floor to congratulate them.

“Oh, my God! I’m so happy for you!” I scream, wrapping my arms around Joey. Juls does the same and when she pulls back, he holds his left hand out for us to see.

“Look how good my baby did!” he squeals. A platinum band with diamonds set into it adorns his finger, and we marvel over the beauty of it. “God, I’m so fucking happy right now. I’m engaged!”

“And now we can plan your bachelorette party. Naked men galore!” I yell, earning a curious expression from Ian who is congratulating Billy. Juls and Joey both laugh as the man who surprised us all walks over to us.

“Thank you for giving me that moment, Dylan. I can stop the slideshow and play your video now,” Billy says into my hair as I hug him.

I lean back. “No. Leave yours on. It’s the sweetest thing.” I reach up and ruffle his hair. “I’m so excited for you.”

“Holy shit! This wedding is insane,” Brooke declares with her drink in her hand as she comes up to the group. She motions with her free hand toward the rest of the crowd that are all mingling and dancing. “Side note. There is zero play for me at this shindig. You all seriously need to find some more single friends.” She winks before grabbing Joey and Billy, congratulating them. Juls and Ian begin dancing and I look around for my groom, only scanning half the room before I feel him behind me.

His lips press against my hair as his arms wrap around my waist. “I love you, Mrs. Carroll.”

I spin around and link my fingers behind his neck. “I love you. Feel like taking a bathroom break? I’ve heard the amenities here are prime for fucking.”

He shakes his head, laughing at me. I think he’s going to respond with some filthy comment, but he kisses me instead. And when that happens, I no longer hear the hysterical excitement of our friends. I no longer hear the song playing overhead or the noises of the crowd around us. I’m purely focused on Reese and the way he kisses me.

The way my husband kisses me.

And nothing could pull me out of this moment with him. Not even a vacant men’s bathroom.

“Why are we stopping at the bakery?” I ask as the limo pulls in front of my shop and comes to a stop. Reese and I left The Whitmore underneath a cloud of bubbles before getting into our getaway vehicle. It was supposed to drive us straight to his condo. Or so I thought.

I don’t get an answer from my groom before he opens the door and steps out, offering me his hand. I take it and exit the limo, looking up at him.

“Umm, did you not get enough of that cake? Is that why we’re here? For treats? Because I thought I saw you eat, like, four pieces.”

He opens the shop door, keeping my hand in his as he enters the alarm code. “That was the best cake I’ve ever had. And I meant what I said about you making that every year on our anniversary.”

“Not to scale, I hope,” I reply with a smile.

He pulls me through the back and toward the stairs. I stop him, firmly holding my place by the worktop.

“Wait. What are you doing?”

Did he completely forget that all of my stuff was moved out today?

He smiles sweetly. “Come upstairs with me.”

I can feel the wrinkles setting into my skin as I put on my most baffled expression. Before I have time to ask any more questions, he steps into me, lifting me off the floor and cradling me in his arms. I hold onto his neck as he carries me up the stairs, swings the door open, and steps out into my old loft.

Because that’s what it is.

What I’m looking at now is definitely not the loft I’m familiar with.

Some of my stuff is here, but it’s been moved around. Blended with his. A perfect mix of his furniture and mine. The screen that separates the bedroom area from the living room space is now moved to the far corner of the room, separating a smaller area from everything else. The arrangement is different, making the space seem bigger somehow. My bed has been moved against the wall, leaving more room around it. After taking in my surroundings, I turn my head to meet his anxious eyes.