Adore Me (Austin Singles 3)

My parents only spent a few minutes with Kaelynn before her mother went in and then her father. By then, Charlie had given Charlotte to the nanny while we all lined up to get ready to walk down the aisle.

Nash and Kaelynn had picked a small wedding venue out in Johnson City that overlooked the Texas Hill Country. The Lighthouse Hill Ranch had multiple places to stay on their ranch, two of them tall towers that looked out over the stunning countryside. It was planned that when it was time for Kaelynn and Nash to kiss, the sun would set in the background, offering a stunning backdrop to the beginning of their married life.

After the wedding, the party moved inside, where we ate, laughed, cried, and danced. Even baby Charlotte had the time of her life.

“It’s time for the bouquet toss!” Charlie announced while Terri gathered up all the single women. When she reached for my hand and pulled me up to the front, I couldn’t help but laugh. Somehow I figured Kaelynn would attempt to throw it to me on purpose. I wasn’t about to lie to myself and say I wouldn’t do my best to catch the damn thing.

“Ready?” Kaelynn asked, a huge smile on her face and her hand resting on her belly. My heart felt overjoyed as I watched my best friend with my brother standing next to her. I was so happy to see them filled with so much love and joy.

“One! Two! Three!”

The bouquet seemed to come right my way, but instead, it sailed right over my head. I turned to see who had caught it, only to find Blake behind me with no one else around. He was down on one knee with his hand extended, holding a blue velvet box with the most beautiful diamond ring I had ever seen. My hands went to my mouth, and I cried.

“Morgan Marie Barrett, would you do me the honor of saying yes to becoming my wife?”

My hands dropped to the side, and I reached down, cupping his face with my hands.

“Yes! Nothing would make me happier!”

Blake stood and wrapped me in his arms, lifting me off the floor while he kissed me. The room erupted into cheers all around us.

When he drew his mouth away, I shook my head.

“You little sneak. I had no idea!”

He smiled so big and bright my heart nearly burst from pure happiness.

“That was the plan, princess.”

“I love you so much,” I said softly, resting my forehead against his.

He held me tighter. “I love you more.”

Blake gently set me down and took my hand. He slipped the beautiful oval diamond onto my finger, and I stared down at it. It was set in a white gold band with smaller diamonds running on each side.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

We were soon engulfed with family and friends hugging and congratulating us. Nash and Kaelynn were last. When my best friend smiled and wrapped her arms around me in a hug, I started to cry.

“You knew?”

She let out a sob of her own. “I did. Blake asked us a week ago if it would be okay to propose to you at the wedding. I’m so happy for you two! You deserve this, Morgan.”

Squeezing her tighter, I said, “So do you, Kaelynn.”

When we stepped apart, we both dabbed our tears away. Then she looked at me with a serious face and asked in a low voice, “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

“What?” I nearly choked out. “No!”

“Not that it would be a bad thing. I mean, I’m over the moon. It’s just, sometimes I really wish Nash and I had been able to have a bit more time together, just us. I don’t regret anything for a single moment, though. I’m so happy.”

“I know you are,” I said, kissing her on the cheek. “Are you excited about the honeymoon? I mean, Paris! So romantic.”

She blushed and looked past me. Someone or something must have caught her eye.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, turning to glance over my shoulder.

“Nothing. I thought I saw someone I didn’t know. They must have been in the wrong location.”