Jalen smiled. “He wanted you to have a relaxing afternoon in the perfect setting while you got ready.”
I crossed to the largest bouquet and plucked out a card with my name scrawled across the outside.
Gigi,
There isn’t a time I see a wildflower and don’t think of you. Thank you for always seeing me. For always having my back. I’m the luckiest man in the world to have you in my life.
Caden
“Oh my God. That’s so sweet.”
I whirled on Wren and smacked her nose with the card. “Nosy much?”
She grinned. “You’re my best friend. It’s not like you wouldn’t have told me.”
“I wanna read it.” Maddie grabbed the card from my hand.
“Hey!”
“Awwww. Totally swoon-worthy.”
Jalen laughed. “I knew I liked you guys.” His eyes twinkled. “There’s more waiting for you in the primary bedroom.”
“More?” I squeaked.
“Come on.” Maddie grabbed my hand and hauled me toward the room.
As we stepped inside, we froze again. There weren’t just more flowers; beyond that was a rack with six different breathtaking gowns hanging from it.
“Caden wanted to make sure you had something to wear that would make you feel beautiful,” Jalen said.
Tears burned the backs of my eyes. I’d told him I had an old prom dress I could probably squeeze into from my parents’ house, but he’d wanted me to feel comfortable tonight. Confident.
“And there’s something else on the bed,” Jalen added.
“Holy crap, G,” Wren whispered. “He isn’t messing around.”
I walked to the bed on shaky legs. Three red leather boxes lay on top of the mattress with a card. I grabbed the card first.
Gigi,
I couldn’t be prouder to walk into a room with you at my side. A little something to show you how much you shine.
Caden
I swallowed hard as I opened the first box—a pair of delicate diamond earrings. They looked like falling snowflakes that would catch the light. The second box housed a classic diamond tennis bracelet. And the third, a necklace that was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. It had the same snowflake resemblance as the earrings and would settle along my collarbone.
“He didn’t have to do this,” I whispered, tears filling my eyes. My hand reached up, touching the spot where the simple compass necklace used to lay. Now, I’d be able to wear something of Caden’s again. And that couldn’t have felt more right.
Wren wrapped an arm around me. “Don’t you know Caden well enough by now? He did this because hewantedto.”
Caden hadn’t said those three little words yet, but he didn’t need to. They were in his eyes. In his every action. And I felt them down to my bones.
* * *
My hands skimmedover the pale blue fabric of my gown. The silk hugged my curves, dipping low in the front with a lace overlay on my cleavage. The diamonds at my ears, throat, and wrist glimmered in the light.
“Are you ready?” Wren called from the living area. “The boys are on their way up.”
