Page 67 of Her Marine
“Axel came by my office today and plans to pop the question.”
Talia smiled. “No way! I always thought Aryah would get married first.”
“I think we all did,” Journee responded. “But yes, he is.”
“So, the wine and food are to celebrate?”
“Not exactly. He’s popping the question on Sunday, and if she says yes, they’re getting married on Sunday.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
Journee nodded, knowing that Talia didn’t need her to repeat what she’d said. Moreso, she was trying to swallow the information that Journee had given her. She watched her walk over to a drawer and remove a corkscrew before taking two glasses down. Talia opened one of the wine bottles and poured them a glass.
“A surprise wedding in six days,” Talia stated after drinking her wine. “Is he crazy?”
“Yes,” Journee responded. “As hell, but so am I because I agreed to help, and since no one knows Kaydence better than you and I…” Journee trailed off.
“Then I guess we should get to work.”
She pulled her laptop out. “I was able to secure a location by calling in a favor, and I made a rough invitation before I left the office. We need to refine it and send it out tonight.”
The two sat at Talia’s island for several hours, eating and drinking, finding flower vendors, caterers, and deejays, and choosing decorations. Journee made as many appointments as she could online for the following day. She would be free that morning and Talia that afternoon for one of them to go with Axel to choose someone for each significant thing they needed.
Journee wasn’t sure if Kaydence would return to work tomorrow, but if she wasn’t, she planned to go to the shop and speak to Lidi about making the wedding cake. There was no point in them trying to employ another shop when Kaydence owned the best one.
By the time they’d finished for the night, it was after midnight, and they still needed to make a final list of decorations.
As Journee headed home, she made a mental note to ask Axel what he planned to do about a marriage license tomorrow since they needed it to be legally married, and both of them would have to sign it.
18
Journee surveyed Kaydence as she looked herself over in the mirror. She looked beautiful. Talia had done her hair, Aariah her makeup, and her dress would be perfect for the occasion. Naturally, Kaydence thought that it was a bit much for Christmas pictures, but they’d reminded her that they were the first ones she would be taking with Axel and his family. Which meant she needed to look phenomenal.
Luckily for them, she hadn’t pressed and asked more questions. Kaydence thanked them and left the room. Journee knew that Ms. Rose would be outside waiting for her. The four women waited a couple of minutes, sure that Kaydence wouldn’t return before Journee opened the small closet in the room and pulled out the garment bags handing them out.
“That dress she has on is perfect,” Aryah stated as she undressed.
“You did that, Talia,” Aariah added.
“I’m not going to lie and tell you it was easy because she kept trying to pick out red dresses since Ms. Rose said white and red. Steering her towards white without being suspicious was difficult,” Talia responded with a shake of her head. “But she does look beautiful in it. I still can’t believe my little sister is getting married.”
Journee nodded because none of them believed she would tell Axel no. They made each other happy, and the two taking this step seemed like it was supposed to happen.
She changed out of the clothes she was wearing into her dress and shoes. The four wanted to be changed and as put together as possible before Axel proposed so their focus could be putting the finishing touches on Kaydence’s outfit.
The plan was for the photographer to have issues with the camera ten minutes into the shoot, and then Axel would propose. They only had a few minutes before that was to happen.
They met up with Ian, Courtney, and their grandmother when they exited the room, along with Killian, Jax, Slate, and Ace. Since Journee would be helping Kaydence get ready and ensuring the guests were situated beforehand, Slate picked Killian up from the airport.
He’d only been gone a little over a week, and while she’d spoken to him on the phone and they video-called, she hadn’t realized how much she would miss seeing him until he stood in front of her again. Journee didn’t want to imagine how she would feel when she’d spent more time away from him.
Killian stopped her as they followed everyone else, tipped her chin up, and kissed her softly, their lips moving in sync. When they pulled apart, he caressed her cheek.
“You were busy running around when I got here. So, I couldn’t do that when I wanted to,” he told her.
“I’ll be sure to make that up to you tonight and in the morning.”
“I wish I could, Tigress, but I’m flying out tonight.”
