Page 60 of Loving Lex

Sobs rose up into my throat, and all I could do was nod. I felt a nudge at my back, and the choked sound pushed free. “Yes,” I cried, the sound more of a squeak than a word. “Oh, my God, yes, Lex, please come up here!”

Applause came from everywhere. I felt the other women hug me and heard their squeals and words of delight, but I was laser-focused on the man leading his friends up the stairs—the one with eyes only for me as he strode straight to me and lifted me off my feet, covering my mouth with his as my arms wound around his neck.

There was more noise and whistles and catcalls, but I didn’t care. I was spinning in the arms of the only thing that mattered. Love.

“Yes?” he whispered against my lips when we finally broke free.

“Yes,” I cried, laughing. “Always yes.”

“Want to see the bling?”

“Oh, my gosh, yes to that, too!” I said.

He put me down and brought the box around in front of me. It was beautiful. Simple and unique, the round stone was surrounded by other round stones, making it look like a flower, encased in an antique-style, diamond-encrusted band. It was exactly what I’d want. He’d picked the perfect flower.

“I love you, Lex Mathison,” I said as he slid it on my finger. “I can’t wait to be your wife.”

“Good,” he said. “Because I meant it when I saidstarting right now.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What?”

His gaze darted to the archway at the end of the balcony, where a man was now standing. With a bible in his hand.

My eyes went wide. “Now?”

“Need to wait?” Lex asked.

“I—I—” I stuttered. But no. I didn’t. I’d just realized that these people were all I needed, even the ones I’d just met days ago. And this man... Jesus, this man. “Absolutely not,” I breathed. “Let’s do it.”

“Yes,” Lex said under his breath. “That’s my girl.”

“But I’m—” I looked down at myself, dressed for brunch, not to... holy shit, get married? “I’m not dressed for this.”

“We’ve got this covered,” Sophia said, stepping in and grabbing my arm with a wink in Lex’s direction. “We’ll be back in two shakes.”

I gaped at him, but let her lead me back into the restaurant, to a small room in the back, Grace and Rebekah close behind.

Once inside, they shut the door and Rebekah eyed me. “You okay?”

I stared back. “I think so?”

She laughed. “Let’s see that ring.”

I held out my hand, and they all oohed and aahed over the ring for a moment before Sophia got to business. “Okay...” She clapped her hands together. “Let’s do this.”

That’s when I realized there was a dress hanging on the back of the door.

A wedding dress.

“Wait.” I gaped at her. “You’ve been planning this all along?” I looked at all of them in turn. “All of you?”

“Not all along,” she reassured me. “But long enough.”

I simply stared, shocked.

Grace put an arm around my shoulder. “You okay?”

“I don’t know...” I glanced at the dress again.

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