Page 3 of Mine to Promise

“Um,” Matthew asks, “does she need the ring?” He holds up the ring he crawled around for right after Sofia tackled him.

“She does.” I finally snap out of it and smile at him. “Go put it on her.” I clap my hands happily when he finally does.

“Sofia,” Matthew says, picking up her hand, “will you marry me?”

“We don’t have time for this,” Presley states. “She already said yes, so just slip it on her. The girls are waiting.”

“Well, we’re trying to sober them up, but most of them are really excited,” Clarabella explains. “Your grandmother is losing her mind with all the dresses Zara was able to get. She even bowed down to her and then fell.” Casey takes a step forward. “She’s fine.” Then she mumbles, “Nothing a little makeup can’t hide.

“We have her,” Clarabella assures, looking at me, and all I can do is nod my head. “You two.” She points at Shelby and Presley. “Gather the men.”

“Gather the men,” Matty’s uncle Matthew says. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“I think it means if you try to run, she’s going to…” Matthew’s uncle Max tries to say without laughing but can’t stop, “lasso you.”

“Dibs,” Casey calls, folding his hands over his chest as Uncle Matthew glares at him.

Clarabella grabs Sofia’s hand and pulls her toward a golf cart. “Get in.”

“Where are we going?” she asks us, and all I can do is smirk at her. After all, the one thing I’m happy about is I didn’t blow the surprise.

I get into the back of the cart as Clarabella starts to drive through the path on the way to Sofia’s great-grandfather’s barn.

The sight of her pink tractor outside makes her gasp. I grab the clipboard from the seat beside me and look down at it.

“We have a lot to get ready for,” I say, getting out of the golf cart and looking toward the barn that is being transformed as we speak.

“Fun fact,” Sofia shares, “I was conceived in this barn.”

“Well, it’s full circle now,” Clarabella says. “Do you want to see the reception space or do you want to go and do the dresses?”

“Please, I trust you guys with my life,” she declares. “Take me to the dresses.”

“Yay.” I clap again. “I’m so excited, we all have bets,” I finally say as we usher her toward the side of the barn. As soon as we get close enough, I can hear the laughter and the giggles.

The door opens, and the squealing becomes even louder, and all I can do is watch in shock as the women try to blink away the drunkenness.

“It’s going to be fine.” Clarabella must see the frantic look I have on my face. “The only ones who need to be sober for this are Presley and Shelby.”

“What?” I blurt, thinking that there has to be more people sober for this.

“They have the men who are going to be putting the finishing touches on the ceremony space,” Clarabella informs me. “All we have to do is make sure no one’s boobs are falling out and all private areas aren’t showing.”

“Can we pick a dress?” Zara says, sticking her head out of the office.

I follow Sofia into the room and see that all my hard work from before has paid off. What was once an office is now filled with twenty mirrors all around the four walls, with tables of makeup in front of them and antique chairs. In the middle of the room are small round tables with benches so people can sit. “This is…” She looks up at the elegant chandelier hanging there.

“This is nothing,” I state, pointing at the door that leads to the reception space. “You should see in there.” I glance at Clarabella. “Now, if you don’t need me, I have to make sure everything is in place for the ceremony and the reception.” I look at Sofia. “You are my first client.”

“Well then, I guess I’m in the best hands,” Sofia replies, smiling at me. We have gotten very close in the past nine months, and I consider her my best friend. She has even helped me out babysitting Avery when I was stuck.

“I’ll see you soon,” I tell her as I turn and walk away from her and straight into the barn.

I barely make it out of the door when I hear shouting on the side. I walk over and see Casey and Matthew looking down at the shotgun in Casey’s hand. “I think as soon as they say I do, we do the gun salute.”

“What the hell are you two doing?” I storm up to them.

“We are going to shoot off the guns at the end,” Casey informs me. “We have enough guys.” I hold up my hand while he talks.

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