“Have you been here before?” Kiernan asks as the three of us pull up to the modern farmhouse sitting on the water. It’s white with blue shutters and natural wood flower boxes on the windows.

“No,” I answer. “Only seen it in pictures. They just closed on it last week.”

Roman parks behind another car in the circular drive, hopping out and striding quickly around to my side. He opens the door for me, taking the cake from my lap and balancing it on one large palm while the other helps me down. When I land on my feet, he pulls me into his side, walking toward to the front door with me wrapped in his arms. He leans down to kiss the top of my head. “You look gorgeous, Sugar.”

I smile up at him. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” That’s an understatement. His muscular ass and thick thighs look spectacular in navy pants tailored perfectly to his body. His tan skin glows against his crisp white shirt open at the collar.

“Don’t worry about me, guys. I can open my own door, no problem,” Kiernan calls out, stepping out of the truck. “Roman, a real gentleman would have opened the door for all his guests.”

I crack up, which makes Kiernan light up. “Don’t laugh at his jokes,” Roman says. “I made that mistake and now I can’t get rid of him.”

“Don’t listen to him, Harper. He’d be lost without my friendship. He lies a lot. He’s not lying about how good you look, though, your ass in that dress is fantastic.”

Roman spins around so fast, stepping into Kiernan’s space and making him laugh. He shoots me a wink over Roman’s shoulder. I’ve loved getting to know Kiernan over these last few weeks, he’s hilarious and loves to push Roman’s buttons—which always makes me laugh. He never jokes around while he’s working though, taking each job seriously.

“Back off,” Roman growls.

Kiernan puts up his hands, smiling. “It’s just too easy.”

Roman stands there for another moment, glaring at him before turning back to me and grabbing my hand, pulling me inside after him.

I suck in a breath when we enter. It’s perfect. Everything is perfect. The gray couches with blue pillows in front of the fireplace, the granite countertops in the kitchen. The windows in the back of the house show off the incredible view of the sun sinking below the grassy hills in the distance, making the water sparkle. Twinkling lights are hung about the cedar deck. Savannah and Liam are the only two people outside, wrapped in each other’s arms. She’s staring up at him like he’s her knight in shining armor and he’s looking at her like she’s most the precious gift in the world.

Valerie comes up, handing me a glass of wine and Roman a beer. “Don’t they just make you sick?”

“They’re too sweet for words,” I gush, eternally happy my best friend found the love of her life.

“Savannah! Liam! Stop playing googly eyes with each other! They’re here.”

“What’s going on?” I ask.

Valerie shrugs, wrapping an arm around Gabe as he walks up to our group. “Savannah asked me to tell her when you arrived. You’re the last to arrive. No surprise.”

“It’s Roman’s fault,” I insist, knowing she won’t believe me, but if he hadn’t pushed me against the door when I came out of the closet fully dressed and sunk to his knees in front of me, we would’ve been here a lot sooner.

“I’m not even sorry about it,” Roman says, winking at me.

“Dear Lord,” Valerie mutters. “Your man is fine.”

Gabe sighs, shaking his head and squeezing Valerie closer to him.

I chuckle. “You’re going to give Gabe a complex.”

She throws her head back, laughing before leaning into to me to whisper. “Don’t let him fool you, he loves it. He takes me home after I say things like that and shows me just who my man is. I only do it because I love what he does to me afterward.”

My mouth drops open, and I glance over at Gabe. His eyes are full of heat, staring at Val. I’ll never understand their relationship.

Roman introduces Kiernan to everyone when James and Hudson walk over to our little group. I wave at Savannah and Liam’s parents and chuckle as I watch Olivia, Liam’s sister, chase after her little girl.

“Thanks for coming, y’all. We’re so happy you’re here to celebrate our new lake house with us.” I turn back toward the front when Savannah starts speaking. A huge grin takes over her face before she utters her next words. “We’re hoping since y’all are here, you’re willing to celebrate something else with us, too.”

“You’re pregnant,” Valerie calls out, shrieking. “Oh, my God! I’m going to be an aunt!”

Everyone in the room gasps and starts talking excitedly.

“No, I’m not pregnant,” Savannah says, laughing.

Liam pulls Savannah closer to him. “At least not yet,” he says, looking down at her with so much love in his eyes.

“We’re getting married,” Savannah shrieks.

She has the biggest grin on her face as the room is silent, waiting for what else she has to say. They’ve been engaged for a while now.

“Right now,” Liam finishes sounding insanely proud. “Well, in about thirty minutes.”

“What?” Valerie yells.

Savannah laughs, kissing Liam. “I’ll see you at the altar.”

They both walk over to us. Valerie and I are staring at her with our mouths hanging out.

“Wh–what about—” I stop. “I don’t even know where to begin with my questions!”

“Come on,” Savannah says. “I’ll tell y’all everything. Help me get ready. Olivia, come with us.”

“Whiskey and cigars, boys?” Liam asks, unable to wipe the grin from his face.

I start to follow Savannah, but Roman smacks my ass. I turn toward him, glaring at him.

“Kiss,” he demands.

I try to hide my smile as I step up to him, kissing him firmly on the lips, letting my tongue trace along his lip for just one second before I follow the girls into the other room, tingling all over my body.

Valerie and I immediately launch into questions as Savannah sits down at a vanity in the master bedroom.

“Tell us everything,” Olivia says. “We had plans to go look at flowers next week!”

Savannah sighs dreamily, resting her chin in her hand. “Last week when we closed, we came out here, and watched the sunset. I said it is the perfect place. He told me he couldn’t wait for a little girl who looks just like to me to be running around in the yard as all of our family and friends were here.”

With a chorus of aww from all of us, Savannah smiles and continues. “I didn’t want to wait another second to marry him. This is our perfect little slice of heaven. You know we love Austin, but this isn’t far from the city, and it’s gorgeous out here. It’s close enough to commute for work. James’ land isn’t far from here. It’s not as trafficky. We might live out here full time.”

“What?” I ask, stunned. I never thought they’d move out of the city. She’s right—it’s not far at all.

“That’s a conversation for another day,” she says waving her hand. “We talked about our wedding and how stressful those can be. Everyone we love most in the world is here. That’s all we want. I need him to be at the altar when I walk down the aisle, that’s it. So, we decided to get married, right here, on our little slice of heaven.”

I sniffle, so happy for my friends. “That’s perfect. Do you have a dress? I could have gotten something for you.”

“I do. It’s perfect. After we decided to get married here, we went shopping the next day in town. I found this amazing little vintage shop you would die over, Harp. There it was. The perfect dress, hanging on a mannequin. Let me go put it on.”

A minute later, Savannah walks out of the closet wearing a beautiful white gown with a lowcut scoop neckline. It fits her body perfectly, showing off every single one of her curves. It’s light enough to be the right dress for this event. She spins around, showing the back where it dips into a low scoop, just above her butt. Her dark curls are pulled to one side. She looks glamorous.

She leans over the vanity and applies red lipstick, and her emerald green eyes sparkle.

All three of us are breathless, watching her. She’s been to hell and back and now she’s about to walk down the aisle and marry the man of her dreams, who stood by her and helped her save herself. She’s the strongest person I know and deserves this beautiful night.

Savannah’s mom pops into the room. “We’re ready, honey. You look beautiful.”

“She knew?” Valerie asks. “I’m your best friend!”

“She’s my mom,” Savannah replies, laughing. “We told our parents earlier today.”

“Hey! I’m the sister and future sister-in-law!” Olivia says.

Savannah shrugs. “I knew you’d enjoy the spontaneity and the surprise.”

Olivia grumbles. “You’re right.”

“Dad’s waiting to walk you down the aisle,” Savannah’s mom, Ashley, says.

“Let’s do this!” Savannah rushes out the bedroom door. “I can’t wait to marry my man.”

The backyard has been quickly transformed into the perfect wedding venue with chairs facing the water and an arch with flowers now displayed. Caterers mill around inside, and a photographer is setting up her camera. Savannah stops at the end of the hallway. “See you ladies after.”

We all walk outside, taking seats. I sit next to Roman, taking it all in. Liam stands up at the front under the arch, looking proud and excited with an officiant at his side. Music plays and we rise, turning toward the back of house, watching Savannah make her entrance with her father. I rotate to face Liam when Savannah descends the steps of the deck. His mouth is open with his hand on his chest, stunned by her beauty. His eyes are glassy as he watches her walk toward him to commit to a life together forever.

I spin to face Roman and find him watching me with a wistful expression on his face. The air whooshes from my lungs as I stare into his eyes and see more than I’m ready to see. He’s leaving. I have to remind myself of this as my feelings bang against the box they’re locked in. I can’t let myself fall. It would hurt worse this time.

Our eyes are still locked as we take our seats again. I’m barely able to rip my eyes away from him to watch two of my closest friends get married, and let my tears flow during the entire ceremony. I cry for my friend getting her happily ever after. I cry for my friend who endured torture to get here. I cry for me. For all the dreams and plans I had with Roman. The dreams and plans that will never happen.