Then when they go to the back porch under the lights that reflect off the lake, making everything gorgeous and romantic, Julie has no idea what’s about to happen. But I do. And I’m already in position.
Hidden by the shadows, I’m standing off to the side of the porch, camera in hand and already recording, so that when Max drops down to one knee and proposes, I’ve got it all on film. Julie’s startled gasp, her excitedyes, and the way her jaw drops when he slides the ring on her finger. I capture it all. My heart is so full, it’s about to burst.
A few moments later, Max reveals that I’ve been here the whole time and Julie’s jaw drops again. “You got this on camera?” she says, happy tears rolling down her face.
“Yep,” I say, holding up my phone. “It’s the most adorably romantic thing I’ve ever seen.”
“I can’t believe you two planned this so secretly!” she says, pulling me into a hug. When we part, she looks at her ring, her eyes beaming with happiness. I knew we chose the perfect ring for her, and seeing her happiness now only confirms that.
“How about we celebrate with some dinner?” Max says as if he just thought of the idea. “Roger’s Diner?”
“Yes, absolutely,” Julie says, bouncing on her toes. “I need to go get dressed first. I can’t be showing off this gorgeous ring in the ugly clothes I’m wearing now.”
I breathe a quick sigh of relief. Julie wanting to change clothes was part of the plan.
“I’m gonna head out early and make sure to get us the good table that overlooks the water,” I say. This is also part of the plan—extracting myself quickly so I can make sure the surprise party is all set up when they arrive. Max winks at me without Julie noticing, and I grab my purse and head outside.
Luckily, Trevor is exactly on time. His rental car rolls into the driveway the moment I step out the front door. Having my own personal celebrity escort was not part of the plan, but I’m not complaining… this actually makes the entire night better.
“How’d the proposal go?” he asks, stepping out of his car as I walk up to it.
“It was perfection.”
He walks over to my side and opens my door, a gentlemanly act I’m aware of in a general sense, but I’m pretty sure no man has ever opened my door for me before. The gesture makes my heart feel all warm inside.
“You’ll have to tell me all about it,” he says, grinning at me before shutting the door.
I watch him walk back around to his side. He looks like a freaking magazine model in designer jeans, a blue shirt, and a black blazer on top of it. Everything is all crisp, clean lines with a muscular undertone. Holy cow he looks amazing. I’m wearing a simple black cocktail dress and some silver sparkly flats. Fancy by my standards, but I feel like a pile of garbage compared to him.
It’s a very short drive to the diner, and before I know it, we’re here. And I’m suddenly realizing that I’m about to walk into the party with a celebrity by my side.
“Umm,” I say, looking over at the insanely gorgeous man next to me.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re not wearing a disguise, and I just realized that you might be the center of attention tonight…” I reach for my phone. “I have an idea.”
I call the diner and ask for Clare, who is Julie’s favorite waitress who also happens to be helping me set up the surprise dinner party. I explain to her that I’m bringing Trevor Owens. After she expresses her excitement over meeting him, I tell her my fears.
“I don’t want his celebrity status to detract from the party tonight,” I say, watching him as he watches me from his driver’s seat. “Is everyone already there?”
“Yep, we’re all here waiting to surprise the happy couple.”
“Do you think you could tell everyone that Trevor is coming and that they need to be cool and respectful and not like, freak out about it?”
She chuckles. “I’ll do that, but you shouldn’t worry. Julie’s friends here in Sterling are mostly older people who don’t really care about stuff like that. Plus, I’ve got the party room sectioned off, and all the buffet tables on the patio are blocking the public from wandering into your section, so we can sit you and him in the back corner. No other restaurant guests will notice him, I promise.”
“You’re the best,” I say.
“Walk around the back by the catering van. I can sneak you inside the employee’s door and no one will notice you get here.”
I grin, then relay all the information to Trevor, who nods. “That’s really thoughtful of you, Annie. I appreciate it.”
We sit here in his car, shrouded by darkness, and I watch him, see the anxiety on his features, and the way he tries to hide it. “It must be exhausting being a celebrity,” I ponder out loud.
He runs a hand through his caramel-colored hair. “You have no idea.”
In this moment, my heart hurts for him. Sure he’s rich and famous and good looking, but it also means he misses out on just regular things like engagement parties that the rest of us can go to without thinking about. And in this realization, I also have to take a step back from my crush on him. I realize that the silly crush is just that—a silly, pointless crush. I can’t date a man like Trevor. He’s too famous. It just wouldn’t work.
