Grant chuckles and looks over my shoulder. “He did help me do all this, so maybe you can give him a pass.”
I follow his gaze to see the guys standing outside of the owner’s box and the girls running back inside. “I’ll consider it.” Diving back in, I tangle my fingers in his hair and lose myself in him until I hear Gabby and Ivory’s excited shrieks fill the air.
Grant helps me stand, turning so I can see our group of friends as they all run onto the field to celebrate with us.
When Josh steps forward I burst into tears, not expecting him to be here. “What are you doing here?”
My brother gives me a bear hug and I breathe in his familiarscent. I’ve missed him more than I realized. “Two of my favorite people are back together and engaged. Like I’d miss it.”
“You know we’re already married,” I mumble against his chest.
“I wasn’t there for that one, so I’m calling this the official one.” He releases me then points at me and Grant. “I better be invited.”
Ivory hugs me next before she starts peppering me with questions. “I can’t wait to help you plan. What are you thinking? A large, wedding of the century type thing?”
Gabby wedges her way into the hug and picks up where Ivory left off. “No, that’s not you. A small local ceremony? What do you want?”
Honestly, I hadn’t thought about what kind of ceremony I would want for our vow renewal, a small affair with our friends and family like Preston and Ivory’s wedding sounds like the perfect thing. But we have time to decide all that.
Breaking away from my best girls, I tell them what I’m thinking. “You know what I want first?”
“What’s that?” Ivory asks, tucking herself into Preston’s side.
“A bachelorette trip! We didn’t get one the first time.”
“An absolute necessity,” Gabby agrees. “What about Seaside Pines? I’ve been wanting a beach trip.”
“Can we talk about this at the restaurant? Grant promised me food for all the free labor and I’m dying here.” Miller interrupts, walking backward to the dugout.
“Thanks for all your help, Mills. It was gorgeous,” I say, following after him.
“You’re welcome, Tay baby.”
“That’s my nickname,” Grant barks. He reaches down and lifts me with one arm under my knees, hoisting me into a bridal carry as we all leave the stadium.
“That was really hot!” Gabby yells after us and I cackle as I watch Chase catch her off guard with the same move.
“Watch it, Princess. I’m the only one you’re calling hot.”
“Are you happy?” Grant whispers.
“Blissfully.” I kiss him again, trusting him to not let me fall and counting down the minutes until I can get him home to celebrate properly. But for now, a celebration with our closest friends is the next best thing.
When Gabby suggested Seaside Pines for our trip, I couldn’t think of a better place to spend a few days with my girls. It’s been years since I’ve been to the small coastal North Carolina town. My family used to travel to Seaside Pines for beach trips when I was younger, but as we got older, we stopped going on our annual vacations.
“Hold your breath,” Gabby squeals from the front seat as we start the drive over the bridge connecting the island to the mainland. I laugh but take a big gulp of air and hold my breath, remembering my brother and I played the same game when we were growing up.
Ivory releases her breath in a rush from the driver’s seat. “Oh my god. I can’t hold my breath that long.” She and Preston just got back from their anniversary trip, but thankfully we were able to squeeze in a long weekend away before needing to be back in Nashville for the speed date competition with Landon next weekend.
Once we’re off the bridge on the island side, Gabby and I high five for making it all the way without giving up.
“You need to work on that breath play, Ives.” I smirk at her in the rearview mirror.
“We’re not all freaks like you, Tay.”
“Speak for yourself,” Gabby mutters.
“Has Chase tied you to anything new recently?” I ask, popping a gummy in my mouth.
