Page 97 of Plotting Summer

“Well, when you do, can I be your flower girl? I’ve wanted to be a flower girl since I was little.”

I pull her in for a hug, smiling to myself at her lifelong dream. But then I think about my own lifelong dream I had at her age—the one where I'd grow up and marry Tristan—and I'm suddenly in awe that young Capri's dream came true. “Of course you’ll be my flower girl,” I say, because who am I to deny a little girl her dream?

She stays in my embrace but cranes her neck up to see me. “And Jack should be the one who carries the rings down the aisle.”

“Serenity,” Tala says, stepping up next to us. “Stop hounding Auntie Capri. She literally just got engaged.” Her gaze lifts to me. “It’s all she’s been able to talk about since Tristan told us he was going to propose.”

“My own family keeping secrets from me,” I say with a smile.

“Tell me about it.” Tala pins me with a mock glare. “But ours was only for a couple of weeks. Jane and I went ring shopping with him while you and Mom were in California for your tour at the beginning of the month. Not that we did anything because the moment he saw your ring, he was sold.” She grabs my hand, lifting the ring up to get a closer look, and the diamonds sparkle in the light. “It’s perfect, isn’t it?”

“It really is.”

“Did you have any idea he was going to propose?”

“Not until we got on his boat and he said we were going for a ride. And even then, I didn’t think … I more hoped.”

“What did you hope?” Tristan slides his arms around my waist, nuzzling his chin into me and tickling my neck with his beard.

“That you’d finally stop being stingy with your last name and share it with me.”

Tristan’s fingers tighten on my stomach, and I let out a squeal that makes Serenity giggle.

Tala looks between us, doing a subpar job at hiding her amusement. “I think we’d better go get these kids to bed.” She steers Serenity by her shoulders toward the back door. “Heath, are you ready to go?”

Heath and Stan glance in our direction. “Yeah,” they say in unison, standing up from the table where they’ve been chatting about European infrastructure or something along those lines. “Faye and I can take Grandma back to Seaside Oasis on our way,” Stan says, helping Grandma up from her chair.

Mom’s rocking a sleeping Lucas but comes to give me one more kiss on my cheek. “Congratulations, you two. You can’t possibly know how thrilled we all are for you. When you were young, Joy and I used to tease about the two of you growing up and getting married. And now here we are.”

Tristan and I share a smile.

“But we’ll let the two of you have a quiet moment together.” Her gaze settles on Tristan. “Thanks for letting us celebrate with you.”

“We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Oh, and Heath,” I say, catching his attention. “I’m only going to say this once and then pretend it never happened, but thanks for your help. You and Tala both.”

Heath grins, glancing around at the few people still standing here. “You’re all witness to that. Capri is grateful for my meddling.” His gaze returns to me. “So grateful that she’s probably going to name a character in her next book after me.”

“There's a slight possibility,” I say, not yet informing him I already named the hero's debonair friend and comedic relief in my next book after him. I don't want to inflate his ego before it's absolutely necessary.

He gives a victorious fist pump. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

Tristan and I walk the group to the back door, and once they exit, Heath turns toward us, taking a few backward steps. “You two behave yourselves now. I’ll be expecting Capri back by midnight.” He points at Tristan. “Don’t make me come get her.”

“Heath, you’re ridiculous,” Tala says, tugging on Heath and sending us her customary apologetic smile. “We’ll leave the door unlocked, Capri. And I’ll keep Heath entertained so you don’t have to worry about him.”

Heath wraps an arm around Tala. “That’s what I like to hear. Taking one for the team.”

“I meant I’d turn on a movie for us,” Tala says, throwing him a playful look.

“Don’t play coy,” Grandma says. “We all know exactly what you meant, you little minx.”

The whole group laughs, including a blushing Tala.

When they head inside, I close the door and turn to face Tristan. His warm gaze is on me, and I can’t help but go directly into his arms. “I loved the surprise of celebrating with our families,” I say with a timid smile. “Thanks for planning it.”

“Oh, that wasn’t the surprise,” Tristan says, taking my hand in his. “This is.”