Laura
After Jake and Chloe left, I went back to the kitchen, savoring the food Chloe had prepared. My taste buds hummed with delight as I finished the meal, mentally complimenting Chloe's cooking skills. I wondered if Jake enjoyed it as much as I did, he'd always appreciated a good, hearty breakfast. After doing the dishes, my phone rang, and Jake's name lit up on the screen.
Hey, gorgeous," he said, while I immediately blushed, unable to keep the smile from sounding as I chuckled. "How's my girl doing this morning?" He added
"Hey handsome! I'm great, just finishing up some work," I replied, my voice light and cheerful. "What about you?"
"Oh, just got a surprise planned for you tonight," he teased. "Something private and intimate, just for the two of us. So be ready." He let out while I laughed softly.
"I can't wait, Jake. You always make everything so perfect."
"Only because you deserve the best," he said, and I knew he meant every word. "Just be prepared to be swept off your feet tonight." He retorted, and blew me a kiss, making my heart feel lighter.
With a lighthearted goodbye, we hung up, and I dashed upstairs, feeling giddy. Jake was so thoughtful, and it amazed me how his sweetness could brighten my entire day. I stood in my closet, surrounded by a dozen options. Jake had bought me so many dresses in the past few weeks since I moved in, all beautiful, all luxurious, and all a reminder of how much he cared. I ran my fingers over the fabrics, feeling overwhelmed by choice.
"It wasn't so long ago I came to Atlanta with nothing but the dress I was putting on, a small phone my aunt had given me, and just enough money to get me to Arlene," I whispered to myself, shaking my head at how much things had changed. Now, I was standing in a beautiful closet full of exquisite dresses, each more gorgeous than the last.
Deciding I needed some help, I tried on a couple of dresses, snapping photos and texting them to Jake. I was practically holding my breath as I hit "Send," wondering what he'd think. Seconds later, a notification popped up, 'Jake is typing…'
Just then, the doorbell rang. Confused, I headed downstairs to see who it was. As I opened the door, my jaw dropped.
Standing before me was someone who I guessed from the dressing was a stylist and a glamorous makeup artist, both holding cases of beauty products and accessories.
"Good afternoon, Miss Laura," the stylist greeted me with a warm smile. "Your fiancé sent us. I'm his personal stylist and shopper, and here's your makeup artist. We're here to get you ready for tonight's surprise."
My heart skipped a beat. Jake thought of everything! Grinning from ear to ear, I quickly dialed Jake on FaceTime. He picked up, his face filling the screen.
"Baby!" I laughed, shaking my head in playful disbelief. "So you already had all of this planned? And here I was, wasting my time trying on every dress in my closet!"
He chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Guilty as charged. But you looked stunning in every photo. Now, let the experts take over. Trust me, you're going to look even more incredible tonight." He affirmed.
I bit my lip, barely able to contain my excitement. "You're the best, Jake. I don't know how I got so lucky."
"I'm the lucky one," he replied, his tone serious, his gaze soft. "Alright, I'll see you soon. Love you."
"Love you, too," I said, feeling a happy warmth spread through me as we hung up.
The stylist and makeup artist went to work, carefully choosing a dress from the new collection Jake had picked out, adjusting it to fit me perfectly. As they applied makeup, the stylist talked me through each product, making me feel like royalty. By the time they were done, I barely recognized myself. My skin glowed, my eyes looked dazzling, and the dress fit like a dream. I felt like a queen.
Just as they were packing up, a sleek black car pulled into the driveway, and I saw Jake step out, looking effortlessly handsome. He wore a sharp suit that highlighted his build, and as he approached the door, I couldn't help but admire him. His eyes widened when he saw me, and I felt my heart flutter.
"Wow," he whispered, stepping close and taking my hand. "You look… perfect."
I blushed. "Thank you, but look at you! You're the real show-stopper here."
He laughed, guiding me to the car. "Trust me, all eyes will be on you tonight."
As we drove, I couldn't stop smiling, feeling lucky and cherished. Soon, I noticed we were heading toward a part of town I hadn't seen before, and I shot Jake a curious glance.
"Where are we going?" I asked, half-expecting him to keep it a secret.
Jake just gave me a mysterious smile. "You'll see. Just trust me."
Finally, we pulled up in front of a large, beautiful penthouse, twice bigger than Jake's. I turned to him, my eyes wide with surprise. "Jake… is this—"
"Yes," he nodded, grinning. "This is my parents' home. I wanted you to meet them, Laura. I want them to see the incredible woman who's stolen my heart."
My chest swelled with emotion, and I reached over to squeeze his hand. "Thank you, Jake. This means so much to me."
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. "Come on. They're going to love you."
As we walked up the path, my heart was pounding with nerves and excitement. Jake's mother answered the door, her face lighting up when she saw us.
"Oh, Jake!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a warm hug before turning to me. "And you must be Laura. Jake has told us so much about you."
"It's so wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Andrews," I replied, trying to hide my nerves.
She laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "Oh, please, call me Eleanor."
Jake's father joined us, giving me a warm, welcoming smile. "Laura, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. We've heard so many good things."
Dinner was incredible. Eleanor had prepared a lavish meal, and they both made me feel right at home. Jake sat beside me, his hand occasionally brushing against mine under the table. Every time he looked at me, his eyes held that same soft admiration, and I couldn't stop myself from blushing.
Midway through the meal, Eleanor leaned over, giving me a warm smile. "You know, Laura, I've never seen Jake this happy. He talks about you all the time."
I glanced at Jake, feeling my heart swell with love. "Well, he makes me happier than I ever thought I could be."
Jake took my hand under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. "And I intend to keep it that way."
We shared a quiet moment, oblivious to everyone else. This was it, this was everything I'd dreamed of. Being part of his world, meeting his family, and feeling so at home. I couldn't imagine anything better.
After dinner, as we sat in the cozy living room chatting, Jake's father leaned forward, his expression serious yet kind. "Jake, you've found a special one here. Take good care of her."
Jake smiled, glancing over at me. "I know, Dad. I'm not letting her go."
I felt tears prick my eyes, overwhelmed by their warmth and acceptance. Jake noticed and leaned in, whispering in my ear, "Are you okay?"
I nodded, brushing away a tear. "I've just… never felt so welcomed and loved."
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, holding me close. "Get used to it, Laura. You're family now."
Later, as we were saying our goodbyes, Eleanor hugged me tightly. "You're always welcome here, Laura. Anytime."
"Thank you, Eleanor. This has meant so much to me," I said, smiling through the happy tears.
As Jake and I walked back to the car, I felt a surge of love and gratitude. This was the life I'd always dreamed of…