“You have the best taste, you picked me,” Trey responds, kissing me on the top of the head.

I turn to look up and place my hand on his chest, staring up into his caramel eyes. “That I did.” I inch up to kiss his lips. After a brief meeting of our lips, he pulls back. This comfortable life we’ve made, into such a great routine, settles me into our future even more.

“You want to seal it in ink?”

“A tattoo?” I question, obviously pretending I don’t know exactly what he’s talking about. The marriage topic has been brought up in conversation around our house for some time, but we’ve had so much to do, it gets pushed back. “Whenever you’re ready, I’m there.” I smile up at him, and he captures my mouth. I’m not about to mention, I have a dress hanging in Jessa’s spare closet.

MY MIND STARTED racing as soon as she said she was ready. Everything I’ve been waiting for with her is finally becoming reality. Prior to this point, every time I brought it up, she would shrug her shoulders or tell me we’ll talk about it later. The problem is we don’t have the funds or the time to plan some elaborate wedding like Brady and Sadie. But it needs to be special, and I don’t want to stress her out. She’s in the middle of her senior year while taking care of three kids and doesn’t need more on her plate.

So the next day when I get to work, I text my sidekick, who currently has her hands full as well. After a quick text, my phone rings, and I’m instructed I need to come over immediately. Cutting out a little early for lunch, I arrive at The Bishops’. Before I can knock on the door, Jessa opens it and ushers me in.

She puts her clasped hands next to her head and points to the pack 'n play in the corner. Obviously, their new bundle of joy is asleep. Jessa looks like hell on wheels, not that I would tell her that. Her brown strands are stuck up in all different directions and she’s wearing a grey t-shirt that can’t camouflage the amount of stains on it. Lastly, a pair of pajama pants that look likes she slept in them for the past week.

“Don’t judge, you of all people should know what it’s like having kids,” she comments once we get into the kitchen.

“I’m not judging. You look beautiful as always.” I kiss her on the cheek and she pushes me away. Our friendship may have changed when the loves of our lives entered, but it’s still just as strong as ever.

“Liar, but I’ll take it.” She sits down and presses me for information on what my plans are and things like, did I have the ring. Just as I’m going to try to get her advice, Baby Bishop wakes up, and Jessa’s head falls to the table.

I stand up and retreat to the room to grab the little one. She calms once in my arms. Just as I’m about to escape the room, I see a white image in a plastic bag peeking out from the hall closet. I don’t think much of it, until Jessa runs over, shoving it in the closet and slamming the door.

“Dramatic,” I comment, scrunching my forehead. “I really don’t think Brady would care if I saw Sadie’s dress.”

“It’s not Sadie’s,” slips out and then covers her mouth. “Shit!” She covers her mouth again. “I keep swearing around the baby,” she slumps her shoulders.

“I doubt she understands you. If it’s not Sadie’s, whose—” I stop myself realizing exactly whose dress is in the closet. Then her words ‘Whenever you’re ready, I’m there’ ring in my ears. “She bought a dress?” I ask.

Jessa bites her lip and nods. “Please, don’t say anything. You aren’t supposed to know. She doesn’t want to pressure you into proposing—” she rambles.

“This is fucking fantastic,” I reply, and Jessa gasps, pointing to the baby. “Relax, Jessa, she doesn’t understand what I’m saying.”

Then my whole plan links together, but there are a few arrangements I need to make sure I can swing first. I leave an exhausted Jessa with the promise that we’ll go shopping tomorrow.

TWO WEEKS LATER, we’re on the way to my parents. Kailey sits there, looking at the green hills passing us by while the kids are sleeping in the back. We’re smart enough to plan the times of arrival and departure to their nap times. Chloe’s becoming a little harder to get to fall asleep, but she eventually knocked out while watching some new Disney show on the DVD player.

I grab Kailey’s hand and bring it up to my lips. “I love you,” I say, and she smiles back at me.

“I love you, too.”

The fact that if all goes right, in less than forty-hours she’ll be Mrs. Trey Michaels thrills me more than I ever thought it could. When I think about how once upon a time I didn’t believe in marriage, I shake my head in disbelief. I guess they’re right when they say you can meet the one person who makes you question everything in your life. Kailey’s done that for me, and I hope I’ve done that for her.

“What are you thinking about over there?” she asks, staring over at me.

“How lucky I am,” I remark, and she laughs.

“Oh, always the sweet talker.”

“Only to you,” I profess truthfully.

We pull up to my parents’, and they’re both at the back doors before we can get out. I press the button, and the doors slide open. My mom grabs Drew and my dad picks up Tara while Chloe wakes up and gets herself out, taking my dad’s hand.

“Nice to see you, too,” I call out to the five of them walking into the house.

“Hi, Trey. Hi, Kailey.” They wave to us, opening their front door.

Kailey and I grab the bags, laughing on our way in. “How about we sneak to the tree house tonight?” I whisper in her ear and a flush rises up her neck.

“Do you think your parents would mind?” she questions, and I stare directly at her.

“I think they’d prefer it,” I joke and my eyes lingering on her.

“Well then, I’d love to.” She seductively licks her lips and bites her bottom one, knowing exactly what that does to me.

“Be careful, two can play that game,” I remind her.

“You know I’m always game.” She starts walking faster to the door.

“You do remember that I always catch you,” I call out, and she turns around.

“Catch me now.” She drops her bags and jumps into my arms. My own bags fall to the cement driveway, and my hands grab her ass immediately. “What is it about your parents’ house that has me not being able to keep my hands off you?” she asks right before my mouth smashes against hers. I’m not sure my body will win the fight until we make it to the tree house, because with three kids in the house, it isn’t often she can scream my name when I make her come.

After too short of a kiss, I pull back. “I don’t know, but I might have to move us all here.” I kiss her again, and she sneaks her tongue into my mouth. I’m not about to deny her, so I mingle mine with hers and her hands find the back of my hairline. Since I’ve grown it out a little, she loves tugging at the strands a little now.

Eventually, we make our way into the house and place the bags in the designated rooms. We have dinner with my parents while Kailey’s giving baths, I give my mom the last of the directions in regards to what needs to be prepared for tomorrow.

“Oh, it’s so romantic. I’m so happy for you,” my mom fawns over me, hugging and kissing my cheek.

“Okay, they’re all bathed and ready for their songs and bed time story.” Kailey comes in and notices my moms face. “Elena, what’s the matter? Why are you crying?” She rushes over to her side and places her hand on my mom’s shoulder.

“Nothing, Kailey. Trey was telling me a story about the kids. You know these menopause hormones have my emotions everywhere,” she lies.

“Oh, I’ve heard about that and the hormone replacements—” Kailey begins to chime in.