And, in the sprit of celebrating every cheesy anniversary, I was going all out on this one. Balloons, flowers, expensive chocolates, and dinner at one of the nicest places in town.

It was corny and extravagant, but sometimes a girl needed a little crazy.

And my girl?

My girl deserved the fucking stars.

I’d been planning this for nearly two weeks, ever since the moment we’d arrived home from my mother’s house.

That house was the place where I’d spent so much of my childhood.

I remembered chasing Jude around and also hiding in the broom closet while he’d yell, “Marco!”

I’d snicker to myself, knowing I was supposed to yell, Polo, back, but I wouldn’t.

Seeing Cara there had made everything real.

She was it.

She was mine. I knew that much.

But, now, I knew something even more important.

I was hers. Forever.

That girl—with the infectious laugh and the horrible fashion sense, with the impeccable manners and love for history—owned me.

And I planned on making sure she didn’t forget it.

Every damn day for the rest of our lives.

She made me giddy.

Fucking giddy.

I was buzzing around the apartment, showering and picking out a tie, when I realized I was actually whistling.

Who does that?

It was so ridiculous. I thought I actually made myself sick.

After picking out a suit, I grabbed my phone to make sure I was still on time. When you were dating your assistant and planning an event she couldn’t know anything about, the details suddenly landed squarely on your own lap.

And I wasn’t good with juggling.

It was why I had a damn assistant to begin with.

But I’d managed everything up until today, and assuming the limo got here on time and I walked out of here with two shoes on my feet and the bouquet of roses I’d picked out, everything else would work itself out.

Hopefully. I didn’t exactly know.

This whole dating thing was still new to me after all.

Briefly pausing to scroll through my phone, I noticed that Jo had called not just once but several times. I’d failed to call her back the first time, the phone call completely eluding me. But now, seeing her name pop up on the screen again, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.

Looking at the clock, I knew it was a risk.

I had barely enough time to finish getting ready.

But I knew I wouldn’t be in the right frame of mind if I had this looming over me.

What if she was in trouble? What if something was wrong?

She didn’t often turn to me when she needed help, but if things were bad, she knew she could.

And I’d help.