A couple of weeks later, Gabby was sitting at the dining table, her laptop open and pages of notes spread around her. She had been going back and forth with venues, trying to lock down something small and intimate. Zay walked in, a smoothie in hand, watching her stress with a smirk on his face.
"You gon' give yourself a headache, baby," he said, setting the smoothie down in front of her.
Gabby looked up and sighed, rubbing her temples. "I know, but this is harder than I thought. Everybody tryna sell me some 'fairy tale package.' I don't want all that."
Zay pulled out a chair and sat across from her. "So what we doin'? You want me to call somebody? I'll handle it."
She shook her head. "Nah, I wanna do this my way. But it's just frustrating. I feel like they don't get it. I want small, simple, and chill. Why they tryna push horse-drawn carriages and champagne towers?"
Zay laughed, shaking his head. "That ain't you, G. You just tryna vibe, huh?"
"Exactly!" Gabby exclaimed, throwing her hands up.
Zay leaned forward, his voice soft but firm. "Then stop lettin' them tell you what you want. You know what we about. Book a lil' garden spot, get some food catered, and call it a day. Forget all that extra stuff."
Gabby paused, his words sinking in. "You right," she said finally. "I'm overthinking it again, huh?"
He smirked. "Always."
Venue Check
A few days later, Gabby and Zay went to check out a small garden venue just outside the city. The space was quiet and cozy, with string lights draped across the trees and a small fountain in the center. Gabby's eyes lit up the moment she saw it.
"This... this is it," she said softly, looking around.
Zay nodded, slipping an arm around her waist. "It's nice. Real you."
The owner of the venue walked them through the details, and by the end of the tour, Gabby felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"I love it," she said as they walked back to the car.
Zay opened the door for her and leaned in. "Then it's done. We lockin' it in."
Gabby smiled, her heart full. "You always make things so easy."
"That's my job," he said with a wink before shutting the door.
Invites and Excitement
Back home, Gabby started working on the guest list. It was short—Zay's sister, his close friends, and her two employees from the shop. She stared at the list for a moment, realizing just how small her circle was, but instead of feeling sad, she felt grateful.
"I got what I need," she whispered to herself, a soft smile on her lips.
Later that night, she showed Zay the finalized list. He glanced over it and nodded. "Perfect. You ready to be Mrs. Carter?"
Gabby blushed, her cheeks warm. "More than ready."
Zay leaned over and kissed her. "Good, 'cause I been ready since the day I met you."
To Be Continued...
