Chapter 55 THE SURPRISE & GROWING CLOSER

Chapter 55 THE SURPRISE & GROWING CLOSER


Adeline's POV

The coffee shop Grey chose was neutral territory. A quiet place near the university with booth seating and enough ambient noise that our conversation wouldn't carry.

I arrived ten minutes early, scoped out exits by habit, then chose a booth where I could see the door.

Grey arrived exactly on time, spotted me immediately, and smiled as he approached.

"Adeline. Thank you for meeting me."

"Of course."

He slid into the booth across from me, ordered a black coffee when the waitress came by. I already had my latte.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"This is awkward," he finally said with a slight laugh. "I'm not sure how to start."

"You wanted help planning a surprise for Belle."

"Right. Yes." He ran a hand through his auburn hair. "I want to do something special for her before the wedding. Something that shows her how much she means to me."

"She already knows that."

"I know. But I want a memory. Something perfect that's just ours before everything changes. Before Paris, before we start our life together officially."

The way he said it with genuine emotion in his voice, caught me off guard.

"What did you have in mind?"

"That's the thing. I'm not sure. I thought about jewelry, but that feels impersonal. I want something meaningful. An experience."

He leaned forward. "You know her better than anyone. What would make her happiest?"

I thought about Belle. About what she loved.

"She's always wanted to go stargazing," I said slowly. "Really stargazing, not just looking up from the city. Somewhere dark enough to see the Milky Way."

Grey's eyes lit up. "That's perfect. Where would we go?"

"There's an observatory about two hours north. They do private viewings. And there's a resort nearby with glass-ceiling cabins."

"A weekend getaway," he said, already planning.

"Friday to Sunday. I could tell her we're just going to dinner, then surprise her with the trip."

"She'd love that."

"Would you help me plan it? Make sure I get all the details right?"

I studied him. His expression was open, hopeful. Not manipulative. Just a man in love wanting to make his fiancée happy.

"Okay," I said. "I'll help."

Relief washed over his face. "Thank you. Really. This means a lot."

We spent the next hour planning. Grey took notes of Belle's favorite foods, clothing sizes, activities she'd enjoy.

"She gets cold easily," I found myself saying. "Bring extra blankets for stargazing."

"Good call. What else?"

"She likes her coffee with way too much sugar and cream. And she's secretly afraid of the dark, so make sure the cabin has nightlights."

Grey smiled. "I know about the coffee. I didn't know about the dark."

"She doesn't tell many people. She thinks it's childish."

"It's not childish. It's human." He looked at me. "Thank you for telling me. For trusting me with that."

There was something genuine in his voice that made me want to believe him.

"Can I ask you something?" I said.

"Anything."

"Why Belle? Of all the women you could've dated, why my sister?"

Grey was quiet for a moment, considering his answer.

"I met her at a charity event," he finally said.

"One of those fancy galas where everyone's pretending to care while really just networking. And then I saw Belle. She was volunteering, helping set up. She had paint on her hands from making signs, and she was laughing like it was the most fun she'd ever had."

He smiled at the memory.

"I watched her for probably twenty minutes before I got the courage to talk to her. And when I did, she was just... real. No pretense. No games. Just genuinely happy to be there. And I realized I hadn't met someone like that in years. Maybe ever."

"What did you say to her?"

"I asked if she needed help. She handed me a paintbrush and put me to work." He laughed.

"By the end of the night, I had paint all over my suit and I didn't care. We talked for hours. And when I drove home, I couldn't stop thinking about her."

The way he told the story, with such tenderness made it hard to doubt him.

"She changed me," Grey continued quietly.

"Before Belle, I was angry. At the world, at my past, at everything. I'd made mistakes. But Belle made me want to be better. To deserve her."

"People don't really change."

"Don't they?" He met my eyes. "You love Kayden Gravano. The man everyone fears. But he's different with you, isn't he?"

I didn't answer.

"Look, I know you have concerns about me, about my past and I get it. I worked for the Gravanos. I've seen things. But that's not who I am anymore. Belle made me realize I could choose who I wanted to be. And I choose to be someone worthy of her love."

I wanted to find the manipulation in his words. But all I heard was sincerity.

"If you hurt her—"

"I won't. I promise you, I won't. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Over the next three days, Grey and I coordinated everything. He booked the observatory and cabin. I helped him plan the itinerary, sunset hike, private stargazing, breakfast in bed with Belle's favorites.

We texted constantly. He'd send ideas and I'd give feedback. Surprisingly, it was easy. He listened and took my advice seriously. Genuinely seemed to care about getting every detail right.

Kayden noticed.

"You're on your phone a lot," he said one evening.

"Planning the surprise with Grey. He wants everything perfect."

"And how's that going?"

"Good, actually. He's really thoughtful and cares about the details."

Kayden wrapped his arms around me. "You're starting to believe he's good for her."

"Maybe. I don't know. He seems genuine."

"Trust your instincts, Bluey. You'll know when the time comes."

Friday arrived. The surprise was set.

Grey texted: "Picking Belle up in an hour. Wish me luck.”

"You don't need luck. She's going to love it."

I spent the evening with Kayden, trying not to check my phone every five minutes.

"She's fine," Kayden said, pulling me onto the couch. "Stop worrying."

"I'm not worrying. I'm monitoring."

"That's literally the same thing."

My phone buzzed. It was a photo from Grey.

Belle standing in front of the glass-ceiling cabin, hands over her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Pure joy.

Text below: "She said yes to the surprise. Thank you for helping make this perfect."

Another photo of Belle and Grey together, her arms around his neck, both of them laughing.

They looked happy. Really, genuinely happy.

Another text from Belle: "ADDY! Did you know about this?? This is the most romantic thing ever!! I love you!!"

I stared at the photos and felt something in my chest ease.

Maybe I really had been wrong.

Kayden pulled me closer. "You did good, Bluey."

"I just want her to be okay."

"She is okay. Better than okay."

We sat in comfortable silence, watching the fire.

"Kayden?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

The words came out without hesitation. Without fear.

He pulled back to look at me. "Say that again."

"I love you. I really, truly love you. Not because of the contract. Because I want to. Because you're everything."

His smile was brilliant. "I love you too. Have for months now."

"I know. I just needed to say it. To be sure."

"And are you sure?"

"Yes. Completely."

He kissed me then, deep and slow, tasting like home and forever.

When we broke apart, I was smiling.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing. Just... I'm happy. Really happy."

"Then we hold onto it. Together." He laced his fingers through mine. "I'm not going anywhere, Bluey."

"Good. Because I'm not going anywhere either."

Sunday afternoon, Belle and Grey returned from their trip. Belle was glowing, and couldn't stop talking about the stars and the cabin.

Grey pulled me aside while Belle showed Kayden photos.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "For helping and trusting me."

"Belle's happy. That's what matters."

"She is. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life keeping her that way."

He went back to Belle, wrapped his arm around her, kissed her forehead.

They looked perfect together.

My phone rang. Russio was calling.

"Adeline. Family dinner, this Friday by seven o'clock. You, Kayden, Belle, and her fiancé must attend, no excuses."

"Russio, we'd need to check—"

"It wasn't a request. Seven o'clock." He paused.

"I have such plans for our expanded family. It's time we all discussed the future."

The line went dead.

I stared at my phone, an uneasy feeling settling in my stomach.

Kayden appeared at my side. "What's wrong?"

"Russio called a amily dinner for Friday. He wants to discuss 'the futur
e' with all of us."

"That doesn't sound good."

"No. It really doesn't."

Belle and Grey were laughing, completely oblivious.

And I couldn't shake the feeling that whatever Russio had planned, it was going to change everything.