Chapter 371

As I gazed into Timothy's eyes, I felt the weight of the ring on my finger, a tangible reminder of the commitment we were making to each other. The past few months had been a whirlwind of emotions, but here we were, basking in the glow of our recent engagement. Our hearts overflowed with love and excitement for the future, envisioning a spring wedding that would mark the beginning of our forever.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Timothy's apartment as we lounged on the comfortable couch, basking in the afterglow of yet another intimate night. My head rested against his shoulder, and I traced lazy circles on his hand.

"This feels surreal," I murmured, my heart still fluttering with excitement.

Timothy chuckled, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. "I know what you mean. I keep looking at you, wondering if you’re about to run off on me."

I smiled up at him. "It’s a little too late for that. You’re stuck with me now," I said, the words still sinking in.

Just then, the door burst open, and Aria strode in, her arms laden with magazines and folders. "Ah, look at the two lovebirds!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Timothy and I exchanged bemused glances as Aria made herself at home, spreading her wedding magazines across the coffee table with the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning.

"Um, thanks, Aria," Timothy said, his tone laced with amusement. "I see you’ve been busy. You don’t have to stress yourself out over the details though."

I frowned. He was right, of course. We had all the time in the world to plan our wedding.

But I didn’t want to wait too long with my indecision, as I was as excited as Aria for that special day to come. She seemed to have more ideas than I did.

"Evie, is it too much?" Aria asked suddenly, placing a hand on my knee to grab my attention.

I smiled shyly. "I guess I am feeling a bit grand. But I want this day to be perfect for both of us. What are your thoughts, Timothy?"

Timothy's eyes softened as he brought my fingers to his lips and kissed my knuckles. "Evie, I want you to dream as big as you want. Money's not an issue, and I want this day to be everything you've ever imagined."

I felt a surge of emotion welling up inside me, but there was still a nagging doubt lingering in the back of my mind. I didn't want anything too extravagant, too flashy. I craved something luxurious yet serene.

"I don't want anything too extra," I confessed, my voice quiet but determined. "But it’s difficult trying to picture the right aesthetic. Also, we have to consider the weather."

Timothy hummed, his gaze locked with mine. "I hear you. We’ll probably have better luck if we go out and look for them."

Aria nodded, her expression determined. “Go out there a find you a venue, you two. You’ll know it when you step into it.”

Timothy and I set out on the journey of venue hunting, visiting various locations in search of the perfect setting for both of us.

From elegant ballrooms to rustic barns, each venue held its own unique charm. But as we walked through the grand halls and manicured gardens, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. None of them felt quite right, quite like us.

"It's beautiful," Timothy said, his voice filled with admiration as we stood in the grand ballroom of the latest venue. "But it just doesn't feel like authentic, you know?"

I nodded, feeling a sense of disappointment wash over me. "I know what you mean. I want our wedding to feel personal, intimate. Like it's a reflection of who we are."

Timothy squeezed my hand, his eyes shining with determination. "Then let's keep looking. We'll know it when we find it."

And so, we continued our search, visiting one venue after another, each more stunning than the last. But with each new location, the sense of unease grew, gnawing at the edges of my mind like a persistent itch.

As we drove along the winding coastal road, the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore filled the car. I glanced out the window at the passing scenery, lost in thought as I pondered over the best place.

"Evie, you good?" Timothy asked, glancing over at me from the driver's seat.

I turned to him, a determined gleam in my eyes. "I think I know just the place," I said.

Timothy raised an eyebrow, curiosity evident in his expression. "Really? Where?"

I grinned, feeling a rush of anticipation coursing through my veins. "You'll see," I teased, reaching over to gently squeeze his hand. "Just trust me."

Timothy chuckled, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze in return. "Alright, Evie. You have control of the GPS."

After putting in the address, I watched with bated breath as Timothy looked it over and took the turn toward a familiar path, the road winding its way towards a destination that held a special place in both of our hearts.

As we neared the beach, memories flooded my mind – memories of a time filled with sorrow and grief, but also of love and comfort. I felt a lump form in my throat as we pulled into the familiar parking lot, the salty sea breeze washing over us like a warm embrace.

Timothy's eyes widened in recognition as he looked out at the sandy shore stretching out before us. "Evie, isn't this...?"

I nodded, a soft smile playing at the corners of my lips. "Yes, Timothy. This is the beach we came to after your mother passed away."

Timothy's expression softened, his gaze meeting mine with a mixture of surprise and sadness. "Evie, I..."

Before he could finish his sentence, I reached over and placed a finger on his lips, silencing him with a gentle touch. "It feels right, Timothy," I said, my voice filled with conviction. "This is where our journey began, where I feel we really connected, and I believe it's where our wedding should take place."

Timothy's eyes sparkled with emotion as he leaned in to nuzzle my neck, his lips brushing against my skin in a tender caress. "You're right, Evie," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "This place is perfect."

And as he pressed a soft kiss to my lips, I knew in that moment that we had found our wedding venue.

The evening air was cool as Timothy and I returned home, our hearts still aglow with the excitement of finding our perfect wedding venue.

It almost startled me when Timothy's phone buzzed with a notification, and he glanced at the screen, his expression shifting from excited to apologetic. "I'm sorry, babe," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "I have to go. Coach just called for an emergency practice session."

My heart sank at the sudden change of plans. "But Tim, what about..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Timothy was already out the door, leaving me standing alone in the empty apartment, my thoughts swirling with confusion and frustration.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and I opened it to find Aria standing on the other side, a mischievous grin on her face. "Surprise, Evie! I've come to whisk you away on a secret adventure!"

I raised an eyebrow, my suspicion growing by the second. "Aria, what's going on? Timothy just rushed out of here, and I-"

Aria waved away my concerns with a dismissive flick of her hand. "Don't worry about Timothy. He's got his own thing going on with the fellas. Now come on, let's go!"

Reluctantly, I followed Aria out the door, my mind buzzing with questions and uncertainty. She blindfolded me with a scarf, making it impossible for me to see where we were going, and I felt a knot form in my stomach as we drove off into the night.

The minutes ticked by in silence as we drove through the city streets, the sound of Aria's voice offering little comfort in the darkness. I could only wonder what schemes she had up her sleeve.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Aria brought the car to a stop, and I felt her hands gently remove the blindfold from my eyes. Blinking against the sudden light, I looked around, trying to make sense of our surroundings.

We were parked outside an old building, its faded facade illuminated by the glow of streetlights. Aria gestured for me to follow her, a sly grin playing at the corners of her lips.

"Come on, Evie. We're almost there," she said, her voice tinged with excitement.

Reluctantly, I followed Aria up a set of stairs, my heart pounding in my chest with each step we took. Finally, we reached the top of the stairs, and Aria stopped in front of a door, her hand hovering over the handle. "Are you ready, Evie?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with anticipation.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay on the other side of that door. "As ready as I'll ever be," I replied.

With a dramatic flourish, Aria pushed open the door. "Welcome to your surprise, Evie. I hope you like it."

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