Chapter 1

I've never given much thought to it myself - meeting a special someone, falling in love, and having that happily ever after. You'd be surprised at my statement since I am Riley Matthews, certified wedding and event planner.

I love weddings. I love what it stands for. I love the look on the bride and groom's faces before they share their first kiss as a married couple. Why do you think I got into this career? I love helping people make their dreams come true. I do think that I'd have my moment someday, but it's not something I think about all the time. Sure, everyone keeps asking me when I'll be planning my own wedding since I'm already pushing 27 but it really didn't bother me. I'll have my moment. Someday. I just never thought that someday would come so soon.

Date: August 2017

The blaring alarm on her phone at seven in the morning, woke her up from her slumber. It was a Friday morning which meant that it was business weekend. In the world of wedding and event planning, this time during the week was their busiest. Riley groggily sat up from her bed and let out a huge yawn. She put on her bunny slippers and went straight to her bay window.

At 26, Riley lived in her own apartment near downtown New York City, with one of her best friends from high school, Yindra. She moved out of her parent's suburban house a year after she graduated college. Her best friend and sister, Maya Hunter, used to be her old roommate but she moved in with her boyfriend Farkle (also one of their best friends) two years ago.

After she fixed herself coffee and a breakfast sandwich to go, and bid a quick goodbye to Yindra who was also on her way to work as a dental hygienist, Riley walked out of the apartment and drove herself to work. The traffic was unbearable but she was able to tolerate it with her Disney playlist on Spotify. When she reached her workplace, she parked her car at the side and entered the office building.

Riley was the owner of her wedding and event planning business. She started out at the bottom working for an event planning agency, but progressed her way into the company. Eventually, she was able to save up enough money, and with Farkle's insistence to help out, to start up her own business.

When she walked in, she was greeted by her receptionist who was already busy at the computer behind a tall divider. To the left of the front door was a round table surrounded by four chairs. Just next to that near the receptionist, was a couch and a coffee table with magazines spread all over. Behind the receptionist was a wall that led to two offices in the back: the larger one was Riley's and the other was for her assistant-one helped her out when she was working on-site to keep her on track.

She had a busy day ahead of her today so she went straight to her office in the back and quickly engulfed her breakfast sandwich before she started her day. Depending on the type of events, Riley typically sees 2 to 3 clients per week, and plans an average of 30 events a year. It keeps her on her toes. Her favorite events to plan outdoor weddings-she's always had a soft spot for those.

Today, she was seeing one of her favorite clients. Although it really isn't fair to compare them to all her other clients in the past because these two have a special place in her heart. She was hired by her uncle, Joshua Matthews and her soon to be aunt-in-law, Paige Townshend, as their all around wedding planner. She didn't charge them a dime though, as she said that this would be her wedding present to them.

"Miss Riley?" Her assistant, Eliza, popped her head through her ajar door. "Ms. Townshend just called and said that they'll meet you at Topanga's at 3 pm."

Riley smiled and nodded, "Thank you Eliza. I'll be out in a little bit so we can talk about our presentation."

Eliza left Riley alone to return to her work. Prior to meeting with her clients, Riley likes to update the files and portfolio that she has made specifically for each of them. She browsed through her files on her computer and opened the portfolio that Eliza had already laid out for her on her desk. She flips through the pages and placed sticky flags on pages that she needed to confirm with her uncle and future aunt.

Josh had grown up in Philadelphia while Paige was raised in Texas. Paige had always dreamed of getting married on a ranch since she was a young girl and Josh, only wanting what would make his fiancee happy, obliged to her request. Now, Riley was stuck planning a wedding that is supposed to be set over a thousand miles away. She's never done it before but was willing to make it work.

The wedding would be in 6 months - they both wanted a February wedding. Everything was almost set, except that Riley still needed to make an on site visit at the ranch resort that Josh and Paige had chosen. She was bound to leave for Texas with the two of them and her assistant in a few days which is why they were meeting to straighten out any issues before hand.

After organizing her thoughts and her paperwork, Riley walked out of her office and sat at the table by the front of the office with Eliza trailing just behind her. She flipped through a few pages and pointed out certain notes that were flagged as urgent. They went through the details of the wedding beginning from the invitations that would be sent out in a few months, up until the end of the wedding reception.

Two o'clock rolled around quickly and both Eliza and Riley prepared themselves to leave for their meeting. They gathered their portfolios and placed them in their work satchels. Riley left her receptionist, Vivian, some reminders on what to do if potential clients walked through the door and the usual spiel that she would say to clients if they called while they were out: "Riley is with another client at the moment. What I'll do right now is to take down your name and phone number, as well as a few information on the event and I will relay the information to her."

They were fifteen minutes early for their meeting with Josh and Paige. Eliza grabbed a booth that was at the corner by the front door so they would have some room to spread their paperwork on. Riley headed to the counter after putting down her belongings, to make their drinks and to take a few pastries that was out on display. Oh yeah, Riley's family owned Topanga's so she takes it upon herself to make her drinks by herself. She just had to jot it down on record for her mother's inventory.

"Riles!" A voice called out making Riley drop a scone that she was picking up back on its serving plate.

She gave a look of disappointment towards the perpetrator and rolled her eyes, "Uncle Josh! How many times do I have to tell you not to creep up on me? You know I'm a klutz."

"My bad, niece," Josh chuckled as he went around the counter to give his niece a hug and steal a fruit tart that Riley had already set aside. "Ah my favorite."

"Hi Riley," Paige gave her a small wave. "You need help with the drinks?"

Riley straightened up and smiled at her future aunt, "Yes please! That's ours on the tray." It wasn't their first meeting together for this wedding and it definitely wasn't the first drinks they shared at the cafe, which is why Riley knew what to get each of them. When she was done choosing the pastries, she handed the plate to her uncle and they both made their way to the booth.

"So what should we start with today?" Paige asked as both niece and uncle were within earshot.

"Well," Riley began. "I'd like to start with any concerns that you two have. Or if you have any changes to what we have discussed."

Josh threw an arm around his fiancee and shook his head, "No concerns or changes."

"I think we'll have a good idea of everything else once we visit the ranch resort," Paige added.

"Okay that sounds fair," Riley nodded. She opened her portfolio to the first page where there is a checklist specifically tailored to their wedding. "We are six months away and we have a lot of things checked off already." She turned the folder the opposite way so the couple could read it. "We have the venue down for both ceremony and reception, Friar Ranch Resort. Photographer and videographer will be taken care of Uncle Shawn and his crew. You just need the final draft for your wedding cake. The DJ is booked. Guest list is complete and Maya has already started writing the calligraphy for your invitations, which we will be sending out two months before the wedding."

"Is there anything else we should be thinking about?" Paige asked.

Riley cleared her throat and smiled, "You two have decided to be in charge of your bridal party. I will give you a checklist of what you need to have in terms of your attire, rings, vows, etcetera. The main thing that you two need to make a decision on is the decorations and the layout of your ceremony and venue, which we will do next week when we do the site visit." She flipped a few more pages ahead and pointed out to the one with the ranch resort. "I have gathered all the information regarding the venue and the vendors that they have. Since you're having the wedding in Texas, I don't have many connections over there but I have made a few phone calls so hopefully we can get some deals."

"Miss Riley," Eliza interjected politely. "I have the copies you had me print out this morning."

"Ah yes," Riley agreed. "We made a few copies of the venue and vendor information for you to look over. Also attached are some samples that you can look at. There's a website for each of them as well so you can browse through that too."

"What if we don't see anything we like on any of these?" Josh asked flipping through the pages that he had just been handed.

Riley gave knowing look towards her uncle, "Remember what I said? If you have something else in mind, just let me know and I'm sure we can figure something out."

"Thank you so much Riley and Eliza," Paige reached out her hand to grab Riley's and held onto it. "You have no idea how much load you've taken off of mine and Josh's back especially since were both busy at work."

"You're saying that like you're not my future aunt," Riley chuckled. "If anything changes, give me a call. Other than that, there's nothing much to do as of now until we get to Texas. Do you have any other questions?"

Josh smirked, "Yeah I have one."

His niece rolled her eyes and huffed, "I swear if you ask me again who I'm taking as my plus one to your wedding, I will make sure you don't get the raspberry chocolate cake layer on that wedding cake of yours."

"What?" Josh scoffed as if he was insulted. "No you would not! You wouldn't do anything to sabotage Paige's special day!"

Paige shrugged and forced a smile, "Actually I'm not a fan of raspberry and that was the cake layer you chose so I don't really care."

"Okay fine," Josh pouted, throwing another fruit tart in his mouth.

The office closed at 7 pm during the weekends and at 5 pm on weekdays. Since it had already been a long day for her, Riley dropped by the Thai restaurant that was right around the corner from her apartment to order some take out. She had called Yindra if she wanted anything from there and her roommate mentioned something about going out for drinks with her co-workers so she wouldn't be coming home until later. This meant that Riley had the apartment to herself until midnight and even by then, she would already be in bed by 11 pm.

Once she got home, Riley changed into her comfiest pajama attire and placed her food on top of the coffee table. While eating she decided to watch (again) How I Met Your Mother episodes on Netflix. Just as she was halfway finishing her pad thai, her phone rang. She lowered the volume of the television and answered it.

"Maya," Riley began. "What's up?"

"I'm sending you a photo of one of the completed invitations," Maya responded. "This was the font style and layout Josh and Paige chose and I just needed a second opinion on how it looks."

"You don't trust Farkle?" Riley chuckled as she checked the picture message she had just received. Placing the phone back in her ear, she responded, "It looks very good!"

"I mean I trust him but just not with any art stuff." I heard that! A voice in the background called out. "Okay great. It's good I'm starting these early because I want to take my time to perfect each invitation."

Riley shook her head even though she knew her best friend wouldn't see it, "It will be a work of art Maya. You don't even have to try,"

"Why thank you. Now," Maya paused. "Let's talk about the other reason as to why I called."

Riley knew what was coming at her. It was an inevitable conversation that she was going to have with her best friend, "What is it?"

"Texas and Friar Ranch Resort," Her best friend simply stated and her heart skipped a beat. She doesn't know why but ever since she found out that Paige and Josh had chosen Friar Ranch Resort as their venue, her heart would go clip pity clip clop.

"What about it?" She replied nonchalantly hoping that her friend would stop badgering her about it.

"You know what about Riley," Maya groaned. "It's going to be unavoidable you two will see each other again. His family owns the resort and I'm pretty sure that he'll put two and two together and figure out you would be there at your uncle's wedding."

Riley let out a huge sigh. Who was the he they were talking about? Lucas Friar. It really wasn't a big deal if they would see each other again but she really couldn't point a finger as to why it gave her stomach butterflies. The last time they talked to each other was nearly 20 years ago, when they were both in the second grade. After that, Lucas and his family moved to Texas because of their family business. Yes they were friends on Facebook but it wasn't like they interacted with each other and plus he was barely active on his account.

Trust be told, she had seen him a few years ago, but she did not make her presence known. Her entire family had gone down to Texas to pay a visit to Paige's family (It was a whole, get to know each other's family kind of thing). They were at the state fair when Riley spotted Lucas at a distance. Riley being Riley did her best to avoid him, occasionally stealing glances to see that he had grown up to be a very, very, very, fine man.

So why was it a huge ordeal for Riley if they did meet? Nothing really. Lucas had a crush on Riley in the second grade and everyone knew about it. He wasn't shy about the fact that he thought she was beautiful. Riley reciprocated his admiration for her, however, she was more low key about. Their classmates thought it was so obvious that they had a crush on each other but hey, they were only in second grade and everything was so innocent. The biggest worry they had was what to play during recess.

"I don't want to make a big deal about it so I don't want to talk about it like it is," Riley insisted. "I mean it's basically just two old acquaintances seeing each other again after so long."

Maya chuckled, "Yes. But it could also be something."

"Why do you want to make something out of nothing? Plus I heard he has a girlfriend,"

"Oh yeah. Missy," Maya snorted. "I've heard about that too but I haven't seen anything on their social media accounts. I've spoken to Sarah and Darby and they said it was rumored but it was never confirmed."

"What are you E news?"

"Hey I like to be in the loop,"

"Well, if we see each other in Texas then so be it," Riley declared. "It'll be nice to see him again after all these years."

"That's the spirit!" Maya cheered. "And don't forget to update me on the daily while you're there. Sarah and Darby would like to know as well."

Riley rolled her eyes, "You guys are ridiculous. Okay I'm going to go now. Thank again for taking care of the invites!"

"My pleasure Peaches! Goodnight,"

"Goodnight!" And with that, Riley hung up the phone. You're being ridiculous Riley. He's cute but so what? she thought to herself. It's really not a big deal. Just throw in a 'how are you' and 'nice to see you'. Maybe you two catch up with a few sentences after you talk about your uncle's wedding and that's it.

"Maya has made me go crazy about this," Riley said out loud. "I'm overthinking. It's time for bed now."

I know I shouldn't be starting another multi-chapter fic but this idea was playing around in my head for the longest of time and I don't want to regret not writing it down and forgetting it. It's a little OOC but it's the only way I can make the storyline work. No worries though because I will still continue Be My Man. :)

What are your thoughts on this story? I'm very open to constructive criticism! Thanks for reading! Until next time :D