Chapter 54: Crossing Paths

Kimberly sat in the corner of the bridal boutique, the faint hum of classical music filling the air as her friend Kehlani admired a rack of shimmering gowns. Though Kimberly had insisted Kehlani try on dresses for her upcoming engagement gala, her mind was elsewhere.

She scrolled through her phone, pausing on an email from her wedding planner. The subject line read: “Urgent—Venue Change Required.”

Her heart sank as she opened the message, scanning through the details. Their original venue had unexpectedly closed for renovations, leaving her scrambling to find an alternative within their timeline.

“Everything okay?” Kehlani asked, walking over with a deep emerald dress draped over her arm.

Kimberly sighed, closing the email. “The venue fell through. Now I’m back at square one.”

Kehlani frowned, taking the seat beside her. “That’s stressful, but you’re Kimberly. You’ll figure it out. Plus, you’ve got Aaron. The man can charm his way into any booking.”

Kimberly smiled faintly, appreciating her friend’s optimism. “I just hate feeling like I’m losing control. There’s so much to do, and now this…”

Kehlani leaned closer. “You’re not losing control—you’re just adjusting. Take a breath, Kim. You’ve got this.”

Kimberly exhaled deeply, nodding. “Thanks, Kel. I needed that.”

---

Meanwhile, Aaron stood in a private gym studio downtown, his muscles glistening under the overhead lights as he finished another set of bench presses. Calvin and Marcus watched from the corner, discussing plans for the documentary.

“I’ve got the outline ready,” Marcus said, showing Calvin the storyboard. “We’ll highlight Aaron’s journey—his rise in acting, the challenges he faced, and his relationship with Kimberly. It’s the perfect balance of personal and professional.”

Calvin raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Aaron, who was toweling off. “You sure he’s ready for all that? He’s not exactly the ‘open book’ type.”

Aaron walked over, shaking his head. “I can hear you, you know.”

Calvin smirked. “Good. So, what do you think? Ready to let the world in?”

Aaron shrugged, taking a sip from his water bottle. “I’m ready to tell my story—on my terms. But I won’t let it interfere with my time with Kim. She’s already dealing with enough.”

Marcus nodded. “Respect. Speaking of, are you two set on the wedding venue yet? That could tie into the project if it’s somewhere significant.”

Aaron frowned, realizing he hadn’t checked in with Kimberly about the venue since their last conversation. “I need to follow up with her. If she’s stressed, I’ll handle it. She’s doing way too much on her own.”

---

Later that evening, Kimberly was sprawled across the couch, her laptop balanced on her knees as she researched alternative venues. She was so engrossed that she didn’t hear Aaron come in.

“Kim,” his deep voice called, snapping her out of her concentration.

She looked up to find him standing in the doorway, his athletic physique highlighted by his fitted black t-shirt and joggers. He carried a bag of takeout in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other.

“Aaron,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips. “What’s all this?”

He set the food on the counter and walked over, handing her the flowers. “You looked like you needed a pick-me-up.”

Kimberly took the bouquet, her heart swelling. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I wanted to,” he said, sitting beside her. His gaze shifted to her laptop screen. “Still working on the venue?”

She nodded. “The options are either booked or way out of budget. I’m trying to make it work, but…”

Aaron placed a hand on her knee, his touch grounding her. “Stop. You don’t have to do this alone. Let me help.”

Kimberly hesitated, then closed her laptop with a sigh. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—wedding planning is no joke.”

Aaron grinned. “I’m ready for it. We’re in this together, remember?”

She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’ll never have to find out,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to her temple.

For the first time that day, Kimberly felt like everything might just fall into place.

Aaron stayed true to his word, diving headfirst into wedding planning that week. While Kimberly handled the smaller details—like invitations and color schemes—Aaron took charge of finding a replacement venue.

He spent hours on calls between filming scenes and meetings for the documentary, leveraging his connections to secure something perfect for their big day.

One afternoon, as Kimberly returned home from a meeting with her bridal boutique, she found Aaron sitting at the kitchen island with a stack of brochures. He looked up, his expression triumphant.

“Kim,” he said, standing as she set her bag down, “I think I found it.”

Curious, she walked over and picked up the top brochure. Her eyes widened as she saw the venue: a stunning vineyard on the outskirts of the city, complete with rolling hills, a rustic yet elegant reception hall, and breathtaking views.

“This is beautiful,” she murmured, flipping through the photos.

Aaron grinned. “I called the owner this morning. They’ve got an opening on our date, and they’re willing to work with us on the details. What do you think?”

Kimberly looked up at him, her chest tightening with emotion. “I think you’re amazing. How did you even find this?”

“I have my ways,” he said with a wink. “But seriously, I know how much this day means to you—to us. I want it to be perfect.”

Tears pricked at her eyes as she wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you, Aaron. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

He held her close, resting his chin on her head. “You deserve everything, Kim. I’m just lucky to be the guy who gets to give it to you.”

---

Later that evening, as they sat on the couch going over potential décor ideas, Kimberly’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw a text from Kehlani:

Kehlani: How’s the venue hunt? Need reinforcements?

Kimberly smiled and quickly replied:

Kimberly: Aaron found the perfect spot. He’s been incredible through all of this.

Kehlani’s response came almost immediately:

Kehlani: He’s a keeper, Kim. Don’t let him go. And don’t forget—girls’ night this Friday. No excuses!

Kimberly laughed softly, setting her phone aside. “Kehlani says you’re a keeper.”

Aaron smirked, leaning back against the couch. “Good to know I have her approval.”

“She’s not wrong,” Kimberly said, resting her head on his shoulder.

The comfortable silence between them was interrupted when Aaron’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and frowned slightly.

“It’s Marcus,” he said, showing her the name. “Probably about the documentary.”

Kimberly nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll start looking at floral arrangements.”

Aaron answered the call, walking into the other room. As Kimberly scrolled through Pinterest for bouquet inspiration, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. Their wedding was coming together, but the idea of Aaron’s documentary still loomed in the background.

---

In the other room, Aaron leaned against the wall, listening to Marcus outline the next steps for the documentary.

“We’ve got the production schedule locked down,” Marcus said. “But we need to figure out how much of Kimberly’s involvement we’re going to highlight. Her story’s an important part of yours, Aaron. She’s been there for the highs and the lows.”

Aaron’s jaw tightened. “I’ll talk to her about it. I don’t want to put her in a position she’s uncomfortable with.”

“I get that,” Marcus said. “But this documentary is about authenticity. Fans want to see the real you—the real both of you.”

Aaron sighed. “I’ll handle it, Marcus. Let me talk to her first.”

When the call ended, Aaron returned to the living room, finding Kimberly engrossed in her laptop.

“Everything okay?” she asked, looking up.

“Yeah,” Aaron said, sitting beside her. “Marcus just wants to make sure we’re on the same page about the documentary. He thinks we should highlight your role in my journey more.”

Kimberly hesitated, closing her laptop. “I don’t mind being part of it, but I don’t want our relationship to feel like a spectacle. There are things I want to keep just for us.”

Aaron nodded, taking her hand in his. “And we will. I promised you we’d set boundaries, and I meant it. Nothing will go in without your approval.”

She smiled, squeezing his hand. “Thank you for always considering me, Aaron. I know this project means a lot to you.”

“You mean more,” he said simply.

Kimberly leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. In that moment, she knew they’d find a way to balance it all—the wedding, the documentary, and the life they were building together.

For the first time in weeks, she felt a sense of calm. They were a team, and together, there was nothing they couldn’t handle.