Eternal Promise: (The Cursed Series, Book 5)

by Kara Leigh Miller

  “Good, neither do I,” I said, meeting and holding his gaze. “You don’t have to like me, but I am marrying Trent tomorrow, and then I’m going to be part of this family, too.”

  “I know,” he said again, a faint smile curving the corner of his mouth. “I may not understand everything, or agree with a lot of the choices that were made, but believe it or not, I admire you, Chloe.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, right.”

  “I’m serious,” he said. “You fight for what you want. You don’t back down from anyone or anything. You stand by the people you love, and those are all very admirable traits.”

  “Oh.” I dropped my hands to my sides and straightened. “Uh, thanks, I guess.”

  “I never wanted this life for any of us, but here we are, and it’s clear Trent and Jax have adjusted to what we are a lot better than I have.” He dragged his hand through his hair, his expression shifting from passive to agitated. “I realize now that whatever happened between you and Jax is in the past. For you, anyway. I can see how much you and Trent love each other. Whatever lingering emotions are all on Jax.”

  I nodded, unsure what to say. I certainly hadn’t expected a semi-apology from Colt of all people, but now that he was talking, I didn’t want to interrupt him.

  “I only hope he can move on,” Colt said.

  “Me too. I really do want Jax to be happy,” I said with sincerity. I took a hesitant step forward and placed my hand on Colt’s arm. “Despite everything, I’m glad your back, Colt, and I truly do hope you stay. You being here means so much to Trent, Jax, and Sean. I’m not sure they’d survive losing you again.”

  He smiled, but it was sad. “There are certain things I need to take care of, wrongs I need to right, but you’re stuck with another annoying brother.”

  I laughed and dropped my hand from his arm.

  “Seriously, Chloe. Thank you for making Trent so happy,” Colt said, and then he disappeared back inside.

  Inhaling deeply, I attempted to collect my jumbled thoughts. Did that really just happen? Maybe this was a turning point for me and Colt. Moving forward, maybe we could actually be civil toward each other.

  I reached for the doorknob when the door swung open.

  “Oh, good, you’re still out here,” Sean said, closing the door behind him.

  I stifled a groan. I knew he wanted to talk to me, but I wasn’t sure I could handle anymore heartfelt declarations tonight. By now, Whitney was probably cursing me for taking so long, but I couldn’t exactly help it.

  “Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, and I’m sure it will be chaotic,” Sean said with a chuckle. “I’m not sure if I’ll get a chance to have a moment alone with you tomorrow, so I wanted to tell you tonight how honored I am to have you join our family.”

  I smiled, the tension easing from my shoulders. He wasn’t going to tell me I was a horrible choice for Trent, or that I was singlehandedly destroying the relationship between his boys. Talk about a relief.

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “You and Trent are lucky to have found each other, and I know things haven’t exactly been easy, but if you’ve made it through all of that, you can make it through anything,” Sean said.

  Tears pooled in my eyes, and I stared up at the sky, biting the inside of my cheek so I wouldn’t cry. I took several deep breaths.

  “Anyway,” Sean said. “Welcome to the family.”

  “Thank you.” I hugged him, and surprisingly, he hugged me back.

  “There you are,” Whitney said, exasperated. “Are you about done?”

  Sean laughed and shook his head, clearly amused by Whitney’s dramatic tone. “You girls have fun tonight,” he said before going back inside.

  “Yes,” I said to Whitney. “I think I’m done. Let’s go before someone else decides they want to talk to me.”

  Not that I didn’t like all the well-wishes and congratulations and offers of peace, but I was bordering on emotionally exhausted, and I needed time to recoup before tomorrow, when I knew for a fact that Trent would make me blubber like a baby.

  Abby and Karina stepped out onto the porch. “Are we going or what?” Karina asked. Her tone was harsher than I’d ever heard it before.

  “Yup,” I said with a smile. “Let’s go have a bachelorette party.” I looped my arm through Whitney’s. “There better not be any strippers.”

  “Told ya,” Abby said, smacking Whitney’s arm.

  I laughed.

  MY BACHELORETTE PARTY WAS held at the cabin that would officially become my new home tomorrow. Ellie, Gina, and Tonya were already there waiting for me when I arrived. The edge around the pool had been lit with tiki torches, and decorations adorned the trees and pool house. Everyone wore T-shirts that read “Team Bride,” along with matching plastic crowns.

  I laughed. “This is so great.”

  Ellie hugged me. “We have a shirt for you, too.”

  She held it up, and it read, “Bride” in pink sparkly letters followed by, “Don’t mess with me. My bridesmaids are crazy.”

  “I love it,” I said, taking it from her and putting it on over my fitted, V-neck shirt. “Thank you. And thanks for coming tonight.”

  “Of course,” Gina said. “We wouldn’t miss this.” She gave me a hug.

  “Besides, this is probably the very last time all of us will get to hang out like this,” Ellie said. “Well, we’ll all be together tomorrow, but after that, you’re going on a honeymoon, and then most of us will be leaving for college, and who knows if you’ll even be back before we have to leave.”

  I stared at her, unsure if I was upset that she’d said the one thing no one wanted to acknowledge, or if I was happy to hear her familiar incessant rambling.

  “I’m going to miss you so much,” I said, hugging Ellie again. “You’d better visit whenever you have breaks.”

  “I will. Promise,” she said.

  “Okay, now that we got the sad stuff out of the way, let’s have a party,” Whitney said. She held up a bottle of champagne and popped the cork before letting out a loud whoop.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX:

  Eternal Promise

  WHITNEY HAD INSISTED ON HAVING A “bride’s tent” set up near the altar so I wouldn’t have to walk all the way to the top of the mountain in my dress and get sweaty. She really was a Godsend.

  Now, I stood in front of the full-length mirror and stared at the reflection of a young woman I didn’t recognize. The sides of my hair had been pulled back into a loose fishtail braid that lay against big, bouncy curls. Tendrils framed my face, which was adorned with the perfect amount of makeup—a foundation that flawlessly matched my skin tone, blush that gave my cheeks a natural rosy hue, and soft, shimmery white eyeshadow.

  Whitney had begged me to let her curl my eyelashes and highlight them with a midnight black mascara, but I’d adamantly refused. Those contraptions looked like medieval torture devices. Besides, I knew by the time we said our vows, I’d be a blubbering mess. The last thing I needed was eyeliner and mascara streaking down my face, so I’d refused those two items.

  I blew out a breath and placed my hand on my fluttering stomach. In moments, I’d be walking down the aisle to meet Trent, and despite having spent so much time with him, the idea of seeing him now made me incredibly nervous.

  Swallowing hard, I smoothed my hands over the bodice of my wedding dress. It was a sleeveless, sweetheart neckline accented with pearl and crystal beading. The A-line silhouette flared into a glittery tulle ballgown skirt, complete with an overlay flounce. The hem stopped just above my feet, making it the perfect length to walk in and not trip.

  “Oh, my gosh, Chloe.” Aunt Beth walked in, hands clasped in front of her mouth. “You are absolutely gorgeous.”

  I spun to face her and smiled. Before I could say anything, Larissa walked in, followed by Whitney, Abby, Karina, and Ellie. Each of them stared at me wide-eyed, and I held up my hands.

  “Don’t any of you dare say anything that’s going to make me cry,”
I said, and they all laughed. I’d been on the brink of tears all day, and it wasn’t going to take much to tip me over the edge.

  “That dress is amazing,” Larissa said, and I realized this was the first time she’d seen it. Whitney, Abby, Ellie, and Aunt Beth had been with me when I’d bought it.

  “Thank you, Larissa,” I said.

  She beamed a smile, then approached. “You’re just missing one thing.” She held out a large, square velvet box. Opening it, she revealed a baby pearl necklace and matching earrings.

  “Oh, wow,” I said in awe. “They’re beautiful.”

  “They’re yours,” she said. “It’s a wedding gift from me. Your father had nothing to do with this, so don’t let him tell you any different.” She winked.

  I laughed and gave her a hug. She helped me put them on, and I turned back to my reflection. Abby stepped up behind me, my veil in her hands. It wasn’t one of those old-fashioned veils that covered my face—it was a simple piece of lace attached to a crystal beaded hair clip.

  Abby fastened it in my hair. “There. Now you’re ready.”

  I couldn’t contain my smile. I never truly knew what it meant to feel like a princess. Until now. “You think Trent’s going to like it?” I asked.

  “Oh, sweetie,” Larissa said with a soft chuckle. “That boy isn’t going to be able to pick his jaw up off the floor.”

  Aunt Beth laughed, then gave me a hug. “Your mom is smiling down on you right now,” she whispered before pulling away. “Okay, time to go find our seats.”

  Larissa and Aunt Beth left, leaving me with my friends. I blew out another breath, the butterflies in my stomach working themselves into a frenzy.

  “It’s time,” Whitney said, her eyes sparkling.

  I momentarily closed my eyes, willing my heart to slow so I didn’t have a heart attack before I ever made it to the altar—that would be just my luck.

  “Okay,” I said. “Let’s go get married.”

  Abby walked out first, followed by Ellie, Karina, and finally Whitney. I could hear the soft music, and when it changed to the tune of “Here Comes the Bride,” my heart lodged in my throat. I stepped out of the tent and was greeted by my father.

  He was dressed in an expensive, probably designer, black suit, and he was clean-shaven. He smiled at me, and my bottom lip trembled the slightest bit.

  “I can’t believe how grown-up you are,” he said. “And so beautiful.”

  Do not cry. Not yet. “Thanks,” I whispered.

  Dad held his arm out, and I took it. When I’d asked Uncle Dean to walk me down the aisle, too, he’d almost cried, told me he was honored, but that this was a moment reserved for me and my father. I’d been bummed, but he’d been right. I never dreamed my father would be walking me down the aisle, but he was, and I didn’t want to share this moment with anyone else.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  I nodded, waiting for him to say something more, crack a joke about how it wasn’t too late to change my mind, because wasn’t that what fathers did? But mine didn’t. He respected my choices in regards to Trent and didn’t question if I wanted to run away. He probably already knew what my answer would be.

  We walked in silence up the steps that Whitney had carved into the mountain—she really was something else—and the looming white canopy came into view. The lights twinkled in the fading light, and the sun setting directly in front of me painted the sky vibrant shades of reds, pinks, and oranges.

  Dad escorted me toward the aisle, and all at once, everyone stood. That didn’t help my nerves. I took a deep breath, pushed back my nerves, and started down the aisle to the altar.

  To Trent.

  He stood there, waiting for me, hands clasped behind his back. Larissa might be right that he wouldn’t be able to pick his jaw up off the floor, but she hadn’t planned for me slipping and falling on my own drool, because holy hell.

  His black tuxedo was tailor-made, molding to his body, accentuating his broad shoulders and showcasing his muscles. His hair was exactly as it always was—part windblown, part combed, styled to look intentionally messy.

  The closer I got, the harder my heart pounded.

  His gaze was focused solely on me, devouring me in that way he did when it was just the two of us. His eyes, though, weren’t dark with hunger like they usually were when he looked at me like that. They were crystal clear, sharp, and sparkling like freshly shined sapphires.

  After what felt like ages, I finally reached him.

  Dad placed a kiss to my cheek and whispered, “I’m proud of you.”

  I blinked rapidly to combat the tears before they could fall.

  “Who gives this woman to this man?” the officiant asked.

  “I do,” Dad said, and then he took my hand and placed it in Trent’s.

  “I am seriously the luckiest guy in the world,” Trent said, which earned him chuckles from our friends and family.

  He took both of my hands, which were trembling, and rubbed his thumbs across my knuckles, exactly like he’d done the very first time I’d met him and punched him in the face.

  I now stood facing him, and when he smiled at me, I forgot about everyone else. It was just me and Trent; the rest of the world ceased to exist. My heartrate slowed to a more normal, steadier rhythm. The nervous energy buzzing through me settled to a barely noticeable hum.

  “Ready?” the officiant, Rebecca, asked us, her gaze sparkling as it passed from Trent to me.

  I nodded, and so did Trent.

  Rebecca cleared her throat. “We’re gathered here this evening to witness the union of Chloe Marie Madison and Trenton James Halstead in holy matrimony.” She paused. “The bride and groom have written vows they’d like to share with each other.”

  A sudden, intense wave of panic hit me. Even though this had been my idea, I wasn’t sure I could do this. I mean, telling Trent how I felt about him in private was one thing, but standing in front of our family and friends?

  “Chloe?” Rebecca said, nodding at me.

  Trent gave my hands a reassuring squeeze.

  I licked my lips. “When I first moved here, I hated it,” I said. “I was a mess. I’d just lost my mom, and I was forced to move in with practical strangers. Then, I arrived at school that first day, terrified and miserable, and I punched the hottest guy in the face.”

  Soft chuckles filtered through the air, and Trent smiled, his dimple making a rare appearance.

  “I was so embarrassed, and so lost in my grief, and I was positive my life couldn’t possibly get any worse. And I was right. It didn’t get worse. It got better. Because of you,” I said, my voice starting to tremble. “Because of you, I didn’t feel like I was drowning anymore. I didn’t feel like there was this crater sized hole in my chest that wouldn’t ever go away. For the first time since my mom’s death, I felt like I was going to be okay, and I actually believed I would be.”

  Tears glistened in Trent’s eyes. If he started crying, I’d start crying, and then I’d be doomed, because there was no way I’d ever be able to speak coherently through my tears.

  I drew in a shaky breath and shifted on my feet. “Someone very smart once told me that “I love you” doesn’t seem like enough, and it’s not. It doesn’t even come close to expressing the depth of my feelings for you. So, I’m totally stealing a line from your favorite movie,” I said with a teasing smile. “You complete me.”

  He laughed, the sound wrapping around me like it had the first time I’d ever heard it.

  “Thank you,” I said, my throat clogged with emotion. “Thank you for picking me. For rescuing me from myself. For loving me. For always being there when I need you. I love you so much, and I’m yours, Trent. For eternity.”

  I kept my gaze focused on him, knowing if I so much as saw anyone else crying, I’d lose the tenuous hold I had on my own emotions.

  “Trent?” Rebecca said.

  He grazed my knuckles with this thumbs again, then took a step closer. My breath hitched at his nearne
ss.

  “You are, hands down, the most stunning woman I have ever met,” he said. “You’re beautiful, inside and out, and no matter how many times I look at you, it’s like the first time all over again. You constantly steal my breath and make me wonder what I did right to deserve someone as amazing as you.”

  That’s all it took for the tears to start spilling down my cheeks. I pressed my lips together, hoping I wouldn’t start sobbing like a baby. I powerless against the tears, though. Behind me, I heard Abby swoon.

  “God knows you drive me crazy at times.” His eyes twinkled. “But you always make me smile, too. You’ve made my life brighter in so many ways, and I can’t begin to tell you how much that means to me. How much you mean to me.”

  His eyes darkened the slightest bit. “But I can promise you that this”—he flattened my palms over his heart, keeping his hands over mine—”this beats for you, Chloe. Only you. I’m yours. Mind, heart, body, and soul. Always and forever.”

  He took another step closer, cradled my face in his hands, and tenderly wiped away my tears with the pads of this thumbs. “For eternity.”

  I released a pent up breath, my tears falling fast and without mercy. “You really weren’t kidding when you said you weren’t going to go easy on me, were you?”

  Tear-filled laughter floated around me. Easing my hands from his chest, I gingerly wiped under my eyes, careful not to smudge my makeup, though it was probably too late for that.

  Trent once again took my hands in his and mouthed, “I love you.”

  Rebecca finished the ceremony, but I barely registered the words Trent and I recited to one another—I was still too lost in the vows he’d written. They were perfect. Not that I expected anything less from him.

  Trent slipped the wedding band on my finger—my mother’s wedding ring—and a fresh wave of tears cascaded down my face. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and I was thankful he was holding them so firmly.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Rebecca said. “You may kiss the bride.”

  His mouth was on mine before I even fully registered what was happening. He parted my lips with ease, his tongue twisting and turning around mine with expert precision. Applause erupted, but I was too lost in his kiss to care.