I Will Love You (Forever and Ever #23)

by E. L. Todd

  I Will Love You

  Book Twenty-Three of the Forever and Ever Series

  E. L. Todd

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher or author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

  I Will Love You

  E. L. Todd

  Copyright E. L. Todd 2015

  Smashwords Edition

  CHAPTER ONE

  Trinity

  I was so stressed out.

  “The DJ can make it but the band is booked that day.” I wanted to rip my hair out. “They’re supposed to play our first song. And then the caterers said they couldn’t make the individual ice cream balls on such short notice. God, this wedding is going to be a disaster!” I needed to scream into a pillow.

  Silke watched me like a ticking time bomb. “It won’t be a disaster. The only way that will happen is if Slade gets those tigers and lets them loose. Anything else, we can push through.”

  An involuntary laugh escaped my lips.

  “There you go,” she said. “Just chill out.”

  “And I’m not sure if Clementine should be in the wedding anymore,” I said. “She’ll be five months along and she’ll probably be so uncomfortable standing in heels…”

  “Let’s ask and see what she thinks.”

  “And Slade and I need to take engagement pictures,” I said with a sigh. “I had to send out Save The Dates without any pictures. It was so plain.”

  “As long as people got the message, that’s okay.” Silke tried to keep my calm.

  “And then Skye…I feel so bad for her.” My best friend was shot and was doing physical therapy to get her arm back. The family had recovered from what happened but it wasn’t the same anymore. “I think I should call off the wedding altogether.”

  “Why?” Silke said with a gaping jaw.

  “Skye isn’t well. Everyone is still shaken up over what happened. It would be selfish for Slade and I to get married right now.”

  She shook her head while she sat on the couch next to me. “No, we all need some joy in our lives right now. Skye would be the first one to say it. And she’s going to make this wedding happen whether she has only one arm or leg. Don’t feel guilty.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Everyone is really excited, Trinity,” Silke said. “Don’t let everyone down.”

  “There’s so much stuff going on…”

  “Hey.” Silke’s voice turned firm. “We’re doing this so you better get used to it. Your dad already put down the deposit. This is happening.”

  “You’re right…and the caterers have already been paid.”

  “And the photographer,” Silke said. “Maybe this whole thing has been rushed but the wedding will be fine. As long as Slade is standing at the altar as you walk down the aisle, everything will be fine. In the end, that’s all that really matters.”

  “Yeah,” I said in agreement. “But I don’t think I can have a bridal shower. Skye is in no place to plan it and there’s just not enough time. I’m not even sure if I can have a bachelorette party at this point, which is fine. I don’t have much time anyway.”

  The door opened and Slade walked inside. “Your sexy beast is home.” He tossed his things on the counter then came toward me. Then he realized his sister was there. “Oh, didn’t know we had company…”

  “Look before you speak,” Silke said coldly.

  “Like you aren’t sticking your tongue down Arsen’s throat every other second,” Slade snapped.

  “I am,” Silke said with a proud smile. “And I like it.”

  Slade came around the couch then kissed me. “Wedding stuff?”

  I released a deep sigh. “Unfortunately…”

  “Is there something I can do to help?” he asked.

  “No,” I said. “I was just thinking about calling off the wedding.”

  A small explosion happened in Slade’s eyes. “What? Why? I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to piss you off. I—”

  “Not like that,” I said to cut him off. “It’s because of everything that happened.”

  He visibly relaxed. “Oh.”

  “And Skye isn’t in any condition to be maid of honor…I just feel insensitive.”

  Slade sat beside me on the couch. “Baby, we can pull this off without anyone’s help. I think everyone wants to have a good day, to celebrate something. It’ll get their minds off of…the other thing.”

  “I said the same thing,” Silke said.

  “So, just be calm,” Slade said gently. “We’re getting married and that’s all that really matters. Because whether we have a wedding or not I’m marrying you. It’s going to happen.”

  My heart moved into my throat like it usually did. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” He kissed my hairline.

  “Wow, my brother can be sweet,” Silke said.

  “Go to hell,” he barked at her. Then he turned back to me. “It’ll be okay. You believe me, right?”

  I nodded. “I do.”

  “Good,” he said.

  “But I’m not sure if I’ll have a bachelorette party or a bridal shower. Skye isn’t around to plan it and there’s just not enough time.”

  “What?” he asked. “But you have to have those things.”

  “I know but it just doesn’t seem possible,” I said. “And I’m afraid if I let someone else do it, like Silke, it’ll hurt Skye’s feelings. I know she wants to help. She just can’t.”

  “That’s not fair,” he blurted. “It’s your one day, Trinity. You get to be selfish.”

  “Well, normally yes. But Skye almost died, Slade.”

  He didn’t have an argument against that.

  “We need to take our engagement pictures, by the way,” I said.

  “Didn’t we already send out the invitations?” he asked.

  “Yeah. But I want to have them for us, to look back on.”

  “Okay.” He didn’t argue with me. He argued with me less often than he used to. It was a nice change. It seemed like he picked his battles.

  “Well, I should get going,” Silke said. “Let me know if you need anything else, Trin.”

  “I will,” I said. “Thanks.”

  “Bye, Slade.”

  “See ya, sis,” he said back.

  “I’m going to make out with Arsen.” She smiled then walked out the door.

  Slade turned to me, seeming to know I was still stressed out. “Bath time.”

  A grin stretched my lips. “That sounds nice.”

  “I got a rubber ducky.”

  Now my smile was permanent. He did the cutest things at the most unexpected times. “Cute.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Slade

  Trinity was only getting married once.

  I wanted her to have everything other brides had. It was terrible what happened to our family. Everyone was upset over it, including me. I wasn’t being selfish, but I wanted my fiancé to have what she wanted.

  So I was going to make it happen.

  When I got off work, I drove Mike’s to place. He answered the door like usual and inspected me suspiciously. “What brings you here?” He pulled me in for a one-arm hug.

  “Your wife.”

  “My wife?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “You know, she and I have a thing on the side.” I liked teasing him. It was payback.

  He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re lucky I know you
’re kidding.”

  “Or am I?” I tried to keep a serious face.

  Mike walked away, like he knew he would hit me if he didn’t. “Baby, Slade wants to talk to you.”

  She came down the stairs then hugged me. “What brings you here, honey?”

  Cassandra was always warm to me, and I appreciated that. She was like another mom. “I was hoping you could help me.”

  “With what?” she asked.

  “Well, I was hoping I could use your house for a bridal shower.”

  “What?” Mike blurted.

  Cassandra looked just as confused.

  I started to explain. “Skye isn’t in the right place to host these parties and Trinity feels bad asking another bridesmaid. So, I want to do it.”

  Cassandra’s eyes softened but she still looked confused. “Slade, the groom doesn’t host those things.”

  “I know,” I said. “But I want Trinity to have one. Can you help me?”

  Even Mike looked touched.

  “Of course, I can,” Cassandra said. “There’s not much time but we can pull it off together.”

  “Thank you,” I said in relief.

  “My daughter is so lucky to marry such a sweet man,” she said. “And one so handsome.”

  I grinned. “Keep going.”

  “And one so intelligent and thoughtful,” Cassandra said.

  “And…?”

  Mike hit my shoulder. “Give it a rest.”

  ***

  Cassandra and I threw the invitations together, planned the party and the food we would be having, and the games.

  Shit, bridal parties were boring.

  “Two hundred people will probably come,” Cassandra said. “That’s a good number.”

  “Damn, then how many people are coming to the wedding?” I asked.

  She cocked an eyebrow. “You don’t know?”

  I shrugged. “Trinity handles all of that.”

  She chuckled. “You remind me of Mike. All he did was show up.”

  “Sounds nice,” I blurted.

  “Well, I think we have everything we need,” she said. “The invitations are in the mail. Now you need to host it.”

  I groaned. “I have to host a party with two hundred women?”

  She laughed. “You volunteered for this, Slade.”

  “I know,” I said with a sigh. “But I think Trinity will appreciate it.”

  “She will.” She gave me an encouraging smile. “She found the perfect man to spend her life with.”

  Perfect was a strong word. But maybe I would be perfect someday. “Now I need help with the bachelorette party. Any advice?”

  “You’re throwing that too?” she asked.

  “Well, someone’s got to do it, right?”

  She tried not to laugh. “What did you have in mind?”

  “I know she wanted to go to Vegas—without strippers.”

  “Well, that will be easy,” she said. “We just need to book the rooms and the flights. Clementine won’t be going, I’m sure. So, it’ll just be the four of you.”

  “Yeah.” I knew I would be paying for this but it wasn’t a big deal. Trinity deserved to have a good time.

  “Put it on my card,” Mike said.

  I turned to him in surprise. “I got it, Mike.”

  “No,” he insisted. “You’re doing enough, Slade. Save your money for your own party.”

  “It’s really okay.”

  He turned to Cassandra. “Put it on my card.”

  “Okay.” She smiled as she looked at me. “Just accept our gift.”

  “Well…thanks.” Money was tight right now because I spent so much on that ring. When my new shop was in full swing, more money would be rolling in. That would be a nice change.

  “Of course,” Mike said. “I’m just grateful my daughter is marrying you. It’s the least I can do.”

  His words hit me in the heart but I didn’t react. I was never good with my emotions, only with Trinity. “Thanks…”

  ***

  “You’re throwing her a bridal shower?” Skye demanded. She stopped eating her fries and stared at me like I was a bat about to fly up her nose.

  Cayson stared at me like he didn’t recognize me.

  “Well, I want her to have one,” I said. “She’s only getting married once and this crap is important to her.”

  “I’m the maid of honor!” Skye hissed. “I’m supposed to do it.”

  “And you only have one arm,” I snapped. “Good luck sealing invitations and decorating tables.”

  “That’s not the point!” Skye was furious. “I—”

  “Hey, he’s right,” Cayson said. “I know you want to be involved but you need to rest.”

  “My best friend is getting married.” Skye struggled not to scream.

  “But Trinity doesn’t want to push you and stress you out,” I said. “She would ask another bridesmaid but she thought that might offend you.”

  “So she asks you?” Skye’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.

  “Well…she didn’t ask me.” I had no clue how she would react.

  “What?” Cayson asked.

  “I’m just doing it. I met with her mom and we planned it together. It’s on Saturday. I know it’s short notice…”

  “You’re hosting the shower?” Cayson tried not to laugh.

  I glared at him. “So what?”

  “Are you wearing a dress too?” Skye asked.

  “You’re lucky you were shot,” I said. “Otherwise I’d break your arm.”

  “Well, I have another arm.” Skye waved it in my face. “So bring it, bitch.”

  Cayson tried not to laugh.

  Skye was terrible at dishing out insults. “Maybe some other time…” I went back to eating my fries.

  “That’s going to be a really interesting shower,” Cayson said.

  “I made up some games, we’re having peanut butter fingers—”

  “What are peanut butter fingers?” Skye interrupted.

  “You know, when you stick your fingers in the jar then stick them in your mouth,” I said. “You’ve never had them?”

  Cayson covered his face and released a restrained laugh. “I’m coming to this.”

  “What?” I asked. “What’s wrong with peanut butter fingers?”

  “They’re disgusting,” Skye said. “People are going to use a bowl of peanut butter and just stick their fingers in it? So gross.”

  “No, idiot,” I said. “Everyone will get their own jar of peanut butter with a picture of Trinity on it.”

  Skye rolled her eyes. “Classy.”

  “And we’re having hot wings,” I said. “Mild, hot, and fireball.”

  Skye’s jaw was hanging. “That better be a joke.”

  “What?” I said. “Everyone loves hot wings.”

  “This is great,” Cayson said with a laugh. “I have to film this.”

  “You can’t serve hot wings at a shower,” Skye snapped. “It’s the most trashy thing you can do.”

  “Well, Trinity likes hot wings.”

  “I do too,” Skye argued. “But I’m not having them at mine!”

  I rolled my eyes. “Dude, you’re just jealous I’m a better maid of honor than you.”

  “Are not!” She clearly wanted to smack me upside the head.

  “And the bachelorette party is the weekend after that,” I said. “It’s in Vegas.”

  “You planned that too?” Skye asked.

  “She’s definitely having a bachelorette party,” I said. “And I’ll make sure you have a good time. No one knows how to party like I do.”

  “This is unbelievable…” Skye crossed her arms over her chest.

  Cayson couldn’t stop smiling. “Just sit back and enjoy the show, baby. I know I’m going to.”

  ***

  The second I walked through the door, Trinity was there. She had one hand on her hip while the other held a yellow invitation. Judging the shape and color it was the bridal shower invitation.

/>   This should be interesting.

  She narrowed her eyes as she looked at me. “Explain.”

  “Uh…” I grabbed it then began to read. “Please join us to celebrate the union of—”

  “I can read.” She snatched it back. “It says you’re hosting it. Slade, what’s going on?” She shifted her weight and put both of her hands on her hips.

  “Well, I wanted you to have a shower. Your parents are letting me use their house. Like, two hundred people are coming. It’ll be fun.”

  “But why are you hosting it?” She looked baffled.

  “You said Skye couldn’t do it and you refused to ask Silke. So, I thought I would do it. Skye couldn’t get mad.”

  “But you’re the groom,” she said. “You aren’t supposed to do it.”

  “I know,” I said. “But I want to do it. What happened to Skye was terrible and I feel bad for her. I know she wants to be more involved and she can’t. But I don’t want you to suffer because of that. You’re only getting married once and I want you to have everything you deserve. So, I’m hosting it. And it’ll be fun. I got lots of games for everyone to play and the food will be off the hook.”

  Her body stiffened and she dropped her hands to her sides, clearly moved by what I was doing for her. She looked at me in a different way, like she was seeing me for the first time. Then her voice came out quiet. “That was so sweet, Slade…”

  I shrugged and put my hands in my pockets.

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I wanted to,” I said quickly.

  She walked to me slowly then wrapped her arms around me. “You have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met.”

  I hooked my arm around her waist. “No, I come in second—to you.” I kissed her forehead and let my lips linger there for a long time.

  “You surprise me every day,” she said. “I thought I knew you but I always learn something new.”

  “I just love you—and that’s definitely not new.”

  She rested her head against my chest and held me close.

  “I’m hosting the bachelorette party too.”

  She stiffened then looked at me. “Seriously?”

  “Yep,” I said with an evil grin. “And it’s going to be amazing.”