“You’re welcome. But really, this was all Trent’s idea.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder and smiled.
“Is he taking me somewhere?” I asked.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
I sighed. I really didn’t like surprises. Trent knew that, but it was impossible to be annoyed, especially when he’d gone to all this trouble. Besides, I was too nervous to feel anything else. I placed my hand over my stomach, willing the butterflies to settle.
“You okay?” Whitney glanced at my stomach, then back up at me.
“Yeah, just nervous.” I laughed. “I’m fine. Promise.” I blew out a shaky breath, anxious to see Trent, to see what he’d planned.
Whitney smiled and thanked our stylists as she ushered them out of the room. Then she turned back to me. “Okay, I’m gonna go downstairs and help. Do not come down until I tell you to, okay?” She gave me a stern look.
“Okay.” Hopefully, it wouldn’t take her too long. I couldn’t stand to be in this room a moment longer.
“Oh, and put these on.” She handed me a pair of strappy heels. Then she left.
I slipped my feet into the shoes, securing the straps tightly, then stood in front of the full-length mirror. I’d never been so dressed up before, but I loved how I looked.
I snatched my phone and took several pictures of myself, wanting to memorialize this moment. Was this how excited and nervous Abby and Ellie had felt when getting ready for prom? I imagined this must have been similar. God, I missed them so much.
At least I had Whitney now. That was a bonus. Would I see her again once this was all over? If I became a vampire I probably would. But what if I didn’t? I couldn’t bear the thought of losing someone else.
“Now, Chloe,” Whitney called up the stairs.
Nerves tingled up my arms, sending the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy. I took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked carefully down the stairs, my hand sliding along the banister with each step, just in case I needed to catch myself.
“Whoa,” Trent whispered, his gaze heated with a love I couldn’t fathom.
He stood at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in a sleek, fitted black tuxedo. His tie was the exact color of my dress.
My heart raced at the sight of him. He smiled, too, his dimple showing in all its glory, and my knees weakened. He was the sexiest guy I’d ever seen, and he was mine. I asked myself every day how that was possible.
“You are absolutely gorgeous, Chloe.” He took my hand, guiding me down the last step.
“Thank you.” I cleared my throat. “You’re not looking so bad yourself.”
He laughed and held out his arm. I looped my arm through his, and he kissed my cheek.
“Happy birthday.” His breath breezed against my face, sending a shiver through me. “Come on.”
Trent led me through the house and out the sliding glass doors. Thousands of tiny white lights hung from the porch and treetops, twinkling against the darkening sky. Solar lights illuminated the steps and extended into the woods.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“You’ll see.”
We walked a path, which had been cleared and wasn’t anywhere near as uneven as it had been when I’d walked this way with Jax.
Trent stopped at a clearing that had been set up with a white gazebo, complete with more tiny lights. Sheer white tulle hung in large bows around the gazebo and from the ceiling. A table with a stereo was at one end, and plush chairs were at the other end.
Sean, Jax, Wyatt, and Whitney stood in the center, all dressed in formal attire, waiting for my arrival. Whitney could barely stand still. Wyatt tried to discreetly elbow her to get her to calm down. Sean smiled like a proud father. And Jax stared at me, his expression unreadable.
I looked around in wonder. “You did all this?” I asked.
“With help,” Trent said.
“Wow.” I stepped into the gazebo and slowly spun around, taking everything in. I couldn’t believe Trent, and everyone else, had done this.
“Considering I never got to take you to prom.” Trent shrugged. “Figured this was the next best thing.”
I turned to look at him.
He stood on the steps, one had tucked in his pocket, the other resting on the banister. His gaze was trained on me, his expression hesitant. Then he smiled, and my heart fluttered. My chest swelled with so much love I was positive it would burst.
“It’s perfect,” I said.
Trent approached, placed his hands on my shoulders, kissed my cheek, and said, “Happy birthday.”
Then, as if on cue, everyone else shouted, “Happy birthday.” Balloons and confetti dropped from the gazebo ceiling.
I laughed, happier than I could have imagined.
“Chloe!” Whitney shrieked and threw her arms around me in a hug that nearly knocked me over. Thankfully, she had enough grace and strength for the both of us and stopped our impending fall. “Happy birthday to my best friend.”
“I thought I was your only friend,” I teased.
Jax, Wyatt, and Trent laughed loudly, earning them a playful dirty look from Whitney.
“Seriously, though, thanks for being her friend,” Wyatt said. “She was starting to drive me crazy.”
Whitney shoved him, and he laughed harder.
I watched them with a smile. It was good they had each other, just like it was good Trent and Jax had each other. If I changed, I wouldn’t have any real family to share my eternity with—I’d have to watch them all die.
A pit formed in my stomach, and my good mood sank. This must be how Trent feels about me and my mortality.
“Happy birthday, Chloe.” Sean was now standing in front of me.
I blinked. “Thank you.”
Sean took my hands. “You look lovely,” he said. He smiled, placed a quick kiss to my knuckles, then released me. “I’ll leave you kids to it. Try not to draw too much attention to yourselves, okay?” he said.
“We’re in the middle of nowhere,”
