The words blurred through my tears. Blinking, I glanced up at the ceiling and tried to get my tears to slow down enough so I could finish reading his letter. After a moment, I returned my attention back to the paper I held.
Last time we were here, I asked you a question. Do you remember?
I remembered. God, did I remember. I remembered how intense he’d been, how he’d bared his heart to me, how pleading his voice had been, the desperation in his eyes. How I hadn’t been able to say yes because I was too terrified.
I had no idea why he brought this back up now, especially when I’d already told him I wanted to spend eternity with him. He wasn’t still mad about that night, was he? I forced myself to finish the letter, despite the unease now snaking through my stomach.
It wasn’t fair of me to ask you that back then. You weren’t ready. I was selfish and acting out of desperation. I tend to do that a lot when it concerns you. I feel like I’m constantly asking so much of you.
To become my soulmate.
To love only me for the rest of your life.
To marry me.
To have my child.
To someday travel the world with me.
You’re probably wondering why I wrote you this letter, and I promise I have a reason. As I said, I’ve asked you for a lot, but there’s still one very important thing I haven’t asked you. And I need to, for both of our sakes.
The letter abruptly ended. What? I flipped the paper over. Blank. I tore open the envelope, praying I’d missed a second page, but there was nothing there, either. I stood, eager to find Trent and ask him.
I turned toward the door and found Trent standing there, hands once again tucked into his pockets. His expression was soft and compassionate.
“I didn’t even hear you come in,” I said, wiping my tears. “How long have you been there?”
“Long enough,” he said, his voice deep and raw.
“What do you still need to ask me?” I asked, my voice shaky. The letter was clutched tightly in my hand, the paper crinkling in my fist.
A hint of a smile ghosted across his face, then disappeared. “The one thing I’ve never actually asked you before. I’ve begged, pleaded… hell, I even yelled at you about it once.” He shook his head and dragged his hand through his hair. “But I’ve never actually asked you. Not like I should have.”
I stared at him, my emotions too much of a jumbled mess to comprehend what he was trying to tell me, so I stood there silently, tears still trickling down my face.
He gently took my face into his hands, his thumbs stroking the tears off my cheeks. “I know all of this probably seems dramatic and unnecessary, but it’s important that I do this the right way.”
Ever so slowly, his lips brushed across mine. My mouth parted on a contented sigh, and my eyes fluttered closed. I leaned into his embrace, but he only grazed my lips again. Then once more.
“Will you change for me, Chloe? Will you become a vampire and spend eternity with me?” he whispered.
“Yes,” I said. And there was no hesitation. No fear. No weakness. Not this time.
CHAPTER THIRTY:
Graduation
“C’MON, GIRLS!” UNCLE DEAN’S VOICE BOOMED through the house.
I grabbed my cap from my desk and rushed downstairs. I’d managed to pass Mr. Gordon’s class—barely; he was not amused with my and Jax’s creative lifestyle—and today, I was graduating high school, along with Abby and Trent and all our friends.
Five minutes later, we were piled into Uncle Dean’s truck and headed toward the high school. Abby leaned across the seat and draped her arm around my shoulders. Then she snapped a selfie of us.
I shook my head, but then said, “Send that to me.”
I’d talked to my Dad and Larissa a week ago and asked if they’d be coming to my graduation. Money wasn’t an issue, so I didn’t feel the least bit guilty asking them to fly to New York now and then again in a month or so for my wedding.
Dad said they couldn’t make it due to prior commitments. I told him I understood, but I still cried myself to sleep that night. After spending New Year’s with him, I thought our relationship was getting better, but once again, he’d disappointed me.
As soon as Uncle Dean parked at the high school, Abby and I were out of the truck and racing inside to the designated graduate meeting spot.
We’d been given detailed instructions of what to do and when, and on the last day of school, we did a practice run. We had to line up alphabetically by last name, which meant Abby was near the front, and I was in the middle. Trent and Jax were somewhere between us.
I shifted on my feet and glanced around for Whitney or Ellie or Trent or anyone I knew. Ellie saw me and waved, a huge smile on her face.
Her last name started with an M, too, so we weren’t that far apart. I left my spot in line and gave Ellie a hug.
“Can you believe we’re graduating?” she said with an excited squeal. “I’ve been waiting for this day forever, but I’m also kinda sad, y’know, because I won’t get to see everyone every day anymore. I don’t even know if I’ll get to see many of you this summer with all of us doing different things, and you getting married. But—”
“Ellie.” I clutched her shoulders and laughed. “Take a breath.”
She giggled. “Sorry.”
I was seriously going to miss her incessant chattering.
