“Was it scary?” Trent asked. He glanced up at me and winked.
The way he winked at me, like I was the only thing in his entire world, like we knew something no one else did, made my breath catch and my heart flutter.
“No.” Little Frank shook his head. “Momma gave me sleepy medicine.”
Trent laughed, the sound echoing through the empty hall.
I slowly glanced around, memorizing the look of these halls—the ugly green lockers, the sports and club flyers littered on the walls, the color of the tiled floors. I momentarily closed my eyes, and I could hear people talking, laughing, teachers shouting, the bell ringing. Only then did it really hit me that I was never going to walk these halls again. I’d never rush to class late or race to catch up with one of my friends so we could go to lunch together.
“Chloe, honey? You all right?” Trent’s voice was closer than it had been a moment ago.
My eyes snapped open.
Trent stood in front of me; Little Frank stood next to him, his tiny hand lost inside Trent’s larger one, and Little Frank stared up at Trent like he was a superhero.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” I smiled. “I have to get back out there, though. Aunt Beth needs pictures.”
Trent kissed my cheek. “Then we’d better go.”
“Are you sure?” I raised a brow.
“I’ll be okay for a few minutes.” Trent took my hand and laced our fingers.
We headed back outside.
Aunt Beth had managed to corral all our friends into one location. When she saw me, she waved me over. “C’mon, you two. Get in the picture.”
Larissa took Little Frank from Trent, despite Little Frank’s protests. Trent kissed Larissa’s cheek and shook my father’s hand. Then we positioned ourselves in the picture. Which wasn’t just one—Aunt Beth insisted on taking a bazillion and one before Uncle Dean finally cut her off.
Trent’s face was red again. So were Whitney’s and Wyatt’s. Somehow, Jax had evaded every picture. In fact, I hadn’t seen him since he got his diploma. He probably left. Trent, Whitney, and Wyatt made an excuse to leave, but not before Whitney reminded us about our bonfire later that night.
I promised her we’d be there, though now that my dad and Larissa were here, they might want to spend the evening with me. I felt bad about ditching them when they’d flown across the country to surprise me.
Once the commotion calmed a bit, we made our way toward the parking lot. Trent was standing near his truck, which was conveniently parked beneath the largest shade tree on the far end of the lot. He had those annoyingly sexy sunglasses perched on his face, his arms crossed over his chest. When he saw me, he straightened and made a beeline toward me.
Smiling, I slipped my arm around his waist, and he dropped a kiss on my forehead. He was so confident in our relationship, and he wasn’t afraid to show me affection in front of other people, even when those people were my parents.
“Dinner’s on me tonight,” Dad said as he came to a stop near his rental car. “I hope you’ll all join us.” His gaze drifted over Aunt Beth, Uncle Dean, and Abby, who was glued to Isach’s side.
“That’s very generous, Frank. Thank you,” Uncle Dean said.
“We’d be happy to have dinner with you tonight,” Aunt Beth said.
They were being overly polite considering they didn’t always have the nicest things to say about my father. Not that I could blame them. Until recently, I didn’t have much nice to say about him, either.
“You, too, young man.” Dad nodded at Isach.
Whoa. What is up with my father today?
“Of course,” Isach said, giving me a questioning look.
I shrugged, just as confused as everyone else. Then, Dad turned his attention to Trent and raised a brow.
“I wouldn’t dream of missing dinner,” Trent said with a chuckle. “But we do have a prior commitment later this evening, around nine o’clock.”
“Oh, we’ll be back at our hotel long before then,” Larissa said. “This little guy needs to be in bed early tonight.” She bounced Little Frank on her hip.
I stood there and looked around at my family, my heart swelling with love. When my mother died, I thought my life was over, but it wasn’t. In fact, it had only been the beginning of something new and exciting for me—something I’d never trade for anything in the world.
“All right. Let’s go then,” Dad said.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE:
Celebratory Dinner Disaster
WE DROVE INTO THE CITY TO some swanky restaurant with a name I couldn’t pronounce, mostly because all of the restaurants in Keene Valley were packed.
When we arrived, Dad pulled me aside as everyone else headed inside. “I’m proud of you, Chloe,” he said.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop from crying. My father rarely said things like that to me, but when he did, it was like an instant “on” button for my tear ducts.
“Thank you,” I said and cleared my throat. “I’ve been wanting to ask you… Would you be okay if Uncle Dean walked me down the aisle, too? I want both of you to do it.”
I shifted on my feet, suddenly nervous. I’d meant to ask him this months ago, but I either forgot or became sidetracked whenever I was on the phone with him. But I couldn’t put it off any longer.
“It’s your wedding,” he said. “If that’s what you want, then that’s all that matters.”
I scrunched up my face. Why did he sound displeased with the idea?
“I’m just honored you even want me at your wedding.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked on his heels. “I’ll do whatever you want me to, okay?”
“Thanks, Dad.”
With a nod, he ushered me inside. Everyone else was seated around a large, circular table. Trent stood and pulled out my chair for me, which was, of course, right next to his.
“I like the sundress,” he whispered in my
