“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
