“Don’t any of you dare say anything that’s going to make me cry,” I said, and they all laughed. I’d been on the brink of tears all day, and it wasn’t going to take much to tip me over the edge.
“That dress is amazing,” Larissa said, and I realized this was the first time she’d seen it. Whitney, Abby, Ellie, and Aunt Beth had been with me when I’d bought it.
“Thank you, Larissa,” I said.
She beamed a smile, then approached. “You’re just missing one thing.” She held out a large, square velvet box. Opening it, she revealed a baby pearl necklace and matching earrings.
“Oh, wow,” I said in awe. “They’re beautiful.”
“They’re yours,” she said. “It’s a wedding gift from me. Your father had nothing to do with this, so don’t let him tell you any different.” She winked.
I laughed and gave her a hug. She helped me put them on, and I turned back to my reflection. Abby stepped up behind me, my veil in her hands. It wasn’t one of those old-fashioned veils that covered my face—it was a simple piece of lace attached to a crystal beaded hair clip.
Abby fastened it in my hair. “There. Now you’re ready.”
I couldn’t contain my smile. I never truly knew what it meant to feel like a princess. Until now. “You think Trent’s going to like it?” I asked.
“Oh, sweetie,” Larissa said with a soft chuckle. “That boy isn’t going to be able to pick his jaw up off the floor.”
Aunt Beth laughed, then gave me a hug. “Your mom is smiling down on you right now,” she whispered before pulling away. “Okay, time to go find our seats.”
Larissa and Aunt Beth left, leaving me with my friends. I blew out another breath, the butterflies in my stomach working themselves into a frenzy.
“It’s time,” Whitney said, her eyes sparkling.
I momentarily closed my eyes, willing my heart to slow so I didn’t have a heart attack before I ever made it to the altar—that would be just my luck.
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s go get married.”
Abby walked out first, followed by Ellie, Karina, and finally Whitney. I could hear the soft music, and when it changed to the tune of “Here Comes the Bride,” my heart lodged in my throat. I stepped out of the tent and was greeted by my father.
He was dressed in an expensive, probably designer, black suit, and he was clean-shaven. He smiled at me, and my bottom lip trembled the slightest bit.
“I can’t believe how grown-up you are,” he said. “And so beautiful.”
Do not cry. Not yet. “Thanks,” I whispered.
Dad held his arm out, and I took it. When I’d asked Uncle Dean to walk me down the aisle, too, he’d almost cried, told me he was honored, but that this was a moment reserved for me and my father. I’d been bummed, but he’d been right. I never dreamed my father would be walking me down the aisle, but he was, and I didn’t want to share this moment with anyone else.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded, waiting for him to say something more, crack a joke about how it wasn’t too late to change my mind, because wasn’t that what fathers did? But mine didn’t. He respected my choices in regards to Trent and didn’t question if I wanted to run away. He probably already knew what my answer would be.
We walked in silence up the steps that Whitney had carved into the mountain—she really was something else—and the looming white canopy came into view. The lights twinkled in the fading light, and the sun setting directly in front of me painted the sky vibrant shades of reds, pinks, and oranges.
Dad escorted me toward the aisle, and all at once, everyone stood. That didn’t help my nerves. I took a deep breath, pushed back my nerves, and started down the aisle to the altar.
To Trent.
He stood there, waiting for me, hands clasped behind his back. Larissa might be right that he wouldn’t be able to pick his jaw up off the floor, but she hadn’t planned for me slipping and falling on my own drool, because holy hell.
His black tuxedo was tailor-made, molding to his body, accentuating his broad shoulders and showcasing his muscles. His hair was exactly as it always was—part windblown, part combed, styled to look intentionally messy.
The closer I got, the harder my heart pounded.
His gaze was focused solely on me, devouring me in that way he did when it was just the two of us. His eyes, though, weren’t dark with hunger like they usually were when he looked at me like that. They were crystal clear, sharp, and sparkling like freshly shined sapphires.
After what felt like ages, I finally reached him.
Dad placed a kiss to my cheek and whispered, “I’m proud of you.”
I blinked rapidly to combat the tears before they could fall.
“Who gives this woman to this man?” the officiant asked.
“I do,” Dad said, and then he took my hand and placed it in Trent’s.
“I am seriously the luckiest guy in the world,” Trent said, which earned him chuckles from our friends and family.
He took both of my hands, which were trembling, and rubbed his thumbs across my knuckles, exactly like he’d done the very first time I’d met him and punched him in the face.
I now stood facing him, and when he smiled at me, I forgot about everyone else. It was just me and Trent; the rest of the world ceased to exist. My heartrate slowed to a more normal, steadier rhythm. The nervous energy buzzing through me settled to a barely noticeable hum.
“Ready?” the officiant, Rebecca, asked us, her gaze sparkling as it passed from Trent to me.
I nodded, and so did Trent.
Rebecca cleared her throat. “We’re gathered here this evening to witness the union of Chloe Marie Madison and Trenton James Halstead in
