“So are you,” I said, standing. Then I hugged her. “I have no idea what’s going on, but thank you.” Without her, I’d still be in bed sobbing.
“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,” I blurted. How could we possibly draw attention to ourselves?
“We won’t. Don’t worry, Dad,” Trent said.
With a nod and another smile in my direction, Sean disappeared from the clearing, and as he went, the lights along the path went with him, each strand blinking out. It hit me then that the attention he’d been talking about was from supernatural forces—witches, possibly other vampires. I shuddered at the thought.
“Well, let’s get this party started, huh?” Wyatt let out a loud whoop, then music blared through speakers that had been mounted around the gazebo.
I grinned, unable to contain my excitement. I was officially eighteen!
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO:
The Next Best Thing
“HAVING FUN?” TRENT PULLED ME CLOSER as we slid across the dance floor, our movements as slow and languid as the song that was playing.
“Yes.” My face was flushed from how much fun I was having. I’d never be able to repay him for tonight.
He smiled, and my heart once again fluttered—that had been happening quite a bit more than usual. Not that I was complaining. He leaned down and captured my lips in a slow sweet kiss that left me breathless and slightly dizzy.
“Do the rest of us get a chance to dance with the birthday girl?” Whitney asked.
Trent rolled his eyes, but his smile belied his fake annoyance. “I suppose.”
He released me, and Whitney stepped into his place, not missing a beat.
“Oh, okay,” I said with a laugh as we slow danced.
“I read somewhere once that girls often dance with each other like this at prom. Not because they’re in love, but because they’re besties, and that’s what besties do. Did you know sometimes friends will go to prom together when they don’t have dates?”
“Yes.” I laughed. “And they usually
dance to faster music, but that’s okay.”
Nothing about Whitney was normal, and I’d quickly come to adore that about her. I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like being here without her. She’d definitely livened up the place.
Whitney grinned like I’d just given her the best gift in the world.
“You better not be in my head,” I warned.
She giggled.
“Whitney!”
She released me and swept me into Wyatt’s arms. “His turn.” Whitney gave me a mischievous wink, waved at me with her fingers, and flounced over to Trent.
I shook my head. “Your sister drives me nuts.”
Wyatt laughed. “Welcome to the club.”
I hadn’t spent much time with Wyatt since he’d arrived, so dancing with him now was slightly awkward, especially considering the sudden silence that had fallen over the gazebo. I glanced around to find Trent, Jax, and Whitney huddled around a table, their backs to me. What were they up to now?
Wyatt whipped me around, preventing me from seeing what they were doing. “No peeking,” he said.
“Okay, seriously, that mind reading thing is weird.”
“Sorry.” He laughed again. “After so many decades, it’s hard to shut it off. It’s so automatic now. But I promise to stop.” The song ended. Wyatt released me and gave a small bow. “Thank you for the dance.”
“You’re welcome.”
Another slow song started to play, and I expected Trent to sweep me back into his arms, but when Wyatt stepped back, Jax stood behind him.
“May I?” Jax held out his hand.
My breath came to a stuttering halt, and my gaze landed on Trent. He gave a subtle nod, indicating he was okay with me dancing with his brother. I’m glad he was because I wasn’t sure I could handle it. But I had danced with everyone else already, and the last thing I needed was for those two to start another fight.
“Of course.” I took his hand.
Jax slipped his free arm around me, his palm resting lightly against my back. His hand was warm and much too comforting. “You look beautiful tonight, Chloe.”
“Thank you.” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. “And thanks for all of this.” My gaze darted around to indicate the party, and to avoid having to look directly at him.
“You’re nervous.”
I glared at him—or rather, I tried—but his eyes were such a hazy shade of blue it gave me pause.
“It’s the first emotion I’ve seen tonight that hasn’t been sheer happiness.” He spun me around, and when I made the turn, he pulled me just a little closer.
My heart lodged in my throat, beating wildly, rendering me unable to speak.
“Ah, there it is.” Jax tilted his head, smirking. “My favorite color.”
I was afraid to ask.
“Time for cake,” Whitney announced at the exact moment the song ended.
My shoulders sagged with relief.
Jax placed a quick kiss to my cheek. “Happy birthday, Chloe.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and meandered toward the table where Whitney, Wyatt, and Trent stood.
I blew out a breath, praying my face wasn’t red, and walked over to Trent. He slipped his arm around my waist. I kissed his cheek, then sank down onto one of the chairs. My feet were killing me.
Whitney held up a cake with white icing and blue embellishments. “Happy 18th Birthday Chloe” was written across the center in fancy script. Eighteen candles flickered.
“We’re not singing to you,” Wyatt said.
I laughed and stood so she wouldn’t have to hold the cake down to my level. I could just picture it tipping into my lap.
“Make a wish,” Trent said.
Closing my eyes, I took a moment to come up with a good wish, then I blew out the candles. Everyone cheered. Whitney served the cake, and I was grateful to have a few minutes to just sit.
The cake was chocolate fudge—my favorite—with just the right amount of frosting, whipped, not buttercream. One bite, and I moaned with delight. It was perfection.
“This is so good,” I said.
“Of course, it is. I made it,” Jax said.
I couldn’t help it; I laughed.
“It’s better than sex, right?” Jax asked, a devious twinkle in his eye.
Trent heaved his slice of cake at Jax, who ducked seconds before it would have hit him.
“Trent!” I gasped, jerking my head around to look at him.
“What?” He laughed. “I knew it wasn’t going to hit him. Besides, it wasn’t that good.”
I elbowed him, and he grinned, clearly enjoying himself. I risked a glance at Jax who, based on his smile, was having as much fun as the rest of us. At least their teasing was in good fun and not escalating into something more.
“Oh, I got you something.” Whitney held out a tiny gift bag.
I set my cake on the table and took the bag from her. Inside was a colorful beaded bracelet with two white tiles in the center. One had a C, the other had a W, for Chloe and Whitney.
“It’s a friendship bracelet,” she explained.
I slipped it onto my wrist. “I love it.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened with disbelief.
“Yes, really.” I gave her a hug. “Thank you.”
I returned to my seat, but Trent had commandeered it. He pulled me down onto his lap, which was not at all comfortable in this dress, so I settled between his legs, my back to his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my temple. I sighed with contentment, not wanting to be anywhere else in the world.
“All right, I guess that’s our sign to get lost.” Whitney laughed. “C’mon, you two.” She motioned at Jax and Wyatt. “Let’s give them a little privacy.” She gave me a conspiratorial smile and then ushered the rest of the party away.
I closed my eyes, content to lounge on this chair in Trent’s arms for as long as possible. He dragged his hands down my arms, then back up, creating a flurry of goose bumps along my skin. I snuggled closer.
“Tonight is perfect,” I said.
“I’m glad you think so.” He continued to caress my arms.
“I only wish Abby and Ellie and my other friends could have been here.” My voice held a twinge of sadness I hadn’t intended. “They would have loved this.”
Trent gently nudged me. “Sit up.”
I did and shivered. Behind me, he removed his phone from the pocket inside his suit jacket and then draped his jacket around my shoulders before guiding me back against his chest.
He opened the gallery on his phone and handed it to me. “I know it’s not the same as having them here, but I figured it was the next best thing.”
I took his phone and scrolled through the photos. All of them were of Abby, Aunt Beth, Uncle Dean, my friends. It was clear none of them knew they were having their pictures taken, but in almost every photo, they were smiling. Happy. Safe.
Tears pooled in my eyes.
And then I came to a video. With a shaky finger, I pressed play. Abby was sitting near a pool with Ellie. Both were in bikinis and sunglasses, tanned faces hidden by a large umbrella shading their table. But their voices were unmistakable.
“I can’t believe Chloe isn’t home yet,” Ellie said.
“Right?” Abby shook her head, her frizzy red hair bouncing with the motion. “It’s so weird that she suddenly decided to travel with friends for the summer.”
“Did she tell you where she was going?” Ellie asked.
“Nope.” Abby shrugged. “Last I knew, she hated it there and was coming home as soon as summer hit.”
“That’s strange.”
“Right?” Abby said again. “Have you talked to her lately?”
Ellie shook her head. “She called me a couple weeks ago, but I didn’t talk to her very long.” She frowned. “I wasn’t in a good headspace.”
My heart clenched at her words. Obviously, her parents’ divorce was still bugging her, but I was glad she was with Abby. The last thing Ellie nee
ded was to be alone right now.
Abby and Ellie were silent for a moment, and then Ellie said, “I bet she’s having the best time. Seeing the world with all her new friends.” Ellie sighed. “I’m so jealous.”
I laughed. She was the same old optimistic Ellie, and I missed her now more than ever. I bet she and Whitney would get along great.
“She better bring us back some souvenirs,” Abby said.
And then the video ended. I wiped at stray tears and handed the phone back to Trent. “I’d told my father I was going home. To Keene Valley. I haven’t talked to Aunt Beth, so I hope Abby told her I’m traveling. But if she calls my dad…” Fear and panic swirled in my gut.
“That’s a worry for tomorrow,” Trent said, taking the phone and tossing it on the table. “I just wanted you to see that your friends and family are fine. They’re safe, and they haven’t forgotten about you.”
I did feel slightly better knowing they were all safe, but now I missed them even more, and the need to see them with my own eyes, to talk to them in person, to hug them was overwhelming. I needed to let them all know I was okay, too.
But Trent was right—those were worries for tomorrow. Tonight, I was going to enjoy what remained of my birthday. I turned so I could find his lips, and then I kissed him deeply.
Groaning, he swept his hand alongside my neck, drawing me closer. My entire body buzzed with desire, with the need to be so completely wrapped up in him the rest of the world ceased to exist.
His hand eased from my neck, over my shoulder, and down my arm before tracing the same path back up. His touch seared me, yet, somehow, it still didn’t seem like enough. My mind flashed to that night in the cabin when he’d tasted my blood, to the way I’d reacted. I wanted to feel that way again.
I broke the kiss, my body melding to his. “You said vampires drink human blood for pleasure, right? Like, because they want to and not because they have to feed?”
“Yeah… Why?”
“Have you ever done that?” My heart hammered loudly in my ears. Was I really about to do this, to suggest he drink from me?
“Once or twice.” His answers were slow, as if he were calculating how much to say. “There are some vampires who keep humans just to feed on them for pleasure. But the amount of self-control that takes…” He shook his head.
Eternal Choice: (The Cursed Series, Book 2) Page 32