Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 29008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
I walk to the door. “See you soon.”
I practically sprint down the corridor. I’m about to marry the love of my life.
CHAPTER 16
LUNA
“You ready, kiddo?”
Frank, my boss from the diner and the closest thing to a father I have, is holding his arm out to me. When I asked him to give me away, he teared up and grumbled something about guessing he could make it.
I thread my arm through his. “I’m ready.”
Two women are about to open the doors when Frank leans toward me. “It may be a bit of a shock when they open the doors, honey. Just focus on Cole.”
Before I can ask him about it, the doors open, and I’m stunned when I see the number of people in the crowd. Rows and rows of people. Men in tailored suits. Women in beautiful gowns. There are faces I recognize from television. These are people of power, money, and influence, and they’re all looking at me.
My steps falter. Is that the mayor?
Frank steadies me, his hand tightening around my arm. “Just breathe,” he whispers.
I nod and look for Cole. As soon as I see him, everyone and everything else fades.
I walk down the aisle. and Frank kisses my forehead before putting my hand in Cole’s, staring up at him. “Remember what I said.”
It sounds threatening, but Cole just smiles. “I promise.”
Reluctantly, Frank releases me and goes to sit down.
I stare into Cole’s eyes, and I feel myself ease when I see the love shining from his black orbs.
It all happens so fast. We each say our vows, and I start to cry when Cole promises that I will always come first. There’s a gasp in the room, but Cole doesn’t falter. “You are my other half, Luna. My better half, and I promise to choose you every day. I love you, Luna. I love you more than I ever thought possible.”
I barely make it through my own vows, my voice trembling as I promise to stay. To choose him. To believe that together, we are stronger than anything that comes for us.
Cole inhales sharply, like my words have struck somewhere deep.
We exchange rings, and when the preacher announces, “You may kiss the bride,” Cole doesn’t waste a second. He kisses me until we’re both breathless and there is cheering from the crowd.
Cole lifts me in his arms and swings me around. I’ve never been happier than I am in this moment.
I slide down Cole’s body, and he wraps his arms around me. “Ready, Mrs. Kingston?”
“With you? Always, Mr. Kingston.”
We hug his brother and his parents and Frank. Then we make our way down the aisle as everyone claps and cheers.
Later, at the reception, we dance, eat, and drink, but when Cole asks me if I’m ready to go home, I agree readily.
We scan the room for his parents, and I spot Robert first. He’s standing next to the bar, drink in hand. He looks exactly as he always does. Controlled. Powerful. Untouchable.
But his attention isn’t on the party. He’s watching his wife at the opposite end of the bar.
I elbow Cole. “Are your mom and dad okay?”
He follows my line of sight and exhales. “Dad told her it was time for her come back home and he was over the nonsense.”
I won’t act like I know everything about Eleanor, but I feel like I know her well enough to understand what happened. “I’m guessing that didn’t go well.”
Cole’s mouth tightens. “No.”
He watches them a little longer. “They’ll work it out. They always do.”
Then a little quieter, he adds, “It may just get a little messy first.”
Robert lifts his glass, never looking away from Eleanor.
Cole wraps his hand around mine. “Come on. Let’s tell them bye.”
We go to his father first. Robert hugs me and shakes his son’s hand. He walks over to Eleanor with us, and Eleanor ignores her husband and focuses on Cole and me.
She hugs both of us, welcoming me to the family.
We say our goodbyes, one hug at a time, and when we get outside, I’ve never felt more hopeful. The crowd follows us out, and Cole helps me into the car. He walks around, eyes on me the whole time, and when he gets in, he instantly holds my hand. The partygoers are all cheering as we drive away.
His hand tightens on mine. “Mrs. Kingston.”
I smile and rest my head against his shoulder. “I like the sound of that.”
He presses a kiss to my hair. “Good. I plan on saying it for the rest of my life.”
EPILOGUE
COLE
I’m sitting on the couch, holding Luna in my lap with Leo curled up on her stomach. Luna sighs happily.
I brush back a piece of hair covering her face. “You could have picked anywhere for our honeymoon, and you picked this.”
She turns in my arms and looks up at me. “Cole, I wasted three thousand dollars on a wedding dress that we had to trash. I just hired staff at the shelter, and it’s too soon to leave.”