Page 116 of Miss Trust

Epilogue

Tory

A white wedding wasn’t really my style, which is why my dress was red, my heels were high, and my husband-to-be was the most handsome man I’d ever laid eyes on. Two years after Chance had bulldozed his way into my life, we were now tying the knot in his Vegas club, shut down for the night for this private event. Family and friends surrounded us. His brother and my sister stood next to us, along with the most perfect flower girl. She was glowing because not only was she in a princess dress, but she had her blond hair growing in again.

Then when I thought I couldn’t get more emotional, Chance had to turn it up ten notches.

“You have something for Miss Penelope?” the preacher asked.

He nodded to the officiant. “I do. Penelope, I not only take your mother as my wife, but I take you as my family. I promise to love you, laugh with you, play as much Nintendo Switch as you’d like, and always be there for you so long as I live. Would you do me the honor of accepting this special bracelet?”

Tears ran hot down my face. He’d said he wanted to do something to include her in the ceremony, but I could never have imagined his sweet words.

Penelope smiled. “I do.”

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

At the reception, our first dance was a family affair with Penelope on my hip, and me in my husband’s arms. Suddenly, she surprised us both. “Chance?”

“Yes?”

“Now that you’re married to my mom, can you be my dad?”

We both stopped. His eyes locked on mine. “You want me to be your dad?”

“Yes. I love you. And you love me. Can he, Mommy?”

“Why don’t you let us talk about it, okay?”

She smiled, hopping down. “Okay. I’m gonna go dance with Aunt Teagan and Uncle Reid now. Love you both.”

Chance swallowed hard. “I understand if you’re not ready.”

“I had the paperwork drawn up weeks ago, but I wasn’t sure if you were ready.”

He froze, looking straight at me. “The paperwork to adopt Penelope?”

“Yes. Turns out you’re not the only one who can do lawyer stuff in secret. It was meant to be a surprise if or when you brought it up, but she beat me to it.”

“You’re comfortable with this?”

“Yes. I trust you. Not only with my happiness, but with Penelope’s too.” Every day he demonstrated how invested he was in our relationship, and also in our family. He loved Penny, and was already a father figure. Making it official would just be the icing on the cake.

* * *

Chance

I was instantly overcome with emotion. The type which stuck in your throat and didn’t allow words to form.

“But if you’re not ready—”

I pulled her to me, closing my eyes at the feel of this woman in my arms. “I’m more than ready. It means so much to me, I can’t begin to express it.” I already believed she trusted me with her heart. It was more than humbling to learn she also trusted me with her daughter. It was—oh, fuck—were those tears in my eyes? Nope. Tears wouldn’t do.

She leaned back, cupping my face, tears of her own in her eyes. “I love you.”

Damn. I’d never tire of hearing those words. “I love you too. Even though you were a real asshole these last few days.”

She giggled. “Insisting on signing a prenup in which you protect all of your assets does not make me an asshole.”