Can't Let Go (42 page)
Authors: Michelle Lynn
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Genre Fiction, #Coming of Age, #Romance, #Contemporary, #New Adult & College, #Can't Let Go
Next is my darling girl, Chloe, in a pink dress with white tights and pink shoes. Her hair has held up well in the few hours since I saw her last. She’s smiling brightly, carefully dropping the rose petals down on the runner. She’s beautiful and caring and I’m elated for the smart girl my daughter is becoming. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to realize she’s part of my life. When she reaches me, she wraps her arms around my legs, and I bend down and kiss the top of her head. She stands on the side of me like we rehearsed this morning while Tara waits patiently on Kailey’s side.
Then the music stops and starts again, but this time Brady steps up to the microphone with his guitar in front of him. Sitting on the stool, he begins singing
“I Won’t Give Up”
by Jason Mraz. My eyes fixate on the doors of my parents’ house, and Kailey steps out on Clyde’s arm. Her eyes find mine immediately, and I watch her as she makes her way to the end of the aisle. Only fifteen steps and she’ll be by my side for the rest of our lives. I should know, I counted them this morning. For a brief moment, it’s just me and her. The people to our lefts and rights are a fog as I stare at my soon-to-be wife and she stares at me. We’re proof that love can be found in the least likely of places. Through all the heartache and grief, Kailey and I came together.
She begins to walk down the rose-covered path, and Chloe tugs at my pant leg, but I don’t want to miss a minute of Kailey making her way to me. Her last steps before she’s mine forever. I capture Chloe’s hand, and she tugs it down. Still not tearing my eyes away from the love of my life, Kailey’s eyes shift to Chloe. I bend down so Chloe can whisper in my ear while I continue my moment with Kailey.
“She’s looks like a princess,” she says so loud everyone begins laughing.
“And can you believe she’s ours?” I say back.
“Then you’re her prince,” she states with wide eyes.
“Yes, he is,” Kailey agrees coming up to us.
I hold my hand out for Kailey, and she grabs it, squeezing it tight. “You look so beautiful,” I say, and her smile becomes even bigger.
“Thank you, you look absurdly handsome in this suit.”
We take our places at the makeshift altar, and the ceremony begins. The pastor nods his head to Kailey, and she hands her bouquet to Sadie, who then escapes back to her seat in the front row. We chose to conduct the traditional vows and once we begin the ring exchange, I slip on her ring and reach into my pocket for my dad’s, since I borrowed it until we can go ring shopping for mine. But, I stop when I notice Kailey reach into the edge of her bodice and pull out a ring. I’m pretty damn jealous of that ring right this second.
“What? How did you—” I ask, but Kailey smirks.
“See, I can surprise you, too.” She waits for the pastor to start saying what she needs to repeat and then slips the silver metal circle onto my finger. No piercing or tattoo has ever felt so right on my body as this ring does on my finger.
“I know pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Trey Michaels,” the pastor announces. “You may kiss your bride, Trey.” My lips can’t reach Kailey’s soon enough. Once they land on the familiar soft pink flesh that I dream about every night, I know that I’m home. The applause start, and we wave our hands to thank everyone. We glance back at the pastor, and he makes the next announcement. “I’m pleased to not only perform the marriage of Kailey and Trey as husband and wife today, but also the marriage of Trey, Kailey, Chloe, Tara, and Drew into a marriage of family.”
I walk over to my mom and pick up Drew while Kailey gathers the girls. We sit down on the small wooden stools in front of the children. We each take hold of one of Chloe’s hands. “We promise to always hold you in our hearts and be your family,” Kailey and I say at the same time. I slip on the charm bracelet onto her wrist, and she smiles ecstatically. We mimic the same movement to Tara and lastly Drew, who is more interested in ways to get it in his mouth.
After we finish the pastor makes another announcement. “I’m pleased to introduce you to the Campbell-Michaels family.” Everyone stands up, clapping while the five of us walk down the aisle into our happily ever after.
THANK YOU TO my family. My husband, who whisks our children off to go fishing, to run errands, or any activity that gives me a few hours of solitude to develop my stories. My lovely two kids who sacrifice their mommy at times due to deadlines. Thank you for your patience and love. You are my rock and I’d never be able to live my dream of being a writer without you.
To all my betas that met Dex and Chrissy first. Melinda Huff Bones, Danielle LeFave, Mia Kayla, Melissa Rolka, Annie Trembley, Michelle Hereford, Amy Lawson, in addition to the anonymous betas through Book Peddler’s Editing. Your feedback made their characters and their story stronger. Thank you for taking the time to read Can’t Let Go.
Heather Davenport, Book Plug Promotions. Thank you for your tremendous organization skills. My cover reveal, book blitz, and tour for Can’t Let Go all done flawlessly as normal. Also, everything you do for the whole Invisibles Series.
My cover designer, Sommer Stein with Perfect Pear Creative Covers. As with all my others, Can’t Let Go is breathtaking beautiful. Thank you for never letting me accept anything less than 100% LOVE!
Perfectly Publishable, your editing and formatting of all the books in the Invisibles Series is amazing and flawless. Thank you for taking the time to make them not only read smoothly, but look beautiful, too.
My street team. Oh, how I love you all. Without all of you, I’d be nowhere. I appreciate all the hard work you go in order to get my name out there and help people discover me and the characters and stories I’ve created.
To all the Bloggers, who have signed up for the release events, thank you for taking on The Invisibles Series and Can’t Let Go and helping me spread the word amongst readers.
Most of all, thank you to all the readers. If you didn’t take a chance on Indie Authors every day, this book would have most likely never been written much less published. Thank you.
I would appreciate if, whether you liked
CAN’T LET GO
or not, to please leave a review. Reviews are a key component for spreading the word regarding Indie authors & their books. Thank you!
Michelle Lynn
Michelle is an Amazon Best Selling Author. She moved around the Midwest most of her life, transferring from school to school before settling down in the outskirts of Chicago ten years ago, where she now resides with her husband and two kids. She developed a love of reading at a young age, which helped lay the foundation for her passion to write. With the encouragement of her family, she finally sat down and wrote one of the many stories that have been floating around in her head. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can be found playing with her kids, talking to her mom on the phone, or hanging out with her family and friends. But after chasing around twin preschoolers all day, she always cherishes her relaxation time after putting the kids to bed.
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AUTHOR MICHELLE LYNN’S WEBSITE
Love Me Back
Growing up in small-town Belcrest, Maddy Jennings always thought she was destined to be with her childhood sweetheart, Trent Basso. Throughout the complicated road she has traveled with Trent, someone else has had a strong presence in Maddy's life. Trent’s older brother Gabe has always been someone she could count on, therefore neither of them can be blamed when lines blur from friendship to something more. However, promises made between brothers threaten to ensure that neither of them will have a permanent place in her life.
When Maddy returns to her hometown for her brother’s wedding, she is forced to face both Trent and Gabe for the first time in two years. While the two Basso brothers fight to win her heart, she is busy struggling with a past that won't seem to let her go. Whether she wants to or not, Maddy must decide to either forfeit her own happiness or forever tear a family apart.
THE INVISIBLES SERIES
Don’t Let Go
Sadie Miller is attempting to change her ways and hide somewhere no one knows her former self. She only wants to finish her final year of college, obtain her degree, and get out from the hold of her affluent parents. Then she meets Brady Carsen, the lead singer of The Invisibles, a popular local band in the college town. She tries to stay away but quickly realizes that, although he might not be what she’s used to, he’s exactly what she needs and more importantly, everything she could possibly want.
Unfortunately, Sadie’s troubled past left her with insecurities that make her question Brady’s true intentions. And while Brady is convinced that Sadie is the one for him, he has his own secrets that he fears will be their undoing. If they want to be together, they will have to stand united and fight the outside influences that are threatening to tear them apart. Can they put their pasts behind them for good in order to secure their future?
Let Me In
Grant is damaged, selfish, and undeserving of love … or so he thinks.
Jessa is happy, in love, and has overcome her past … or so she thinks.
Grant and Jessa can’t stop thinking about one another since being introduced at a party a month ago. And despite their differences, they can’t seem to stay away from each other either. However, both are hiding secrets of less-than-perfect pasts, fearing what will happen when those mistakes come to light. As they grow closer, they each battle their own insecurities, and neither believes that they are worthy of the kind of love that they both still want. So if it’s true that opposites attract, what happens when the similarities begin to surface?
Let Me Love
A chance encounter. An undeniable connection. An unimaginable twist of fate.
Kailey’s life is crumbling. Her best friend and sister, Jen, is dying, leaving her young family devastated. With little hope of saving her, Kailey is forced to face a reality she never expected.
Trey’s life is fun and carefree. He loves the girls, his drums, and his friends. That’s not to say he isn’t continuously plagued by a difficult decision made years ago—one that changed the course of his life.