Page 42 of Loving Her Enemy

Halayna and Sloane laughed and moved farther into the bedroom.

“So, what couldn’t wait?” she asked, eyeing the beautifully wrapped box.

“I want you to wear this today.” He handed her the gift, and Halayna tore into the paper until she reached the Tiffany blue box.

“Sloane, you have given me so much already. You didn’t have to buy me anything.”

“Just open it,” he said quietly.

She lifted the lid, surprised to see a silver locket and chain.

“Here, let me.” Sloane took the locket out of the box and then handed it to her.

After fumbling with it, she finally opened it. Her breath caught. “Oh my God, Sloane. How…” Her words trailed off as she zeroed in on the two photos inside the gorgeous locket. A picture of her mother was on the left and one of her dad on the right side.

Halayna’s hand flew to her mouth as tears pooled in her eyes. This was the kindest gift anyone had ever given her. How had he even found the photos? They were of them when they were younger, shortly before her mother died.

Sloane took the necklace from her hands and fastened it around her neck. “This way, you’ll have your mom and dad here with you as you get married.”

Halayna couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. She cried for her loss. She cried because her parents wouldn’t get to be a part of this important day, and she cried because Sloane had managed to penetrate the wall she had built around her heart.

How could she have been so wrong about him? Since his proposal, even before that, he’d been kind to her, making sure if she needed anything she knew she could go to him. And these last few days with him had been like a dream, a fantasy she never would have imagined experiencing.

Her tears came faster and harder, and she held her hand over her mouth to muffle her sobs.

Sloane cursed under his breath and snatched a few sheets of tissue from a nearby tissue box before dabbing at her tears. Then he pulled her into his arms.

“Come on, sweetheart. You gotta stop crying. Otherwise, Bristol is going to kill me. She’s also going to be pissed if you mess up your makeup.”

Halayna laughed through her tears, knowing he was right.

It took her a few minutes to pull herself together, and though she dabbed at her tears with the heel of her hand, she was sure a touch up to her makeup was going to be needed.

She fingered the locket now hanging around her neck. “Sloane, this is the nicest and the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you. Thank you so much for this beautiful gift. I’ll cherish it for the rest of my life,” she said and kissed his lips just as the door burst open, and they leaped apart.

“Dammit, Sloane! What did you do to her?” Bristol yelled. “You know what? Just get out. The wedding is about to start, and she’s not even dressed, and you made her cry, you big doofus! Get out!”

Sloane rolled his eyes and gave Halayna another quick kiss before Bristol shooed him out of the room.

Halayna couldn’t stop the laughter bubbling inside of her. It didn’t matter if she was late for her wedding. It didn’t matter if her makeup was less than perfect. It didn’t even matter if Bristol was pissed at them. All that mattered was for the next several years, she would be sharing her life with a man who made her feel cherished.

“Look what your brother gave me,” Halayna said to Bristol who was still fuming.

Her friend didn’t calm down until Halayna showed her the locket and the photos of her parents.

Bristol sighed and gave Halayna a one-arm hug. “Most of the time, he gets on my nerves, but I have to admit, this was so sweet.” She fingered the locket. “I’m sorry they couldn’t be here with you but just know, now me, Sloane, and even Reece are your family now. By the way, I heard you asked Reece to walk you down the aisle.”

Halayna smiled. “Yeah, and I’m glad he agreed.”

She had always wanted siblings, especially a big brother, and though Reece wasn’t related to Sloane, they were just like brothers. Which meant she was getting a brother out of this deal.

Bristol snorted. “Hopefully, you don’t regret your decision. He’s out there posing for photos, telling the photographers how he’s an important part of the wedding and crap like that. Speaking of which, one of the photographers is outside the door. Thank goodness she was able to get photos of you before you ruined your make up.”

Halayna looked in the mirror and cringed. Her waterproof mascara was doing its job, but her skin was a little blotchy from crying.

Bristol led her to the attached bathroom. “Come on, let’s get you fixed up so you can marry my brother.”

As they walked, Halayna put her arm around Bristol’s waist. “Today is turning out to be one of the best days of my life, and the best part is? I get you as a sister.”