Can't Let Go(2)

“Let’s go get me married,” Hayley said with a deep breath, her blue eyes shimmering.

When they finally emerged from Abby’s small Hawaiian cottage, they found a limo with two men standing beside it, awaiting the young women’s arrival. The adoration the men felt was obvious in their expressions as they caught notice of the two beauties heading their way.

Abby watched as Blake’s eyes wandered over his bride-to-be for the first time. The couple smiled at each other from a distance before Blake stepped forward to meet Hayley, taking her hands in his and lightly kissing her forehead. He was quite a handsome man, with sandy-brown hair and matching eyes, dressed in a nice tuxedo—yet somehow still managing to look casual.

The two were a stunning couple.

Her eyes found Logan’s a moment later, her heart fluttering excitedly in her chest. He was dressed in a pair of simple black pants with an untucked white dress shirt and a black tie—the perfect image of an effortless, laid-back confidence.

Logan always exuded a certain arrogance, as if he truly believed himself to be above everyone else, but Abby knew better. She knew the real Logan—the boy who, deep down, was terrified he would never amount to anything. But she had faith. Logan would, someday, realize his potential too.

He held his hand out to her and she took it willingly, smiling warmly in his direction. “You really do look incredible,” he whispered in her ear as she leaned against him. A flush rose in her cheeks as happiness rushed through her.

“Thank you,” she whispered, bringing his hand to her lips so that she could kiss the back of it. He held her eyes as she smiled up at him, only the faintest hint of the sadness she’d grown accustomed to seeing shining back at her.

And it was in that moment, her eyes holding his, that she realized she would never be able to live her life without Logan at her side.

The thought of being apart from him—of not seeing those beautiful gray eyes every morning, or that casual smile of his whenever he thought something was funny—of not feeling the warmth of his chest as he held her, or the way her heart responded with even the faintest touch…just the mere thought was enough send an ache so devastating through her chest that she struggled to breathe for a moment.

She loved him.

Whatever the consequences, she could take them.

Abby glanced toward Hayley and Blake, who were so happy they were glowing…and she knew that, so long as Logan was with her, she would have all that she needed.

Nothing else would matter, so long as he was at her side.

The driver of the limo appeared then, shattering the moment. Abby quickly averted her eyes, fearful that Logan would see the certainty—and more so, the need—she now felt. She couldn’t let him know—not yet.

She knew how he would respond.

Grateful that the moment was over, Abby smiled at the driver as he held the door of the limousine open to allow the two couples inside. It was a short drive—a limo really unnecessary. But Hayley had insisted. It was her parents’ treat—a wedding present, Hayley called it, as the majority of the trip was. But deep down, Abby knew it was Hayley’s way of throwing their blatant disapproval of her choices back in their face just one last time.

And so, in true Hayley fashion—she spared no expense. Private cottages, private beaches, limo rides, a designer wedding gown…she’d gone above and beyond to make sure it would be a memorable occasion, for those present, and those who had refused to attend.

When they arrived at their destination, Abby found herself breathless as she considered the beauty of the scene in front of her. They were on the Waimanalo beach, the sun just beginning to set in the background. The mingled scent of salt and the sweet perfume of flowers washed over her and she closed her eyes for a moment, allowing everything to soak in.

She wanted to remember all of it—every little detail.

There on the beach in front of them was a small wooden arch with flower petals scattered all around it, the sunset reflecting off the ocean surface serving as the perfect backdrop. There were no chairs, as the only guests would be standing at the alter beside the bride and groom.

It was all so simple—so incredibly romantic, Abby thought. It was the perfect setting for Hayley’s wedding.

They were greeted by a pretty woman with dark black hair down to her waist. She offered instructions to the small group—splitting the men up from the women and sending them in different directions. The separation was momentary, though—lasting just long enough for the girls to receive their flowers and the boys to get in position.

“This is it, Hayl,” Abby said quietly as they stood side by side, waiting to hear the faint sounds of music that would signal their cue. “You nervous?”

“Not even in the slightest.” And Abby knew she was telling the truth.

Hayley didn’t feel even the faintest hesitation to say goodbye to life as she’d known it. She wasn’t afraid to leave her family behind. She wasn’t afraid to start a new life with the man that she loved.

Abby had never admired her friend more than she did in that moment.

And then the music started and Abby smiled excitedly, suddenly leaning forward and embracing her friend, a strange sadness washing over her. She couldn’t help but feel as though everything was going to change. “I love you, Hayley Lawrence.”

“Last time you’ll be able to call me that,” her friend whispered, her voice barely higher than a whisper.

As Abby pulled away, she met Hayley’s eyes. While Hayley may not have felt anxious, there was a certain undeniable sorrow in her eyes—the knowledge that she was letting go of everything she was certain of obviously weighing heavily on her. The decision may have been easy to make, and she may not have been afraid of it, but that didn’t mean that Hayley wasn’t mourning what she was losing.

“Go on—I’ll be just a minute.” She urged, and Abby held her friend’s eyes for just a moment longer, trying to convey to her that, as far as Abby was concerned, Hayley was making the right choice. And nothing would ever change that.

More than ever, in that moment, Abby could understand her best friend’s decision.

Abby exited the small room, stepping into the sand with her plain yellow heels, her admiration of the strength of her friend soaring. She took a deep breath before she made her way toward the flower-petal path, where she paused for just a brief moment.

Her eyes caught Logan’s and a fleeting glimpse of their future flashed across her eyes. She saw Logan waiting for her at the end of an aisle, smiling at her as he was now, knowing that their whole lives were ahead of them. A life of happiness, with children, and a home full of warmth and laughter.

It felt so real as she took her first steps down the aisle-way.

But the glimpse lasted only a moment and she was brought back to the present, her feet carrying her down the path. She held a small bouquet of orchids in front of her and a slight breeze ruffled the edges of her dress. Abby finally came to rest at the end of the path, standing just outside the archway beneath which her best friend would recite her vows. Blake caught her eyes and she nearly laughed at his expression—he was actually giddy with excitement.

Abby shifted her gaze to Logan then, smiling warmly at him. His eyes roamed over her appreciatively, his own heart soaring at the image of her. Still, after so long, he couldn’t believe that she was his—that she’d chosen him out of everyone else. This beautiful goddess of a woman, who had not even the vaguest hint of how beautiful she was—and she loved him.

When their eyes met, he saw all of her hopes and dreams buried deep inside them.

And each of them included him.

It was at this moment that he felt something wrench inside him—some pain, deep within him. Logan was all too aware that Abby would have to make sacrifices in order to have that future—and that was something he was unwilling to ask her to do.

A future with him would cost her the future she deserved.

Something sharp and painful flooded through his chest then, and he was suddenly overcome with the urge to run.

But, of course, he couldn’t.

He was here for Blake and Hayley.

A moment later, both he and Abby’s eyes were trained on the figure in white, walking barefoot down the makeshift aisle. Abby’s eyes filled with tears, Blake’s with devotion, and Logan’s with admiration. His friend—the man he’d known his entire life—was going to provide his future wife with a life full of happiness. He couldn’t help being happy for Blake, wishing he could see the same future for himself.

But as much as he loved Abby, he knew he wasn’t enough. He didn’t have the kind of future ahead of him that Blake had. He wasn’t going to be some fancy doctor or a successful lawyer—the most he had to look forward to was his glorious career in construction—and that would never be good enough for Abby, and most certainly not for her father.



~*~



Hayley finally reached the alter, nearly bubbling over with delight as she clasped hands with the man she knew she was going to spend the rest of her life with. The officiant began speaking, producing two leis he offered to the bride and groom. As a Hawaiian tradition, the two exchanged the rings of flowers—symbols of their unending love.