Can't Let Go - By Michelle Brewer Page 0,4

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.

Abby’s eyes welled up with tears once more as she watched her two friends exchange vows, rings, and finally, a kiss. A surge of happiness rushed through her as Hayley turned to her—any sign of the earlier sadness having disappeared from her eyes.

Hayley had done it—she’d made her choice. She’d chosen her path. She was happy—and, more importantly, she was free.

Abby longed to feel the same liberation, now. She found herself reaching out and taking Logan’s hand as they drove back to their resort, knowing that she had finally made peace with what a future with Logan would cost her.

Something was coming to life inside her—a newfound confidence she’d been longing to feel. What had begun to stir within Abby earlier had only been strengthened by watching her best friend shed any and all inhibitions she had felt.

But Abby didn’t voice herself. Not yet—now was the time to celebrate Hayley and Blake.

A dinner had been prepared and laid out on the private lanai of Hayley and Blake’s cottage to celebrate. The four of them sat around, drinking and laughing, reminiscing of the days when they had all first met.

Hayley had met Blake one night while he was tending bar, and the two had hit it off immediately. Logan and Abby had followed soon thereafter, having practically been forced together by their best friends.

It had been impossible to ignore the chemistry, though, and before long, Abby found that, for the first time in her life, she was actually in love. She and Logan had quickly become as inseparable as their best friends, unable to tell where one ended and the other began.

“I would like to propose a toast,” Hayley said suddenly, simply radiating happiness. “To my best friend and the love of her life. May you two know the same happiness as us someday!”

“I second that!” Blake agreed, kissing his wife on the cheek. He reached over and patted his friend on the back. “Better get on the ball, Logan. You’re behind in the game.” Abby watched Logan’s response, reading him carefully. He smiled at the man he’d grown up with very quickly before dropping his eyes to the tabletop and staring at the cluttered surface.

Something had made him uncomfortable.

“And I think we,” Abby rose to her feet, tugging gently at Logan’s shirtsleeve. “Should let you two get on with your honeymoon.” She suddenly longed to speak with him—to find out what was going through his mind and to tell him what was going through hers.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Blake said with a mischievous grin. Hayley laughed, rising to her feet and embracing Abby before moving on to Logan. Blake rose and did the same, thanking each of them.

“Congratulations, you two—you really deserve all the happiness in the world,” Abby said, smiling at them as she backed away. The newlyweds only smiled in return, looking at one another happily.

The cottage Abby shared with Logan was only a short walk down the beach and she paused at the sand to remove her heels. He waited for her, offering his arm to steady her if she needed it. Abby remained quiet for a moment, trying to figure out exactly what she wanted to say.

“It was a beautiful ceremony,” she began, but Logan only nodded. It was obvious that something had changed since earlier this evening—something about him was different. He was standing right next to her, but she’d never felt further away from him. “They’re really