Prologue
It was meant to be a romantic weekend for the four of them. One during which all would celebrate their accomplishments and forget, even for just a few days, the real world to which they would soon return.
Abby Lewis sighed softly as she stared at her best friend, standing just in front of her. Hayley was a beautiful girl—with honey colored-hair that almost matched Abby’s, and a naturally-tan complexion. The two had often been confused as sisters—and many times, they had made believe they were. They may as well have been, for as close as they were.
Hayley stood in front of a mirror, taking in her own appearance—lost in a world of her own fantasy. She wore a thin white dress that reached down to her bare feet and her hair hung in loose curls.
She was a vision of perfection.
Abby watched as her best friend took a deep breath, turning to meet Abby’s eyes. Hayley’s shined brightly, her excitement impossible to contain. She was radiant with glee.
“So you’re really going through with it?” Abby asked quietly after a few moments of smiling at one another, hating to even risk bringing the mood down. Hayley nodded her head happily, not even the vaguest glimmer of doubt visible in her appearance.
“In less than an hour, I will officially be Mrs. Blake Walker.” Abby couldn’t help but admire her friend. She was so certain—so confident about her future, in spite of the fact that she no longer would have any idea about what to expect. Hayley was completely aware of what she was about to sacrifice.
“And you really don’t care about anything that happens?” Abby questioned, imagining herself in Hayley’s position. What if she were about to marry the man of her dreams, knowing how much it would cost her? Abby was fairly certain she wouldn’t be quite as composed as her best friend was.
“I love him, Abbs.” Hayley shrugged her shoulders in a slow, graceful way. “If my dad can’t see that, then…well, that’s his loss, I guess.”
It was that easy for Hayley. She could give it all up in the blink of an eye.
Abby and Hayley came from the same world—they’d grown up together, both daughters to wealthy, powerful men, surrounded by an elitist society.
“He’s never going to speak to you, Hayl. Ever again.” There was a sense of alarm in Abby’s tone, almost pleading with her best friend.
“I can live with that.” Hayley shrugged again. She was so sure of herself —so willing to accept anything that came her way. Abby sometimes found herself a bit envious, though she would never admit it to anyone. Hayley smiled broadly, stepping forward and taking Abby’s hands.
“It’s different for you, Abby. You love your dad—you guys are actually a family. I don’t have that at home. Those people who are willing to turn their back on me simply because of the man I choose to spend the rest of my life with…they’re not important now. You, Logan, and Blake—you’re all I care about. You’re the only family I need.”
Abby swallowed at the lump in her throat, pulling her friend into an embrace. Her heart swelled with affection within her chest, knowing that Hayley meant every word of it. She was letting go of the life she’d come to know and taking very few things with her—but one thing was for certain: Wherever she went, Abby was sure to be at her side.
Abby couldn’t help but admire Hayley’s bravery. It was something she never really thought herself capable of.
An image of a dark haired man conjured in her mind—tall, usually disheveled in appearance—but beautiful, and her heart panged slightly.
Correction. She hadn’t thought herself capable.
Until she’d met Logan Sheppard, anyway.
As if arriving on cue, a knock sounded on the door before the very same unkempt visage appeared, peeking his head around the corner. “You girls about ready?” His voice was smooth as velvet, sending Abby’s pulse into overdrive the instant she heard it.
“Logan! You don’t rush a girl on the most important day of her life!” Hayley scolded. He grinned his perfect grin and Hayley rolled her eyes at him. “You were just hoping to catch the lovely Abby in a state of undress, weren’t you?”
“Well, I can’t say the thought hadn’t crossed my mind…” This time it was Abby’s turn to roll her eyes and she did, turning so that she was facing the doorway. She was amazed how, even after nearly three years, he could still send her heart fluttering wildly about. She braced herself between the door and the wall, reaching out to touch her lips to his.
“There will be plenty of time for that later,” Abby hinted, her voice low and suggestive. Logan used his shoulder to open the door just a bit wider as he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head against hers.
“Good, because as amazing as you look in that dress, I’m certain you look much better without.”
“Well, the sooner you let Hayley and I get back to finishing up, the sooner you’ll get to take it off.” She enjoyed the way his gray eyes roamed over her body—the way his hands felt as they rested on her hips. It was so natural, as if they were made to fit together.
“You’re beautiful, Miss Abigail Lewis. Beautiful, amazing, incredible…you know that, right?” And she could tell by the look in his eyes that he meant it. Her heart fluttered in her chest, feelings of warmth radiating through her. She held his eyes for a moment, almost forgetting that her best friend was standing behind her, preparing for the wedding that was going to take place within the next hour.
But the moment passed and Abby’s smile began to slip, reality sinking in.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” she told him, trying to maintain her mood. She reached up and touched her lips to his once more before breaking his grasp and ushering him away.
But, deep down, Abby couldn’t help the sadness that was beginning to unfold within her. Because as amazing as Logan was, she wasn’t sure he would ever realize it.
Maybe that was why she couldn’t imagine herself in Hayley’s shoes.
Logan had always considered himself so lucky to have her in his life. She made everything brighter, he had once told her. But she doubted that he knew what kind of an effect he had on her.
“You two will be here before you know it,” Hayley spoke, interrupting Abby’s thoughts and she turned, her cheeks reddening.
“He wants to wait.” Abby’s mood dampened just a bit more as she shrugged her shoulders. She and Logan had already had that conversation. “I don’t deserve you, Abby. One day you’ll see that.” He told her.
Abby and Hayley both came from wealthy families. They had been expected to go off to college out on the east coast and find themselves respectable young men of similar stations in life. Instead, they’d fallen for a pair of best friends from Boston who had not a cent to their name.
Blake was going to school to become a doctor while Logan had pretty much given up on college, instead spending his nights as a bartender and summers in construction. He’d taken classes for the last two years simply to placate Abby, but she knew that he had no sense of direction. He wasn’t happy tending bar and doing hard labor every summer, but, in his mind, he wasn’t cut out for anything better.
Abby and Hayley’s parents had insisted the relationships wouldn’t last—that they were only flings, and that the girls would come to their senses. But three years later, and both girls were more in love than ever before.
It had been an easy choice for Hayley. She’d never really gotten along with her parents—mostly because she’d never really cared about what they thought or felt the need to please them. They had always frowned upon her wild child ways—Hayley had, after all, rebelled nearly every opportunity given. Abby, on the other hand, adored her dad. Her mother had died when she was just a girl and she’d always felt the need to make her father proud.
Abby was aware that, like Hayley, she would more-than-likely be disowned if she were to choose to spend her life with Logan. Logan was aware of this as well—and it had always been their biggest source of conflict. Every time the future was discussed, it would always come back to the same thing: In Logan’s eyes, Abby deserved better.
But Abby also knew that Logan had no idea how special he was. He had no idea how much he had to offer—no sense of his own potential. And until he did…
“You ready?” Abby asked, pulling herself away from her thoughts. This was not the time to dwell, she told herself. She was here to celebrate.
“I think so,” Hayley responded, her smile bright and natural. Hayley took Abby’s hand as they gave themselves one last once-over.
Hayley looked absolutely radiant—beautiful in a classic sense. Even when she dressed casually, she was stunning. Now, however, she was literally glowing.
Abby glanced at her own reflection. The fair yellow of the simple summer dress she wore brought out the natural tones of her hair and the brightness of her pale green eyes. Her hair was held up in a messy array of curls and waves. She knew she paled in comparison to her best friend, but then again, hadn’t that always been the case?
“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.
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 happy, Logan.”
“They’re going to have a good life together.” Even his voice sounded distant.
“So could we, you know.” She attached herself to his arm as she said it, longing to feel close to him. She needed to cross the distance and find him.
“Not like they will, Abby.” She tried to ignore the pain that flooded through her. “Blake—he’s going to do something with his life. He’s going to be able to give Hayley a good life—”
“And by ‘good’ life, you mean a wealthy one.” Of course. This was what it always came back to.
“A happy one.” Abby stopped just outside of their cottage, letting go of his arm. He took a few more steps before turning back to face her.
“You make me happy, Logan. I don’t need anything else.” She thought back to her earlier realization, as they stood outside the limousine. He was all she needed to be happy. Sure, it hurt to think about losing her dad—but if he couldn’t see how happy she was with Logan, then did his opinion really matter?
“You don’t know what you need.” His tone was very gentle as he spoke to her, almost as if she were a child. Another wave of pain passed through her as she stared at him. Why was he saying these things? Didn’t he feel the same? Wasn’t his need as demanding as her own?
“I need you,” Abby said, her voice very small—tainted with confusion and sorrow. “I don’t care about anything else, Logan.” How naïve she was, the girl he loved. How little she’d experienced of the real world.
“But you do, Abbs.” He told her, his gray eyes intense and his voice tainted with sorrow. “I know you do.” He sighed, hating himself more and more with every passing moment. “What about your dad?”
Another pang flared in Abby’s chest. It would be hard, she knew. She never claimed differently. But she loved Logan. Wasn’t that all that mattered?
“If you choose a future with me, you choose one without him.”
“Then that’s my choice to make—” If her father was unwilling to accept Logan, then it would be an easy decision. She now understood completely the confidence Hayley had felt, because it was flowing through her own veins.
“No—no, it isn’t, because I don’t want it.” Her throat began to close up as her eyes welled with tears. What was he saying? “You’re not supposed to be with me, Abigail. You know it as well as I do.”
It felt as if he had actually stabbed her, the pain was so strong.
“Yes I am,” she insisted, stepping forward and reaching out to him.
“We’re from different worlds.” He told her as he shrugged away from her.
“You are my world.” His eyes flooded with anguish. “I don’t care about money—I’m done with school, Logan. I can get a job. I can work and you can finish—” She had to make him see. She had to make him try.
“It’s pointless, Abby. What am I going to do with my life? What have I done so far?” He shook his head, the self-loathing overwhelming him. “I’m going nowhere.”
“You can figure it out—” She couldn’t let him give up.
“What if I already have? What if construction and tending bar is all I’m good for?”
“That’s not true.” She knew it—she could feel it deep within her. Logan Sheppard was going to do something with his life—all he had to do was see it.
But he wouldn’t. He was so stubborn, so hard-headed. He would never see what she did.
“Yes, it is, Abbs.” He shook his head then, his eyes holding hers. “You deserve better than what I can give you.”
“Don’t say that!” She cried, taking his hand, pleading with him now. Obviously reason was lost on him. All she had left was his heart. “Please, Logan.” She begged, tears streaming down her cheeks—how could she be losing him when she’d only just realized how much she needed him?
“This is not my life, Abigail.” He gestured to the clothes he wore, then to the cottage at his side. “This isn’t me.” He broke her grasp, stepping backward. “I don’t belong here.”
Abby felt her heart breaking within her as she realized he wasn’t going to change his mind.
No matter what she did, he wasn’t going to stay.
The pain was undeniable, washing over her like the waves breaking against the shore just a few feet from where they stood. She couldn’t take it.
“Then go!” She yelled, throwing her shoes at him out of anger. “Just go, Logan! Get out of here!”
And she didn’t even wait for him to do so before she turned her back and stalked away from him, too broken to even watch him go.
~*~
She couldn’t stay inside. Memories of him assaulted her—waking up beside him this morning and ruffling his hair; eating breakfast in bed, laughing as he dipped his toast into her eggs; crying mercy as he tickled her mercilessly; making love in the afternoon sun.
So she sat on the lanai, dressed in her pajama shorts and tank top, staring up at the stars. They were beautiful here—the sky was crystal clear. Nothing like back home in Boston, where she and Hayley had spent the last four years, or L.A., where they’d grown up.
She and Logan had fought like this before. It was something they’d actually done often—only usually, his words weren’t so biting. They weren’t so…final.
They had always come back to each other.
And so she waited, telling herself that she wasn’t doing exactly that. She thought about the things he’d said and wondered how much truth there was to them. Never before had she doubted her relationship. Sure, there were problems—she was aware of that. But she’d never even considered their relationship coming to an end. They would work through it—whatever it took, they would figure it out. That’s what love was all about—wasn’t it? And wasn’t their love strong enough to endure?
When Abby saw his familiar build coming into view—she rose to her feet and hurried off the lanai, meeting him somewhere in the sand. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his chest, relief sweeping through her. “I knew you’d come back,” she whispered, swallowing at the lump in her throat, willing herself not to cry.
“Abby…” He said softly, his tone warning her.
“Shh,” she whispered, rising on her tiptoes and pressing her lips to his. “We’ll be okay, Logan. I know we will.” He was the first man she’d ever loved, and something inside her knew he would be the only man she ever loved.
Whatever it took, they could work it out.
“I…” He sighed, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close, maybe a bit reluctantly. The familiarity was comforting and she melted into him, taking his embrace as a positive sign.
“You still love me?” She asked, lifting her head so that she could meet his eyes.
“Forever, Abby.”
And she kissed him then, trying with everything she could to show him how much she cared. She felt his embrace tighten, felt him pull her closer. There was a strange hunger in his kiss—something deeper, something she’d never felt before.
And then she was in his arms, being carried inside. They tumbled into the bed and she began to work at his clothes—needing him, needing to meet his passion. She needed him to know that she was his—to convince him that their love was strong enough to last.
~*~
Logan laid there for hours after Abby had fallen asleep, burning the image of her into his memory. He knew he shouldn’t be here—he knew this was wrong, that being with her like this wasn’t right. But he couldn’t help it.
He thought back to the way she’d looked at him, standing out there under the starlit sky. Her eyes had lent to her a blind vulnerability, pleading with him in a way that broke his heart to even think about. It was a side of her he’d never seen.
She was afraid.
He had felt it the moment Abby touched him. She knew that something had changed and she was trying so hard to pretend that it hadn’t. But whatever it was—she knew it wasn’t going away.
He thought of her simple question. “You still love me?” She had been so exposed. She had revealed everything to him at that moment, and he couldn’t deny her.
He couldn’t lie to her.
No matter what happened, he would always love Abigail Lewis. She was the world to him—like he to her. Only he had to be strong enough to do what he knew was necessary. What he knew was right.
Logan hadn’t planned on coming back. He was just going to go, like she’d told him to. He was going to buy a ticket home and disappear, letting her live her life exactly like she should.
But he had to come back. He needed just one last glimpse of her. And then she was there, looking up at him with those beautiful green eyes of hers.
And so he’d stayed. He’d kissed her with a passion strong enough to last him a lifetime, and she’d returned it—perhaps with a desire even stronger than his own. And he’d made love to her, telling himself to remember it all—to take care to make it memorable for her. He knew she would think him selfish once she woke, and maybe she would be right. Maybe coming back had been selfish.
But he had to see her one last time.
He quietly left the bed, careful not to wake her as he slipped out from beneath her sleeping form. She stirred slightly and he paused, not wanting to wake her but also unable to turn away. She was the best thing he’d ever have in his life—of that he was sure.
He hadn’t brought much with him, so there wasn’t much to pack. But he did so quickly and quietly, pausing briefly to scribble a note before turning and taking her in once more.
She looked like an angel—the sun glimmering off her golden hair, her expression one of peace, surrounded by billowing white sheets and pillows.
Goodbye, my dear Abby. May you find happiness with someone who is more deserving than myself.