“You guys ready?” I ask.
“Hell yeah,” Cole and Wolfe say at the same time.
“Let’s go get this guy married,” Cole says.
We all head downstairs to the beach area that’s set up for the wedding. The hotel made an aisle in the sand that is white with red rose petals along the sides. There is also a hard surface covered in chairs for the wedding party and a guy playing piano off to the side. The day is perfect with barely any clouds in the sky and the sun shining.
The guys all take position on the platform. The priest arrives and speaks with Declan.
Mom arrives too and she is wearing a beige dress, similar to the one Poppy’s mom is wearing. Then all the girls arrive: Rebel, Paris, Holland, Blossom, and Cait.
I look around, hoping Lili and her sister are going to make it. Something inside me feels settled after my talk with Declan.
Then she appears wearing a flowy yellow dress. Her hair falls in soft curls around her shoulders. When she spots me, she smiles and gives me a quick wave. Alessa is beside her wearing a white dress that is a similar style. I like that the sisters are so close. It reminds me of the caring relationship Declan and I have.
A wedding planner from the hotel comes and tells us the procession is about to begin. Declan, Mom, and me all leave the platform and head to the left at the start of the aisle.
The pianist plays a soft melody, and the sun begins to set. This place truly does feel like heaven. Mom takes Declan’s arm on one side, and I take the other and slowly we walk down the aisle. When we reach the front, Mom and I move off to the side.
“You look beautiful. Thanks for coming,” I whisper to her.
“Thanks. I’m happy to be here,” she says. “I’m happy to see your brother found something real.” Her words hit me hard.
“Me too,” I reply.
The rest of the wedding party comes down the aisle, starting with Wolfe, Rebel, and baby Liam, followed by Cole, Holland, and CC. Then it’s Paris with Max since Ryse is walking Poppy down the aisle. Everyone is smiling and so happy. Blossom and Coach Darren are next with little Finn. The guys branch off and stand beside me on the platform and the girls stand across from us.
Then Poppy arrives in a long formfitting dress. Her hair falls over her shoulders in curls with a tiara and veil attached on top of her head. On one side she has Ryse and the other her mother. I watch my brother and see him overcome with emotion. The softness in his eyes. His emotions written all over his face. As the soft music plays, Poppy makes her way down the aisle with her family and when she reaches Declan, this aura of pure happiness shines from my brother. I feel his happiness so deep in my heart that a pang of something unfamiliar arises in my chest. Poppy and Declan exchange vows and kiss. I look out to our small wedding party since most of our guests are a part of the wedding party, and I watch Lili. I think of her full name, Liliana. She’s beautiful and sassy. Warm and broken. I smile to her, and she smiles back. I didn’t realize how long I’ve waited to find a girl like her until I met her. My only wish is Lili will see us as more than a vacation fling.
TEN
Liliana
“We have our own little private luau,” I say to Alessa.
“It is pretty cool,” she agrees.
There is a band on a stage playing a mix of tunes from luau music to some R and B and pop. All of Logan’s friends are dancing. The food is amazing too. A bunch of Hawaiian dancers go up on stage and put on a show, and Logan walks over to the small table where Alessa and I are seated.
“Sorry I didn’t make it over sooner,” he says.
“No problem. The ceremony was beautiful,” I smile.
“It really was. Poppy and Declan have the real thing,” he states. His words hit me in the chest because after Tristan cheated on me, I started to believe true love doesn’t exist. Logan clearly wouldn’t agree with me.
“Everything is perfect,” Alessa cuts in. “Even the food.” She bites into the kalua pork.
“The hotel has done a really good job,” I agree.
“Thanks for having us,” I say. I feel a little awkward to be sitting here on such an intimate occasion for his family when we are just two people having fun on vacation.
“I’m happy you both agreed to join us,” he says with a grin. He looks hotter than hell in that off-white shirt. The light color bounces off his tanned skin and makes his gray eyes glow, even under the moonlit sky.
When the dancers finish up their show, some of the couples move to the dance floor for a slow dance.
“Would you like to dance?” Logan asks.
I take a deep inhale. A part of me wants to protest. This is supposed to be an easy fling, and yet nothing about Logan feels easy. He’s too nice. Too handsome. I also can’t find it in me to say no to him. I look over at Alessa. “Would it be okay if we went to dance?”
“You don’t need to ask, Lili. I’m just sitting back here enjoying the food and drinks.” She grins, and she takes a sip of her Mai Tai.
“Okay.” I nod, looking back at Logan.
He extends his hand to me with a warm grin, and we walk out to the dance floor.
I place a hand on his shoulder, and he places his hand at a respectable level on my waist.
“You look stunning,” he compliments.
“You clean up nicely too.” I smile. Really the guy is drop-dead gorgeous, but I don’t need to go inflating his ego.
We sway to the words of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” “Is every song they requested romantic?” I ask because I’m sensing a theme.
“That seems to be the case. I wasn’t involved with all the planning,” he says as we sway to the music.
“I hope you’ll accompany me up to my room later,” he adds.
“I’d like that,” I reply. It’s been so long since I’ve been with someone but also, I really want to have sex with Logan specifically. He’s so attentive and handsome, I can only imagine he’d make an amazing lover.
“Good,” he says. The music picks up pace and I excuse myself for the bathroom. I also maybe need a little distance from him. The way he looks at me with his gaze searing into mine feels intimate, like he has the ability to slowly unravel me.
We break apart and I walk through the hotel lobby to use the restroom. As far as I’m concerned, I would like this wedding to be over so Logan and I can rip each other’s clothes off. After I use the restroom, I check myself out in the mirror and apply a little extra lip gloss. After Tristan hurt me the way he did, I thought I would never be attracted to anyone ever again. It felt like he ruined an integral part of me. I haven’t felt an ounce of attraction or want in almost a year. Until Logan. After smearing my lips with a pop of pink, I pucker them and fix my hair and head back out to the lobby, but I take my time enjoying the fountain and fresh flowers all over the place. There is also an area that has no roof, so I take a moment and stare at the abundance of stars in the sky. This place really is a dream. I just hope I can say goodbye to Logan the day after next, because once I leave Hawaii I need to focus on my future. I can never let another guy get in the way of my plans again. I screwed up once. I can’t allow that to ever happen again.