Forever Logan

by Elena Matthews

  Now, I legit stop breathing.

  “Aww,” can be heard throughout the room.

  She continues, “And the soul mate he spoke about in his speech, saying he might not have found her yet…well, he has. He just might not have known it, considering how difficult I’ve made his life lately. But I hope he gives me a second chance because I want what he wants. I want what Remi and Nate have,” she says, looking at them both. “I want the husband, the best friend, the soul mate, and if he asked me to marry him right now, I know exactly what my answer would be.”

  Her eyes flicker back to me, and five weeks of anxiety and heartbreak melt away instantly.

  “Today”—she focuses back to Remi and Nate—“I’m not losing a best friend. I’m gaining a new, extended family, and I’m so grateful to have them in my life. I also can’t wait to see what comes next for Remi and Nate and I’m excited that I get to be a part of that story as her best friend.

  “Remi, I love you. You are everything I strive to be. You are brave, sweet, and the most amazing person a best friend could ask for. You also rock the hell out of that wedding dress, woman. You are absolutely stunning, and I’m so grateful to be your maid of honor. I just hope I get to be as beautiful as you on my wedding day.

  “Let’s raise our glasses to Remi and Nate,” she says while lifting her glass. “And to finding love in the most unexpected places and being able to spend forever with the person you love the most.”

  “To Remi and Nate,” everyone, including myself, says in unison, raising our glasses to the happy couple before throwing back the rest of the champagne.

  The second everyone sits back down, I turn to look at my brother. “Do you need your best man and maid of honor for the next ten minutes?”

  He shakes his head, laughing. “No, we can manage without you for a while. You can even make it half an hour if you have some making up to do.”

  He winks, and immediately, I’m on my feet and heading straight for the woman who just obliterated my heart with her perfect fucking speech. I bet she’s glad she got in there second with hers, as she wiped the floor with mine completely.

  Standing behind her, I pull out my hand in front of her and bend down to whisper in her ear, “Come with me.”

  Pivoting her neck to face me, she accepts my hand as she pushes out of her chair and gets to her feet before I guide her to the nearest exit. I drag her along with me until I find a deserted corridor. I waste no time in pushing her beautiful body up against the wall, drawing her into my arms, and slamming my lips to hers. All the air escapes her lips as I take her breath away. Making the kiss only brief, I tear my mouth from hers and stare down at her with a mixture of adoration and confusion.

  “What the hell was that?” I all but demand.

  “What the hell was what?” She pretends to act dumb.

  “That speech. For weeks before we broke up, we said we weren’t going to tell anybody about us until after the wedding—you know, so we didn’t take the shine off Nate and Remi—but you announced your undying love for me in your toast. I mean, talk about stealing their spotlight, baby.”

  Her eyes soften at the term of endearment, her lips curling up in a smirk. “I didn’t steal anyone’s spotlight, baby.” She mocks the word baby, and the fire in my heart ignites at hearing her snarky attitude. I’ve missed it so much. “Remi and Nate gave me the all-clear to do it. Honestly, Nate wanted you to stop moping over me.”

  I shake my head in denial. “I wasn’t moping over you.”

  She tilts her head to the side with a yeah, right expression on her face before smoothing out her features. “I hate that I hurt you. I hate that it took us breaking up to make it clear to me what I wanted. That night, you were right; I was subconsciously trying to sabotage us, and I guess I used your past as an excuse because of my messed up psyche. You’d done nothing but prove yourself to me over and over, and I shoved it in your face. I’m so sorry for that.”

  “What you said in your speech, was that for real?”

  She brings her hand up to my face and settles her warm palm over my cheek. “I wouldn’t have put my heart on the line if it was anything but real. I love you. I want to be with you, for forever, if you’ll let me.”

  “I love you, too, but how can I be sure you trust me? Just…I’ve done everything to prove to you I am worthy of a woman like you, but you’ve always thrown it back in my face. Yes, I’m not an angel, I’ve got a shady past with other women, and I’m definitely not perfect. I’m going to screw up a lot, if I’m being honest, but if you can’t trust me, then what kind of future will we have?”

  “I do trust you. Apart from my dad and Nate, you are the only man I trust. You saved my life, and you made me see my worth when I was dating Freddie.”

  My eyes light up at the nickname I christened him with, and I grin a childlike smile. “Hey, you called him Freddie.”

  She giggles. “It was either call him Freddie or something much more explicit.”

  “Cunt would have done nicely.”

  She throws her head back with a deep, lung-filled laugh. “He really was a cunt, huh?”

  I nod with a sneer. “Yep…but enough about him. What were you saying about trusting me?”

  “I was saying…you’re the only guy I have ever been with who I wholeheartedly trust. I know I’ve doubted you in the past, but I was wrong to ever think that. You see me for who I really am. You’re always able to see through my bullshit. You always put me first. You’re attentive, loving, and you turn me on so much that it’s a surprise we’ve lasted this long, talking, without us stripping our clothes off. I’m so obsessed with you that even when we first met, I fantasized about you way too much, and when I saw you again, I’d pretend to loathe you because I hated that I was attracted to you so much. And then, when you showed me you were so much more than just some hunky police officer, I knew I was a goner. To make matters worse, you saved my life. I mean, how the hell’s a girl supposed to resist that? Remi couldn’t…and neither could I. There is just something about the Jensen brothers that puts women into a trance.”

  Smirking, I say, “Yeah, and we’ve always known it. It’s been our trouble since puberty.”

  Her eyes twinkle at that. “I think, when God was giving out the amazing genes, he blessed the Jensen family really good.”

  “He was pretty generous with your family gene pool when it came to you, if I say so myself.”

  “You know, flattery will get you everywhere,” she replies with a sensual tone to her voice. She skims her palms down the lapels of my tuxedo. “I miss this. I miss you. These past five weeks have been horrible, and when you didn’t return my phone calls or when you did see me, it was like we were strangers. And I get it; I hurt you…but if I’ve got to prove my worth to you, then I will. I love you, and if you’ll have me, I want us to have a real shot. I want us to have a future. Please say you forgive me.”

  “These past five weeks since that Christmas party has been hell for me, too. I’ve missed you so much, but…”

  Her eyes downturn when I say the word but, and the smile fades from her pretty face.

  Unable to hold back my smirk, I continue, “But if you want us to be together, you have to do one thing for me.”

  She glances back at me with amusement, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. “What’s that?”

  “Say something mean to me.”

  Her head shoots back with surprise, her face screwed up with confusion. “Wait, what?”

  I repeat myself, “Say something mean to me. I’ve missed our fights, I’ve missed your snarky attitude, and I’ve missed trying to piss you off, just to get a rise out of you, because you’re sexiest when you’re mad at me. Our hatred is why we love each other, and our make-up sex is balls-to-the-wall amazing.”

  She chokes back a laugh. “Balls-to-the-wall? That literally makes no sense, dumbass.”

  I let out a groan of satisfaction. “Say something else mean.”

  She rolls her eyes, and that simple
action gets my cock hard in an instant. “Asking me to be mean to you is ridiculous, and if I’m being honest, it makes you sound psychotic. I didn’t realize you were such a submissive. Kind of disappointing, to be honest. I thought you were a man.”

  Grunting, I gently grip her round the throat before slamming my lips onto hers. A few seconds later, I pull our lips apart to mumble out, “God, you and that sassy mouth of yours, I’ve missed it so much.”

  Giggling, she asks almost pleadingly, “Now that I’ve been mean to you, do you forgive me?”

  “Yeah, baby, I forgive you. Do you forgive me for the stupid bet?”

  She nods her head. “Yeah. I’m guessing it was one of the stupid things men do when it comes to women, right?”

  “Yes. So stupid. It’s the reason women should rule the world. Men are just the worst.”

  She throws her head back with a laugh. “Well, you’re not all bad…you still have some redeemable qualities.”

  I laugh with her, remembering a similar conversation not long ago. “Like?”

  “Well, you’re funny, sensitive, honest…you fight for what’s right, and you’re not afraid to prove yourself, even when you shouldn’t. And…you’re not afraid to put me in my place, especially when I’m being ridiculous. I know I can be hard work.”

  “Yeah, you are, but I happen to like hard work. It’s the most rewarding,” I say, capturing her lips with mine.

  A few seconds later, she pulls back while my fingers run through the wavy locks of her brunette hair.

  “I’ve missed your kisses so much,” she confesses.

  “Yeah, and we have five weeks to make up for.”

  “I’m sure we’ll find some creative ways, but we should really get back to the wedding. I still have some more maid of honor duties before the first dance.”

  “Okay, we’ll head back in a minute, but there is just one last thing I want to do.”

  I remove my hold on her and step back before getting down on one knee.

  Her brows shoot up with shock. “Um, what are you doing?”

  Ignoring her question, I ask her my own, “Ally Bennett, will you marry me?”

  “Are you serious?” she almost shrieks.

  I shake my head. “You heard my speech. I’m not wasting a single second.”

  Giggling, she pulls at my arms. “Oh my God, get up. You look ridiculous. Plus, who proposes without an engagement ring?”

  “Engagement rings are just semantics,” I tell her, standing back up.

  “But also, a very important part of a proposal.”

  “I will buy you any ring you want. Just please say you will marry me. I mean, if we hopped on a plane tonight to Vegas, we could be married by tomorrow morning.”

  “What, and miss the rest of my best friend’s wedding? Your brother’s wedding? Slow down, big boy.”

  “Big boy?”

  Cocking a brow, she says with the sexiest smirk, “Well, you’re hardly small, are you?”

  “Another area in which God gifted me.”

  “God, you are so bigheaded.”

  “You didn’t answer me though.”

  “Well, you heard my speech. I would marry you in a heartbeat but not today. I mean, haven’t we stolen enough of Remi and Nate’s limelight for tonight? Plus, a shotgun wedding by Elvis?”

  She pulls me into her, and I envelop her in my arms.

  “I don’t think so. When we get married, I want the works. It doesn’t have to be an expensive affair, but I at least want the beautiful dress and to have our families there. I want you looking this handsome in a tux.” She strokes her hands up and down my chest. “I want my dad to walk me down the aisle. I most certainly don’t want to be met by a lookalike Elvis Presley. I mean, I don’t even like Elvis.”

  “You don’t like Elvis?” I ask, unable to hide my shock. “Well, that settles it. The wedding is off.”

  She purses her lips and smacks me against the chest. I burst out laughing.

  “I’m just kidding.” I pull her closer to me, settling my hands on her lower back. “You can have whatever wedding you want, but just so you know, us getting back together means I’m in this for the long haul, and I don’t plan to wait long until I make you mine. Are you okay with that?”

  She breaks out into a big, beautiful smile, one that zeroes in straight to my soul. “Oh, I’m more than okay with that.”

  Pressing a final kiss to her lips, I pull away and wipe along the bottom of her mouth, where there is a pink smear. “You might want to reapply your lipstick.”

  She nods, smiling. “I’ll head to the ladies’ room before getting back to the wedding. I’m due to finish my maid of honor duties at eight o’clock for the first dance. Meet me on the dance floor?”

  “It’s a date,” I say, taking a couple of steps back, and then we go our separate ways.

  I spend the next hour enjoying more champagne, talking to relatives and friends, while a live rhythm and blues band play various ’50s soul music. Then, as they announce the first dance, my eyes search out Ally’s from across the dance floor. I know I should be watching Remi and Nate as they make their way to the dance floor when the band starts playing “That’s How Strong My Love Is” by Otis Redding, but I find it impossible to tear my eyes from the enchanting beauty that is Ally. It might be the dimmed lights or the spotlights from the disco ball glistening against her face, but tonight, she is more beautiful than I have ever seen her, especially in her flowing blush dress. I stay glued to the spot as she walks toward me, my eyes never once easing the gaze I have on her. When she finally reaches me, I take her by the hand and pull her into me.

  “You know, you’re supposed to be watching Remi and Nate.”

  “I know. I just can’t seem to take my eyes off you. Plus, I already know what Remi and Nate look like.”

  She giggles. “You already know what I look like as well,” she says as she turns in my arms to admire the happy couple, and I hold her tight to my chest.

  I lean over her ear. “But they don’t make my heart do crazy things like you do.”

  She squeezes my arms at that comment. We both watch Remi and Nate slow-dance in the middle of the dance floor, and my heart warms at seeing my brother so happy.

  Ally pivots her head back to look at me and says, as if mirroring my thoughts, “They look so happy, don’t they?”

  I don’t answer. Instead, I just press a kiss against the side of her neck. Naturally, our bodies sway with the music, and when my mom and dad, Kaelyn and Chase, and a few of my cousins make their way to the dance floor, I whisper in Ally’s ear, “Do you want to dance?”

  She turns in my arms and beams a smile. “I would love to.”

  Taking her by the hand, I lead her toward the center of the dance floor before pulling her warm body into my arms, and we begin to slow dance.

  “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”

  She shakes her head. “No, you haven’t.”

  “Well, you look incredible. You’re definitely on par with the bride.”

  Her eyes glance over to Remi, who’s dancing with Nate just a couple of feet from us, before she returns her gaze to me. “Thank you, but nobody even comes close to how beautiful Remi looks right now. And the fact that she’s showing her burn scars just makes me so damn proud of how far she has come. She deserves to be happy more than anybody I know.” A couple of words come out as sobs, and that’s when I see a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “Are you crying?” I ask softly.

  She nods, clutching hold of me even tighter. “Yep, I’m being a total girl right now.” She laughs through her tears. “But Remi is everything to me. She’s my person.”

  Chuckling a little, I reach a hand to her face and wipe at her stray tears.

  “I’m just so happy she’s found her soul mate.”

  “In some ways, you could say, the first fire was a blessing in disguise.”

  “How is that?” she asks with a sniffle.

  “Well, if there hadn
’t been a fire, then Nate wouldn’t have saved Remi, Nate wouldn’t have forced me to help move you guys in, I wouldn’t have fallen head over heels in love with you the instant I saw you. I wouldn’t have been able to save you or Remi in the second fire, you wouldn’t have realized that you couldn’t live without me if I died, and you’d probably still be with Freddie.”

  She balks at that and twists her face with disgust. “That’s not even worth thinking about. I think you’re right though. I’ve spent so much energy being angry about the fires, letting them mess with my head…but in reality, if they hadn’t happened, neither Remi or I would have met Nate and you, and that thought is a lot harder to stomach than almost dying in a fire. I can’t imagine not having you in my life. Not only did you bring me back to life after those fires, but you’re also the only good thing that came out of it. I’m sorry I’m only realizing that now.”

  “Well, fortunately for you, you were worth the wait. And like Nate said in his wedding vows, I would walk through a million fires just to be with you. I’m sorry for not fighting for you, for us, during these last five weeks…but I promise, from this moment on, I will always fight for you…until my last dying breath.”

  “I don’t deserve you.”

  “No, I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you, but I’m going to be selfish and keep you to myself even though you could do so much better than me.”

  “I could, but unfortunately, Prince Harry is already married, but I’ll guess you’ll do.” She purses her lips into a smirk as we continue to sway to the music.

  “Well, thank God he’s taken then, as I definitely can’t compete with a prince.”

  “Ack, who needs a prince when I have a cop to protect me from all the evil men?”

  I don’t add the fact that Prince Harry actually served in the military because, well, she’s painting me in a better light, and my ego needs the boost.

  “Hell yes, I would die for you, baby.”

  “I love the sentiment, but please, no dying. I want to be with you for the long haul.”