Chapter 13

Chapter 13


Logan Point of view.

I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders as I settled into my office chair, cradling my glass of scotch in my hand. The news that the wedding had been called off was like a breath of fresh air, sweeping away the suffocating sense of obligation that had been hanging over me for what felt like an eternity.
The thought of marrying Brenda Conner, has been a source of anxiety for me. I had felt trapped, like a wild animal caught in a snare, with no clear escape route in sight.
But now, as I sipped my scotch and felt the warm, golden liquid spread through my chest, I felt a sense of liberation wash over me. I was free, finally, to pursue my own path, to make my own decisions, and to live my own life, without the burden of Brenda's father expectations weighing me down.
I took another sip of my scotch, feeling the tension melt away from my shoulders, and smiled to myself. It was going to be a good night
To be honest, this was one marriage that I had never even anticipated. Brenda was a fine person. Surprisingly, nothing united us; in the end, I always felt forced into the marriage so that the family-business interests made me feel that way.
The marriage was off; finally, I had been able to take a big sigh of relief.
Just at that moment, my phone happened to buzz on my desk. I picked it up to see my Aunt Martha's name flashing on the screen.
"Oh, hi Aunt Martha," I greeted as I picked up the phone.
"Logan, sweetie, so glad I got you. Just checking in with you to make sure how you're doing after the wedding was called off," came the warm, familiar voice of Martha.
"I'm doing great, Aunt Martha," I said smiling to myself. "In fact, I'm feeling a really huge sense of relief. I never wanted to marry Brenda in the first place."
She chuckled in the next line. "I knew you didn't , dear," she said. "You're far too smart and independent to get tied down in a loveless marriage. I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself and doing what's best for you."
I felt really thankful to my aunt. She always stood beside me and helped me whenever I was going through any crisis, and I valued her encouragement very much.
"Thanks, Aunt Martha," I said smiling.
"That's really something I never expected from you."
It took a while into that conversation for Martha and me to finally end it- close the shop and get into the world with our lives. The conversation kept me feeling quite blessed for having an aunt in my life. She was a true friend and confidant, and, in all honesty, I didn't know how I would manage without her.
I ended up putting down the phone. A shifting sense of well-being rolled through me. I felt happy- so happy, I realized for the very first time in many months. It was indeed Martha doing the magic and not anything else.
I settled back in my chair and let soft leather fold around me. I shut my eyes and breathed deeply as the strains of tension melted out of my body.
And after a long time, I felt free-the wedding was off now, and I was free to explore my interests and lead my own life.
And while I was sitting there basking in the new warmth of the freedom I had just discovered, I was grateful for that ill-fated twist of events turning toward me to get me to this point.
Sure, the wedding was canceled, but for me, it was adding a whole new chapter to life.
I can feel the voices in my head sinking into oblivion as I sit in the confines of my office sipping scotch, feeling so relieved about no wedding, and letting my thoughts stray into Brianna Conners. And I must admit; I've always had a thing for her, even when I was supposed to be married to her sister.
There was a key difference between the Brianna and the Brenda. Brianna was self-assured, cocky, and wild. In truth, it had to be acknowledged, the thrill of her passion and fire would keep a poker player on the edge of his seat.
And while I stood thinking about Brianna, that little doubt started crawling in my head- did I stand any chance with her? But of course, we did have our history; that legendary one-night stand.
Wander about wanting for anything; I sure find it awkward then to learn that I left it hanging in terms of following up with her.
But right there and then, I realized that I would give it a shot with Brianna. I wanted her to know that I really cared about her, and appreciated her as a person and wanted to get to know her better.
I picked my phone up and dialed Brianna's number. She answered on the first ring and I could hear the tension pierced within her voice.
"Logan," she said. "What do you want?"
I smiled to myself; I had a lot of work to do. "I just wanted to talk to you, Brianna," I said. "I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you after our... encounter. I was wrong to ignore you, and I'm truly sorry for that."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I wondered if I had misjudged Brianna's feelings entirely. But then she spoke up, her voice softer than before.
"Apology accepted, Logan," she said. "But that doesn't mean I'm interested in rekindling anything between us. I'm still hurt by what you did, and I need time to think about whether or not I can trust you again."
Even if she couldn't see me, I nodded to myself. I expected that. But I was willing to do anything to make Brianna come back to me.
"I understand, Brianna," I said. "And I'm ready to do anything to win your trust back. Can I come see you? Perhaps we can discuss this further face-to-face?"
Another pause ensued and then, Brianna spoke. "Okay, Logan. I'll meet you for coffee tomorrow at 2 pm, but don't think this means I've instantly forgiven you."
I grinned to myself, caught in the moment. Tomorrow couldn't get here soon enough.