The two of them walked up to the balcony together. They made some small talk about the moon as they chatted together.
Trying to avoid the conversation he knew was coming, he asked her if she was worried about the rain report for tomorrow.
“It will be fine, Travis. Everything is going to be just fine. I’m getting married. Nothing can go wrong.”
Travis wanted to tell her how he felt so badly. “Hannah…I…”
He pulled her into a hug. He was so scared. What if she didn’t feel the same way?
But he couldn’t hold back any longer. After they let go, he blurted out, “Hannah, please don’t marry him. I beg you. Please don’t marry him.”
“Why Travis?” “Because… because I’m in love with you,” Travis said.
“I love you. I love the way your hair bobs when you laugh. The way your voice sounds like a singing bird. The way I wake up every single day hoping I’ll see you just so I can make you smile. I love your heart. How you always look for the good in everyone…even when they don’t always deserve it,” he took a breath. “God this feels good to say. I’ve been holding this in for so long. I love you,” he said. Then again, stronger, with all of the certainty in his heart, “I love you. I love you Hannah.”
“Please, I beg you. Don’t get married tomorrow.”
Hannah took his hands in hers. Her heart and her head were telling her two different things. As much as her feelings were growing for Travis, she had to put a stop to what was happening. She’s getting married tomorrow after all. She can’t do this to Don. “Travis. You’re my best friend. You’ll always be my best friend. But I’m getting married tomorrow. This just…it can’t happen. I’m marrying Don. He loves me…” she paused. “And I love him…he deserves my whole heart.”
Hannah pulled him into a hug. “I’m sorry Travis. You’re my best friend. You’ll always be my best friend and one of the most important people in my life. You know how much I care about you.”
Travis hugged her tightly. He knew if he let her go, he’d be letting her go forever.
“I have to go…they’re waiting for me on the dance floor. I have to go…” Hannah said as she walked towards the steps, leaving Travis as he gazed sadly at her.
Maybe Don was right after all, Travis thought. Maybe he and Hannah need to be apart.
As Travis came back to the party, he saw Hannah and Don kissing.
He waved goodbye to his friends while Hannah and Don danced.
He burst into tears. As he cried, Don came beside him and smiled.
Don had won and he was thrilled.
Hannah came over and asked Travis to dance with her.
But everything was different now.
He was different now. She could see it in his eyes.
“The truth is though, at the end of the day, I’m just scared. I’m scared I could lose the one person I’ve ever truly loved more than anyone in my entire life. What if Travis got tired of me? What if I’m just not enough? What if… what if everything changed and I lost my best friend forever. That’s not a risk I could take. I will be happy with Don. He treats me so well and he loves me so much. It’s not like I’m settling. I truly do love him… I do…”
Hannah walked away from the party to get some air.
As she looked out, she thought about her future. Don didn’t deserve this. She thought to herself – He’s been nothing but loyal and wonderful to me. He’s there every day making me breakfast at 5am. Every time I comes home from work, he greets me with a kiss. I’m the love of his life. I could never break his heart…even if I… She wouldn’t let herself think any further.
She came back to the party to say goodnight to Don.
“Goodnight handsome. I’ll see you tomorrow at the castle. I can’t believe we’re getting married tomorrow,” Hannah said. As she said it, Don looked off behind her.
He was slyly eying Penny Pizzazz.
Hannah kissed Don goodnight and headed off to the castle, where she would spend the night and get ready for their wedding the next morning.
After she had left and everyone else had cleared out, Don walked over to Penny and pulled another rose from his pocket.
She was instantly woo’d. “Hannah isn’t that good of a friend anyways,” Penny said.
