Learn to Fly

by Heidi Hutchinson

  Luke pulled her closer, holding her tight. He touched his forehead to hers so he could look her directly in the eye.

  “Please, Lenny. Please,” Luke whispered, his deep voice raspy. “Forgive me…I should have told you every day that I loved you. You’re the most amazing woman…I…you’re…everything to me…you deserve better than me but, dammit! I’m not gonna ever stop trying to show you how incredible you are and how incredible we are when we're together.”

  In that moment Lenny knew her heart had been misleading her the whole time. She had been so afraid of following it blindly that she had made all of her decisions based on fear. And they had been the wrong ones. Luke in her life was the only thing that made sense.

  She closed her eyes, and licked her lips slowly. “Okay.” She whispered.

  Before she could open her eyes to see his reaction his lips crashed into hers. His hands pressed into her back drawing her body flush against his. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled his head in, deepening their kiss. Her body reacted forcefully, feeling like it would never be close enough to him.

  Lenny surrendered her heart fully to him. No more second guessing or hesitation in her thoughts. This was it. No matter what happened in the future, she knew that Luke’s arms would forever be her home. She could never go back to a life without them.

  The room broke out into applause and Lenny disrupted her kiss with Luke, laughing. She had forgotten that they were surrounded by a bunch of people. Luke still didn’t seem to notice or maybe he just didn’t care. He continued kissing her face and neck. He finally stepped back and addressed the onlookers.

  “Thank you, thank you.” Luke bowed and Lenny shook her head at him, a smile still on her lips. Always the entertainer. He grabbed her hand and kissed it affectionately and tugged her in the direction of the bar.

  “You finally get all that figured out?” Shane asked with a grin.

  “Not all of it…” Lenny looked over at Luke who was beaming at her and he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her to his side. “But the rest is just details.” She finished with a content smile.

  “Good.” Shane handed them each a beer and then toasted them.

  Lenny wasn’t sure what was going to happen next but as she looked up at Luke and he pulled her tighter against him, she knew…they would get through it together.

  ***

  Luke couldn't believe the peace that had descended over him. He looked down at Lenny's laughing face and he knew...everything was going to okay now. He wasn't going to screw this up again.

  She caught him looking at her and her face took on a puzzled expression.

  “What?” He nuzzled her neck. Staying away from her was going to be even more difficult now.

  “Why me, Luke?”

  He pulled away, unable to hide the shock on his face. “Why you? Are you serious?”

  Lenny smiled shyly and bit her bottom lip. “Yeah, why me?”

  “Because you’re smart and funny and a good kisser.” He grinned when she smiled. “Because, you make me feel like I’m worth a damn. Because when the rest of the world doesn’t make sense, you do. Because when we’re together, we’re unstoppable.” He rested his forehead against hers and looked her in the eyes. “Because you’re my very best friend in the whole world and I’m never gonna let you go.”

  Epilogue

  Sweetness

  “All I’m saying is I think four weeks is more than enough time for a Honeymoon.”

  Sway was bitching again. Harrison rolled his eyes and continued to pretend he was reading…What magazine is this again?

  “We have to be in L.A. in two weeks and we don’t have anything good to work with yet and he’s ‘unreachable.’” He put his fingers in the air to symbolize the air quotes while making a snotty expression.

  “Dude, shut up,” Mike looked at Sway with his eyebrows raised. “Blake and I have written some kick ass stuff so stop insulting us.” He got up from the couch and moved to the fridge. “Besides, Luke gave us everything he had before he left.”

  Sway made a disgruntled noise in the back of his throat and flopped himself into a chair, looking dejected.

  ***

  “Let the man enjoy his honeymoon, for Pete’s sake.” Mike said from Blake’s kitchen. He pulled out some leftover pizza still in the box from the fridge, opened the lid and gave it a cautious smell. Nope, no should eat that, they’ll die. He left it on the counter.

  “Is Sway still bitching?” Blake asked as he reentered the room. He picked up a slice of the cold pizza off the counter and took a bite. Mike eyed him warily but didn’t say anything.

  “We should be able to call him.” Sway grumbled.

  “No man.” Mike frowned severely at him. “Let him enjoy his wife.”

  “What could possibly be so important that they needed to disappear for a whole month?” Sway asked like he had a point.

  Mike stared at him incredulous. “Are you really that thick?” He asked honestly.

  Sway frowned back, looking like a belligerent teenager.

  ***

  “They’re probably having sex!” Harrison finally snapped.

  “So, I’ve had lot’s of sex.” Sway almost grinned at his own words.

  “Yeah, well, they’re not you.” Harrison tossed the magazine aside and looked at Sway seriously. “Luke and Lenny waited to get married. And Lenny was a virgin.” Harrison felt his face heating up. “I really can’t believe I have to explain this to you.”

  Sway stared at him for a few minutes as he processed his words. Suddenly the proper synapses in Sway’s brain fired and understanding dawned on him. His eyes grew wide.

  “Ooohhh.” He drew out the word making Blake chuckle and Mike and Harrison roll their eyes.

  “You’re such a dumbass.” Blake laughed again.

  Harrison ran both hands through his thick, dark hair and addressed Mike. “You suppose they’ll get their own bus?”

  “I hope so.” Mike sniffed, “I really don’t want to share a bus with newlyweds.” He picked up the phone to dial for fresh pizza.

  “Where do you think they’ll live?” Harrison asked Blake.

  Blake chewed thoughtfully and swallowed before answering. “I don’t know. Luke is technically still homeless.”

  “Yeah, he ruined all my towels.” Sway spoke up.

  “Maybe he’ll move to Wyoming.” Blake pointed out.

  “Yeah, maybe.” Harrison grew quiet. He was really happy for his friends but he also hated change. “Do you think they might get a place here?” He asked hopefully.

  “Maybe.” Blake nodded and started on another piece of cold pizza.

  “I bet Lenny is gonna be super hot when they get back.” Sway said with a wistful expression. “She’ll be all tan from spending a month in Hawaii.” He made a clicking noise with his tongue.

  “No.” Blake corrected him, shaking his head. “You can’t check Lenny out anymore.”

  “Why not?” Sway was getting overly frustrated.

  “Cuz they’re married now. That would be like checking out your sister.” Blake answered matter of fact.

  Sway sighed heavily as he thought that one through. “Fine.” He slumped his shoulders in resignation.

  ***

  “What happened with that girl you were seeing?” Mike asked now that he was off the phone. Sway was always a little tamer and easier to get along with when he was in a relationship. His attitude indicated he was single again.

  “Eh, she left me for a stunt man.” Sway mumbled.

  “Really? I’m sorry man.” Mike meant that, he didn’t like to see his friends get hurt.

  “It’s all right. Apparently he can set himself on fire.” Sway tried to lighten his expression. “How can I really compete with that?”

  Mike still found it amazing that Sway had been in a monogamous relationship for more than a month. It really showed growth.

  Of course, they were all growing, weren’t they? Luke getting married was just the first b
ig step. It would only snowball from here. As he looked around Blake’s loft at his closest friends he felt a peaceful energy deep inside. He, for one, was looking forward to what the future would bring. It was time to see what they were capable of in real life.

  Acknowledgments

  I'm not sure this story would have ever gotten completed if it wasn't for Scott Colby and the fantastic ladies of FFP. Your strength and encouragement helped push me through so many obstacles at once. Thank you for all that you are.

  To my lovely group of beta readers. Those of you who read the first and ugliest draft and encouraged me to keep going until it was better: Laura, Emily, Jennifer, Lisa, Tania and Julie. And of course everyone who stuck with me through every draft after that, pushing through endless revisions and providing tireless feedback and support: Laura (always Laura, forever Laura), Amy, Des, Marissa, and Steven. And my loyal fp fans, vivkifay and chocoyum94, I love you so much!

  To my fabulous editors Hillary and Dan. For putting up with my freakouts and insecurities and being patient and kind to me despite it all.

  Thanks to the Foo Fighters who provided the soundtrack in my head as I wrote every word.

  To my parents who instilled a passion for great music and great love in my life. I love you both more than I can express and am forever thankful for you.

  To my husband, Charles. Because it's not possible for me to hear 'Everlong' without thinking of you. Because you've changed my life in amazing and unexpected ways. Because I'm so incredibly thankful for your presence in my life. Because you are my very best friend.

  Thank you, God, for giving me this life and these people in it. My cup runneth over.

  About the Author

  Heidi Hutchinson is an incorrigible idealist with a deep love for art, coffee and fabulous music in general and rock and roll in particular. She writes about all of these subjects as often as life allows.

  She lives in the Midwest with her alarmingly handsome husband and their fearless child where they eat more pizza than God intended.

  You can contact her on her Facebook page http://facebook.com/heidirhutchinson

  or her blog http://heidihutchinson.blogspot.com

  or her Twitter @ChosenbyFaith