“Logan, I know deep down you care about me the same way I care about you. When my mother told me that you met someone, I felt my heart nearly rip out of my chest.”
“That isn’t because you love me. Of course, I cared about you when we were together, but we aren’t together anymore and haven’t been for a really long time. I have moved on and so have you.” His discomfort level was hitting astronomical levels on the charts. “I don’t think we should be having this discussion.”
Just when he was about to get up and leave, the waiter brought their order. Rather than leave Heather sitting there all alone, he managed to remain seated and decided it would be best for both of them if they finished their meal and left this discussion amicably.
“Let’s finish dinner, and we can discuss anything you’d like, with the exception of any type of reconciliation between us. I have met someone, Heather, and regardless if things work out with she and I, there isn’t anything that could bring you and I back together.”
“I just wish things could have been different between us.”
As he ate, he thought about how he could answer her. For a long time, he had wanted things to be different, as well. She had hurt him deeply.
However, he knew it wouldn’t be anything compared to if he lost Sam in his life. It was just different. His relationship with Heather had been comfortable, but when he looked back, he knew there wasn’t much emotion involved. It actually had been a sort of business transaction.
Now, he knew what it felt to have his heart contribute to the relationship and the thought of losing Sam made his stomach turn.
“It worked out the way it should. I understand your reason for getting me to come out here and honestly, had the tables been turned, I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing. The fact is, we aren’t meant to be together. If we were, we wouldn’t have spent the last eight years apart.”
Heather continued to pick at the food in front of her. “I hear you, and I know you’re probably right, but it still hurts.”
“The woman I have met is very special to me, and I feel as though I’m betraying her just sitting here with you. You have to understand where I’m coming from on this. You’ll find someone that makes you feel the same way. I don’t make you feel that way. I’m just your comfort zone.”
Logan pushed his half-finished plate away and looked at her. “I’m flattered that you called me out here. I’m a very lucky man if a woman like you believed she had to make one last play to try and win my affections. One day, when you find the right man, you’ll make him one hell of a lucky guy. Until that day comes, don’t sell yourself short and don’t settle for anything less than you deserve.”
“Thank you, Logan.” She replied, placing her napkin on her plate and reaching for her purse.
“I’ll take care of the bill.” Logan declared as he watched Heather hold back tears.
“I’ll make sure to let Jim know what happened and that I had deliberately manipulated the situation. Then, I’ll have him call Xavier to explain everything.”
“Let’s just leave this between us. You can let Jim know that we settled everything, and there are no longer any issues to address. I’ll advise Xavier that it has all been handled.”
“Thank you, Logan. I’m so sorry for making a fool out of myself. I’m sorry that I made you come all this way.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m glad we had this talk. It is possibly the closure we both needed in order to move on.” Logan stood from his seat as Heather did.
The two of them shook hands one last time, and he watched as she made a graceful exit. When the waiter came back, he ordered one last drink and stared at his cell phone again. It was definitely too late to call Sam, but at least he would be back in Texas tomorrow, and he could see her then.
Chapter Twenty One
The office was oddly quiet when Logan walked in at ten on Monday morning. The earliest flight he’d been able to catch had delivered him to DFW International Airport about an hour before and he had headed straight to the office.
Xavier had already left a message asking how the meeting went on Sunday. He didn’t want to go into detail about how Heather deceived him into coming out there, so he decided to wait until he arrived at the XTX campus before he talked to him. He could easily bypass the conversation if he saw the man face to face.
As he walked across the third floor toward his office, he noticed the majority of the people who occupied the cubicles were missing. He glanced down at his watch and realized Sam was probably concluding her Monday morning staff meeting. He would have to catch up with her and hopefully convince her to let him take her to lunch.