Inevitable

“Did she work?”

He laughed, a deep guttural laugh, and leaned further against the wall and looked over at me. He shook his head. “No sweetheart, she did not work. Not once she was pregnant anyway. I was barely twenty-one and even though it was not what I wanted at the time, a family was something that had always been in my plans. I dropped out of school and took care of her every desire. Everything she wanted, but it wasn’t enough.” He looked away, staring out as the sun disappeared into the skyline.

I placed my hand over his and he titled his head toward me, his eyes hooded. “I’m so sorry. For what it’s worth, you’re an amazing father, Logan. Oliver is lucky to have you.”

After a long moment of silence with our eyes connected, he blinked, then looked over to my hand resting over his on the wall. He pulled it away and I stepped back.

After another long pause, Logan cleared his throat and offered a tight smile. “I should go check on Oliver. I’ll see you out.”

We walked silently out of the room, down the hall, and descended the stairs. I fidgeted with my hands, fighting to find the right words.

“I’m sorry if I overstepped, I—”

With his hand on the doorknob, he hesitated before looking up at me.

“Cassandra, you are …amazing. Oliver adores you and I…appreciate having you in my life.” His hand slowly lifted to my cheek, tucking a fallen piece of hair behind my ear. My breath caught and his eyes locked with mine. He thumb caressed my cheek for a brief moment before dropping away. “Truth be told, I’ve never really had a friend that was a woman. They usually hang around only for my money or sex…or at times both.”

A soft chuckle shook his chest and I smiled standing still, aware of every move he made, every breath he took.

“I also never speak about Natasha to anyone. You did not overstep, sweetheart. With you, I welcome it like a breath of fresh air, but it’s still very new to me.”

“Thank you, for trusting me,” I said with a soft smile on my lips. “I want you to know, I’m here if you ever want to talk about anything. I won’t judge you.” My smile grew to a grin and I sucked in my lips. “Okay, I might, but I won’t hold it against you,” I laughed, lightening the mood.

Logan grinned, his body visibly relaxing in front of me. “Thank you for that, Cassandra.”

“No problem, buddy.” I punched his forearm, giggling. He laughed louder as he opened the door.

“Tell Oliver I said good night,” I stopped mid step out the front door, turning back, narrowing my eyes but a soft smile playing on my lips, “and that you’re sorry.”

He nodded, smiling, then glanced up at the stairs regretfully. “Good night, Cassandra. And enjoy your bath.”

I looked down remembering the state I was in, and that my shoes were on his back porch.

“Oh I will.” I gave a flirty smirk and headed home, barefoot.

The next day I awoke ready to see my class. Monday mornings were as welcomed as Fridays. I rumpled the quilt away from my body, stretching my arms high over my head and pulled my crazy hair out of my face, twisting it over my shoulder. Per routine, I reached out to my nightstand, snatching up my phone.

I smiled, seeing his name listed with two new messages. I smiled as I read.

Hope u have a wonderful day, sweetheart. I have an amazing son by the way. He forgave me after I agreed to let him stay up late eating ice cream and watching The Muppets movie.

I scrolled to the next message.

I did however refuse the dance number he requested and luckily he fell asleep before I was forced to give in. See you around, buddy ;)

I laughed out loud, visualizing what it would have been like to watch Logan break out into a dance move from The Muppets. My fingers typed quickly, responding.

When you’re ready for the showtune dance number I better be there to see it!

I only had to wait a minute for my phone to beep with a new message.

I would not hold your breath, sweetheart

Chapter Twenty

Help Yourself

“So, what’s going on with you and Logan?” Hilary asked, tucking her feet under her legs, as we sat on her petite red couch, munching on a slice of cold pizza she had left over from the previous night.

I’d been reluctant to go into details about Logan previously when we hung out but when she called this morning demanding we talk, I knew it was time to spill. Somehow, Logan and I had become closer than any other guy friend I had, a lot to do with Oliver. He was over playing every weekend.

October and November passed in the blink of an eye and I found myself waking up every morning to sweet have a good day texts from Logan. He finally laid off the seduction but never turned down his charm. The man could find a sexual innuendo in almost everything we did together.

I didn’t mind. Truth was, he wouldn’t be Logan without it. There was so much more to him than anyone realized. The man was not only paying for Julia’s education and offered Jax a position at the paper, which he eagerly accepted, but he was also extremely charitable. He and Oliver spent time volunteering at the animal shelter, which I happily agreed to go with them, and donated money to multiple organizations. The more time I spent with him, the more I couldn’t understand why he created this ice castle around himself. Every time anyone in town tried to get close, he remained guarded. I was one of the lucky few that he allowed inside and I was grateful for his trust.

With my back against the arm of the sofa, I took a giant bite and watched Hilary stare at me, waiting impatiently.

She was dying for any, preferably all, information she could pull out of me, but it was fun to drag it out a little longer. It wasn’t like she’d been briefing me after every interaction her and Caleb had. After their date at the carnival, she suddenly became tight-lipped on the subject of all things Caleb Townsend, not that I really minded.

I took a long drink of water, savoring her irritation, and then smiled coyly. “Logan who?” I took another large bite from my slice, avoiding Hilary’s narrowed eyes and pursed lips.

I laughed, swallowing. “He’s a friend. What’s the big deal?”

“Well, I kind of gathered that much on my own without your explosive confession,” she grumbled. “Come on, time to share a few juicy tidbits about the elusive Logan West.”

I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. “Turns out he’s not so bad. He’s actually nice, sweet even.”

“That’s all you have to say? You’ve been hanging out with him for the past few months!” Hilary chuckled, shaking her head. She took a bite of pizza and relaxed into her side of the couch. “You know Caleb says Logan rarely goes down to Haven anymore to drink.”

“That’s none of my business. What he does in his free time isn’t going to affect my friendship with him.”

“Really, so what if I told you that Caleb also happened to notice that when Logan is there, he’s been turning down every offer from the slutty bar flies?”

This was news. I hadn’t noticed the lack of disheveled women sneaking out his front door in the early morning, but now that I thought about it, I can’t remember the last time I saw a woman there. Hilary noticed my thoughtful gaze down at my plate, a smug grin covering her lips when I looked back up. I shook off what this news meant.