Irreplaceable

“And my mother will be waiting.”

“Better her than me.” Logan’s finger circled my breast as I stood nude in front of him. “I hate to wait for anything, yet for you….” His head dipped down and he placed a kiss over my nipple, then looked back up with a slight smirk. “For you, I’ll always wait.”

I smiled. “Tonight. I’m all yours tonight.”

“Fair enough. I need to go make sure Jax remembered to bring Oliver home with him from the city in time for school.” With a long, lingering kiss, Logan walked back into my room, dressed, and came back for one more kiss before leaving.

It was strange. Here I was, a month and a half after the accident, finally able to allow myself to feel what I’d been denying, avoiding. I loved Logan, and for once I wasn’t going to overthink it.

My mom was already sitting at a booth with a plate of scrambled eggs and hash browns when I strolled into Haven, feeling like my world had been finally set right. Any lingering doubt I had about Logan was somehow washed away by his affection that morning. I loved him, and without a doubt, I knew he loved me.

“There you are. Thought you forgot,” she said, smiling. She stood and pulled me in for a big hug, then stepped back, looking me over.

“You look beautiful, honey. How you feeling?” She slid back down into her seat, and I did the same across from her.

“Wonderful.” I couldn’t help the grin that was stinging my cheeks.

The waiter approached, and I ordered some pancakes as my mom’s stare focused on me, a slight furrow to her brow.

“What?” I asked, my lips twitching.

“Nothing, it’s just good to see you smile. Been too long.”

“I agree. So how’s work going?” I asked.

“Fine, but I wanted to meet you to talk about something other than work.”

That didn’t sound good.

“I heard you went to see a loan officer at the bank.”

“Mom…” I drawled, popping my elbow on the table.

“Now listen, I told you—”

“Don’t worry about it, Logan helped me out. The house isn’t involved.”

She sighed, relieved. “I’m glad to hear it, but surprised. Does that mean you are actually on speaking terms with him?”

I nodded, the grin back in place over my lips. Definitely on speaking terms.

“I see. Well, I don’t know what you and him are doing, but be careful. I like him—a lot—but I also know he has an arrest on file that has me a little concerned.”

“An arrest?” Shock was heavy in my voice.

“Yeah, I’m sure he’d prefer me to keep it to myself, and because I believe that man is in love with you, I’ll do just that. Everyone has a past, but stay clear of that ex-girlfriend of his.”

“No problem there,” I grumbled.

“How’s Oliver?”

The waiter set my plate down and I poured on some syrup.

“Honestly, I haven’t seen too much of him, but that’s about to change.”

“So you and Logan West,” she said, more to herself, smiling. “I wondered how long it would take him.”

“You were convinced I wouldn’t be able to resist?” I half chuckled, slightly offended.

“Can’t resist the inevitable, honey.”

I took a bite, realizing she was right. I was through resisting anything when it came to Logan.

We finished eating, chatting about her boyfriend and the bombshell that I should’ve been expecting: they were moving in together. It was easy to see how she felt about him in the way she spoke. A peaceful feeling settled over me. After years alone, she was finally happy.

Now came the part I was dreading—the part that should’ve happened before or during breakfast, but it hadn’t felt right. So as she pulled out her wallet, I knew I had to do it now or I’d regret it all day. I reached into my tote and pulled out the hat box, sitting it on the table.

“What’s that?” she asked, smoothing a twenty through her fingers.

“For you. I found it in the attic.”

Her brows pulled in as slid it closer to her.

“I never knew about him and Nina. I had no clue.”

She gasped, her eyes darting up from the box to me in a panic. “Why would you? You were a child.”

“I’m so sorry.” My heart broke for her.

“So am I. You deserved a better father.”

We sat quietly for a few minutes as she read my grandmother’s letter to her and then pulled out the picture of my father and Nina.

“I was blindsided when he left… especially with her. She was barely an adult. Her father was livid, to put it mildly.” She placed everything back in the box and closed the lid, looking up at me softly. “It was…horrible. A bad dream that took me weeks to realize wasn’t ending. I never told you because it wasn’t my place. If your father wanted you in his life, he could have visited you. I never would have stopped him.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s been too long now. Wherever he is, I don’t need him, and neither do you,” I told her as I reached across the table and took her hand.

Giving mine a squeeze, she smiled. “How did I raise such a strong woman?”

“I have no clue,” I teased, then drew in a breath. “I take after my mother: the strongest woman I know.”

“All right, I got to get to work before you having me tearing up.” My mother grabbed her purse and stood as I finished my orange juice. “Give me another hug, and drive carefully. Those roads are slick out there. This winter doesn’t seem to want to let up.”

I nodded and stood as she took the box.

“Maybe we can double date sometime,” she offered, hugging me tightly.

Double date with my mother and George? I grimaced, but something told me it wasn’t negotiable.

“I’ll be looking forward to it,” I said.

My mother released me with a knowing smile. “Still a terrible liar, Cassie.”

She laughed and I watched her walk away, happy.

The drive home was at a grueling pace due to the thick snow drifting over the road, but I made it safely. I spent the rest of the day cleaning a little and lounging around a lot. Stir crazy—that’s how I felt. I missed school, and I missed Logan.

By four o’clock, I was showered, lotioned up, and throwing on an easy dress—easy for Logan to remove, anyway. I pulled my hair into a loose bun and stared at myself in the mirror. The reflection that greeted me was one I hadn’t seen in a couple of years—before the accident, and before Mark’s betrayal.

I was deliriously happy, and I could’ve sworn I was actually glowing. My phone chirped and I all but skipped over to it. I hadn’t been able to control my urge to text him throughout the day, and he hadn’t seemed to mind.

Still miss me?

I laughed at his reply to my text from an hour earlier. He’d told me he’d be in meetings most of the afternoon.

Maybe

Liar. And for the record…I miss u…BADLY.

Good :) Show me how much when u get here.

Butterflies roared to life in my gut, fluttering around with anticipation as the phone sounded with his reply.

Nothing could stop me