Page 115 of The Logic of Loyalty

He’s silent while he washes the pan. “It was what you asked me to do. I told you I would help. I helped.”

“You did not help just because I told you to.”

He shrugs and hands me the clean pan. “I absolutely did. I would have helped, yes. But the effort was for you, Paige. It was not about them.”

“You’re talking like you’re not a good person.” I dry it, put it away, and watch him again.

“I’m not a good person.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “You’ve done incredible things for multiple people over the years.”

He sighs over the last dish. “Who do you think made me this way?” He hands it to me, and I dry it.

“What do you mean?” I put it away and grab a rag to wipe down the counters. He starts on the sink.

“I mean, who do you think made me give a shit about anyone beyond myself? My parents?”

“Well, no, but this has always been who you are.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “No, baby, it absolutely has not.” He rinses off the sink, then turns to me. “You are the person who made me this way. I was selfish, self-centered.” I’m shaking my head, but he keeps going. “You are the reason I could see beyond myself. Your generous heart had to rub off on me, at least a little.”

I walk up to him and press my hand against his chest. “You don’t think you’d have done this⁠—”

“If I didn’t have you? Absolutely not.”

I chew on my bottom lip and contemplate him. “I’ve never thought you were selfish. Not until everything.”

He lifts one shoulder and drops it. “I tried to be better for you. Ever since I saw the light you carried around with you, I knew I had to try and match you if I could ever hope to keep you.”

“You know, Trevor.” I tap him over his heart. “When you’re good for a decade, there’s a chance that you actually are good.” A sound on the stairs makes me take a step back from him, and his face falls before a different smile lights up his face.

I turn around to see Jacob rubbing sleep from his eyes. He’s beaming at his father. “Dad, are you staying?”

Trevor looks at me for confirmation, and when I nod, he responds, “Yeah, kid. I’m staying.”

“Paige? Are you listening to me?” A hand is waving in front of my face. I blink my eyes to see that Becky is looking at me in expectation.

“Oh, umm …”

She laughs. “You look happier. Are you feeling okay? Can we finally talk about that obvious lump under your shirt?”

I nod, biting my lip to keep from laughing or smiling too widely. “Yes. I’m pregnant. With twins.”

“Oh my God!” Becky leaps up into the air and jumps in place. When she stops, she gestures to me, so I jump up with her and lean into her hug. “That is so exciting. And crazy!”

“It’s very exciting and very crazy.”

She leans back, her hazel eyes searching my face. “There’s more you’re not telling me.”

We settle back into the seats, and I fiddle with my cup. “You have to leave for school in thirty minutes. I’m not sure we have time.”

Bethany comes over in her new little apron with her name on a tag. She hands Becky another drink. “Here’s to our hometown hero.”

Becky turns bright red and starts sputtering when she accepts the cup. Bethany and I make eye contact and burst out laughing. “What? What’s so funny?”

I wipe under my eyes. “I bought that for you and t-told Beth to-to bring it here and say it. You reacted exactly how I expected.”

She glares at Bethany, who slides in next to me. “You do deserve the accolades, just so you know.” Bethany sips from her drink and scrunches her nose. “That is a failed experiment.”