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The interrogation continues with Hannah. “But you’re dating?”
How do I explain to a nine-year-old the delicate, unspoken dance Logan and I are participating in?
“Um... I guess so?” I respond, my gaze pleading for Logan to chime in. But no, he's enjoying this way too much, leaning back with a smug smile and watching the scene unfold.
Fortunately, Hannah seems to take my admission in stride. With a casual shrug, she says, “That's cool.” I nearly sigh in relief, thinking that the worst of the interrogation is over, but then Hannah adds, “Do we get to keep Missy?”
Logan finally decides to join the conversation, wrapping an arm around Hannah and pulling her into a hug. “Her, you can keep.”
In the next breath, Kim is at my back, squeezing the air from my lungs in a hug. I hear her sniffle and spin around. “Are you… crying?”
She wipes her face. “You’re happy.”
I am.
She swats Logan’s chest. I think she just wants to touch it. “And you make her happy… Holy shit.” She looks at her hand. “That hurt.” She palms his chest again, looking at me. I swear, she has zero shame. “Is he real?”
“Still not sure.”
Taking Isabel from his arms, Kim rolls her eyes. “Put a shirt on, King. You’re distracting the women.”
I throw my head in my hands and laugh, feeling Logan plant a kiss on the back of my head as he leaves to do as he’s told.
Ugh, family.
∞∞∞
I settle into the chair at the breakfast table, pulling Isabel onto my lap as Logan brings over the plate of pancakes. At least his bare chest isn’t a distraction anymore, especially when he's wearing a triumphant grin. Across the table, Hannah is watching him, her eyes full of awe.
I catch Logan's eye, and we share a moment, an unspoken bond that fills my heart with warmth.
Hannah, ever the negotiator, puts down her fork, her serious gaze turning to me. “Mom, can we have ice-cream for dinner?”
Her question catches me off guard, and I shake my head, chuckling. “No, ice-cream is a dessert, not dinner. And you’re eating breakfast.”
“But Mom—” she tries to protest, but I shake my head again.
“Don’t even try it, baby girl.”
She rolls her eyes.
Watching this unfold is like a roller coaster of emotions, and I don’t expect the casual yet poignant question from Hannah, “If you're dating my mom, does that mean you're our dad now?”
I sense a shift in Logan’s demeanor as his playful smile fades and his gaze softens.
I'm on the verge of intervening, but before I can form any coherent words, Logan stands. He walks over to Hannah and crouches down to her level, meeting her gaze straight on. His eyes are filled with such sincerity it's almost heart-wrenching.
“I'll be whatever you need me to be. You want me to be your friend, I'll be your friend. You want me to be an annoying kind of uncle, I can do that too. You don’t ever need to feel pressured. I'm not here to replace anyone, but if it's okay with you, I'd be honored to love you like a daughter.”
His words hang heavy in the air, but the brightening smile on Hannah’s face dissipates any tension. “When I started school, a boy made fun of me because I didn't have a dad.” Her confession is a sharp pang in my heart.
Logan’s face is all softness and warmth as he asks, “And what did you say?”
“I said it’s okay because I have a mom… and a Logan. I think you would make a cool dad.”
Overwhelmed, I swipe at the tears that have managed to escape as Logan pulls Hannah from her chair and into his arms. Over her head, he locks eyes with me. His voice is a silent apology as he whispers in my direction, “I'm sorry.”
Sorry?
