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“Are you pleased with yourself?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I scowled up at him. “That wasn’t the correct answer. I was hoping for some humility.”
“Listen, Beth,” he said in a surprisingly calm voice. “I’ve gotten in a million fights on the ice. And a lot of other fights before that. But never in my life have I punched someone who deserved it as much as your ex.”
I held his hand as we walked outside. “I’ll admit it was satisfying to watch. But now Trip is connected to my life again. You’re going to have to go to court over this. He’s going to milk this for a long time. Trust me, you gave him exactly what he wanted.”
“I’ve got a plan for that. A way to keep him away for good.”
“No,” I snapped. “I’m not going to let you do anything else, Logan. You’re only going to make it worse!”
“I have a way out of this that doesn’t involve punching,” Logan insisted. “A peaceful solution. Maybe.”
“I hope you’re right,” I said skeptically.
As soon as we stepped outside, Claire jumped out of the car and came running up to us. Logan crouched down, and she threw herself into his arms.
“I’m sorry you got in trouble,” she said. “I love you, daddy.”
“I love you too—wait a minute. You called me daddy.”
Oh snap. She did. She’s always called him Logan.
“Because you’re my dad,” she said. “I’m sorry for what I said this morning. I don’t hate you. I just lost my temper. I love you, daddy. More than anyone.”
“Me too,” Logan said, tears welling in his eyes. “Me too.”
I felt my own chest growing tight as I watched the two of them make up.Yeah. We’re going to be all right.
We had to drive past the protests to get back to the interstate, so I quickly explained to Logan what was going on. “Ugh, the traffic is even worse going in this direction. I’ll turn right up here and try to go around it.”
Suddenly, Logan reached over and grabbed the wheel. “No, don’t go around. Keep going. I want to see it.”
We continued on the street toward the stadium, the chanting growing louder with every block. There were several news vans parked outside now, with camera crews filming the protest. When we got to a stand-still, Logan abruptly unbuckled his seatbelt.
“Stay here. Daddy will be right back.”
“Where are you going!” I asked, but he was already leaving the car and running across the road.
“We don’t have time for this shit,” Claire said.
I shot her a look, but she giggled. She was definitely at the age where she liked pushing her boundaries, especially when it got a reaction out of the adults.
Logan joined the crowd of protesters, who cheered when they saw him—although not as loudly as they did for the Colts players. Logan borrowed a megaphone from the woman in charge, then climbed up on top of the fence so he could be seen by everyone.
“My name’s Logan Landry and I play for the Blues!” he announced. “We’re supposed to play the Montreal Canadiens tonight, but I left the team to come home and protest against the bullshit Colts owners. Christian Baker and Braden Clark are two of my best friends. They’re part of the heart of this city. I’m joining all of you to demand that the Colts don’t trade them!”
The crowd roared with Logan, who thrust the megaphone into the air triumphantly. Sitting in my car, still stuck in traffic, I could only laugh.
*
Saturday was busy at the kennel—lots of customers were returning from New Year’s trips and needed to pick up their dogs. After working from six in the morning until seven o’clock at night, I drove over to Logan’s place. All three of us decided to spend the night there with Logan. With everything going on, none of us wanted to be apart. It felt like an important weekend: the final game of the season was being played tomorrow, and then our future would be decided.
Yet despite being surrounded on all sides by my athletic men in Logan’s king-sized bed, I struggled to fall asleep. I tossed and turned, constantly thinking about what the future held. If Christian and Braden were traded, would we survive? I was willing to give it a try, but the realistic part of me knew long-distance relationships were tough. What if we tried it for a while, working hard to make it last… and then it fizzled out?
Then I should be savoring it while we’re together, I told myself.Enjoying every moment with them.
