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When I arrive back with Liam in tow, Jenny and Logan have moved to the couch and are still in conversation. But when Liam walks in, Logan jumps to his feet, his eyes instantly finding Liam, looking at him in a new light. As his father. There’s an affection and love in his eyes that I haven’t seen from him before. He may have cared for Liam as a brother, but this is something else. A soft smile plays on his lips as Liam drops to the floor and takes off his shoes. And when he’s done, Logan walks over silently and pulls him into a hug, blinking a few times as he does, most likely trying to stave off his emotions.
“How was kindergarten today, bud?” he asks, when he finally pulls away.
Liam shrugs. “Good. Can I please have a snack?”
Logan chuckles, and Liam smiles brightly as though he’s told the funniest joke, completely unaware that he just broke some of the tension we’ve all been holding.
I help Jenny with Liam’s snack while the boys play, and when I’m done, I watch them with a smile on my face.
“Alright you two, time to wash up before eating,” I say as I place a sandwich down on Liam’s spot at the table.
Logan grins as Liam runs to the bathroom. “You sound like a mom already. Liam’s going to be just fine.”
I freeze midstep, my heart pounding in my chest. “What?”
“I said you’re like a mom already.”
“But…”
Logan sighs, running his hand through his hair. “Weren’t you listening? I already told you Liam should be with you. None of that’s changed.”
“But he’s your son.”
“So we raise him together.” He shrugs like it’s all so simple when it’s anything but.
My eyes flash to Jenny’s, and I suddenly feel uncomfortable. “Let’s talk about this at home,” I say without thinking and internally cringe when both Logan and his mom react to what I said.Home. As though I’ve already made plans in my mind. Logan smiles while I try to pretend it meant nothing. Even though in my heart of hearts, I know that from here on out,homeis wherever those two boys are.
When Liam returns, Logan wraps an arm around my shoulders and huffs out a breath. “Let’s get going,” he says. “I’ve got more to tell you.”
After saying our goodbyes, Jenny squeezes Logan in a hug before pulling me in for my own. I’m not sure I’ve forgiven her for what she put everyone through, but unlike with my own parents, I know that I will. One day. The remorse she feels is clear, and I have no doubt she thought she was making the right decision at the time. No matter how wrong it was.
As soon as we get in the car, and Logan’s settled in his seat, I grab his hand, squeezing his fingers tightly. “Are you okay?”
Lifting my hand to his lips, he kisses me softly and smiles with my fingers still pressed to his mouth. His new facial hair brushes against my skin, and I can’t help but think of the time we’ve spent apart and the subtle changes in us both.
Logan sighs, bringing my eyes to his. “I’m not entirely sure I’m okay,” he says, answering my question. “But I will be.”
A shiver runs down my spine as my chest tightens. “What else did your mom say?”
Logan releases my hand and pulls out of the driveway, a pensive look on his face. “They came to the same conclusion you did. That Ellie never told me about Liam and named my dad as his father because of my age at the time. Mom said she was concerned for me at first, worried that maybe Ellie—Elizabeth—had taken advantage, but Dad cleared that up really quickly. Apparently, he was aware of my…uh…extracurricular activities.”
I internally cringe but ignore my feelings and focus on Logan. “Anything else?”
Logan shrugs. “Just that she was sorry, over and over.”
Of course she’s sorry, but is she sorry she did it or sorry he found out?I don’t ask Logan that though. I’m sure he’s thinking the same. “And how do you feel about all of it?”
Logan’s eyes remain on the road but he sighs, letting me know that he heard me. After a minute he speaks.
“I feel a lot of things right now, Dani. And I think it’s going to take me a while to sort through them all. But there’s one thing I know, with no uncertainty, and that’s the way I feel about you, and the fact that I want us to be a family…with Liam.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Logan
Assoonasthewords are out of my mouth, a sense of relief takes over. It’s all I’ve thought about since Vegas, and that was before I knew Liam was my son—now it makes even more sense. Not only were Dani and I meant to be, but Liam too. It was always supposed to end up this way.
Dani’s quiet beside me as we pull up at her apartment, and it’s not until the car is in park that she finally speaks. “You still want me to raise Liam?”
