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“Not Sundays. But can we go tomorrow? Please?” His little face lights up, and I hate that I’ll have to say no. “I can’t during the week, but I’ll see if I can work something out. I forgot you’re busy with your aunt,” I lie.
Maybe it’s time I popped over for a Sunday visit.
Pulling my water bottle from my backpack, I realize I haven’t really asked him anything about her. “Do you enjoy spending time with your aunty, bud?”
“Yep.” He gives me nothing.
“That’s good. What do you do?”
“Everything.” A smile lights up his face bringing a smile to mine. It may have been a one word answer, but the emotion behind it tells me exactly how much he enjoys it and I’ve gotta say, I feel the same.
When Sunday rolls around, I skip my morning surf and arrive early at my parents’ place, wanting to make sure I beat Dani there. Liam greets me first, a frown on his face. “You’re not sus-sposed to be here.”
I laugh and ruffle his hair. “You’re right. I came to say hi.”Among other things.
“That’s lovely, but we’re all about to head out,” Mom says, joining us in the entry.
“That’s okay, I’ll just hang here until you go.” Walking inside, I grab an apple, waiting for Dani to arrive. When I see her car pull up at the curb, right on time, I make an excuse to duck outside and wait for her on the porch.
As always, she’s beautiful as she steps out of her car, brushing some of her dark hair behind her ears, the strands misbehaving in the mild wind.
She doesn’t notice me as she approaches, so of course, I lean against the side of the house and watch her. I can’t help it. It’s like I’m addicted to her. That must be it; she’s drugged me somehow.
When she’s almost to the steps, a soft smile graces her lips, and my pulse spikes. Her smile is stunning. Always. But this secret smile, the one she brings out when she thinks no one is watching, that one is breathtaking. And I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.
Chapter Twelve
Dani
I’mwalkingupthesteps to collect Liam when Logan appears in front of me, and I freeze, my heart slamming in my chest.What the hell?I haven’t seen him since the fundraiser, but he’s never been far from my mind. In fact, it’s safe to say he’s been at the forefront. I can’t stop thinking about the look on his face when he told me he was jealous, and how stupid it is to believe he was serious.
Snapping myself from my thoughts, I cross my arms over my chest and huff. “This is officially stalker territory,” I say, with some bite. “What are you doing here? Did you follow me?”
Logan scoffs, his eyebrows shooting up to his forehead. “Did I follow you? Seriously? Dani, you’re atmy parents’ house.”
“What? No, that can’t be…” I look around in confusion, wondering if even after weeks of visits, I somehow ended up at the wrong place today, but no. That’s not the case.
“Liam’s my little brother,” Logan says with a shrug, like it’s no big deal, while I do a double take.
“He’s what?”
“He’s. My. Brother.”
Liam is Logan’s brother?Huh? My insides squirm and a shiver runs through me. That can’t be true. Although, now that I think about it…the blond hair, the blue eyes, the—
“Then your dad…” I shake my head at the visual of Liam’s dad…Logan’sdad. The man that took advantage of my twenty-year-old sister. We may not have been close, but I’ll still defend her for that. I’m not a hateful person. But for Logan’s dad, I make an exception. “How could he?”
Logan shakes his head as I prepare for him to defend his father. For Logan to disappear on me too. Just like everyone else in my life has. But he doesn’t do that. “I’m so fucking sorry, Dani,” he says, and my heart stops.
Huh?
My brows pull together, and for some reason I look around. As though I’m expecting someone to be listening in, a reason for his words.
“You’re sorry?”
“Dani, I’ve barely spoken to my dad since the day I found out. I love Liam, and I’m glad he’s in our lives, but what my dad did…to my mom…to your sister. I’m sorry.”
He has nothing to be sorry about. “Logan, it’s—”
