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He looks over his shoulder and smiles as the swing comes to a stop. “Like learning to fly?”
True, that's harder than most things but… “What about we go to New York and climb to the top of the Empire State Building? That’s pretty close to the sky?”
Liam’s eyes light up just as I realize that was probably not the best thing to say. But if I could take him, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
“Can we go?”
“Maybe one day, but first what about a double-decker bus ride over the Golden Gate Bridge?”
“Yes!” he cheers and jumps off the swing before running over to the slide, his arms out like he’s an airplane.
I smile his way, but as I watch him climb up the step, a pang of concern hits me. What if I lose him? What if the courts decide Jenny’s a better fit and she stops me from seeing him? Would she do that? That pang twists, making it hard to breathe, but I now know more than ever…I need to do this.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Logan
I’mfuckingpissedoff,for many reasons, the main being that I signed up for this stupid football team event, and now I have to spend five hours in the same vicinity as Dani. Forced to see how beautiful she looks as she smiles to herself when she thinks nobody is watching, or the way she’ll undoubtedly be worrying about her appearance, brushing the hair from her face or readjusting her dress, even though she’s perfect. I’ll be forced to watch her laugh, dance, and worse… spend all her time with that jerk, when she should have been with me.Fuck! Why can’t I stop thinking about her in a positive light? I should despise her. I want to despise her, but I fucking can’t.
It’s been two weeks since we’ve spoken a word to each other. She’s tried calling at least once a day, but I can’t bring myself to answer. I know what she’s going to say. I may not have read her texts, but I initially gave her the benefit of the doubt and listened to her first voice message, hoping she was telling me it was a mistake, that she’d stopped the custody situation. But no, it started with, “I’m sorry, I have to go through with this, but I need you to hear me out.”
What reason could she possibly have for taking Liam away from my mom? For hurting them both in the process? For hurting us?
I’m lost in thought as I walk back into my room from the en suite, tucking my shirt into my dark jeans.
“You scrub up alright,” Summer says, looking me over. “I still can’t believe you have short hair.”
I huff out a laugh even though I’m not really in the right frame of mind for being funny. “Me either, Summer, me either. But I kind of like it.”
She studies me for a second and then nods. “I kind of like it too. Anyway, what time do you have to be there?” she adds, her eyes moving back to where she’s flipping through my latest photo shoot on my laptop. She and Cory are over to help me get ready for my big event. Like they’re needed to choose my outfit or do my hair. And I’m not in the mood. They’re lucky I love them.
“Side note, these are really good, Logan,” Summer says in awe, making me stop midstep.
“What’s with the surprised tone? You say that like you doubted me. I’m phenomenal.” My words come out flat, and Summer definitely notices. I can’t even be my usual cocky self, and that sucks balls.
“It starts at seven,” I add, answering her earlier question, in the hope that we can move on. “I need to be there around a quarter to.”
“Okay, and are you going to tell me what’s going through that pretty head of yours?” she asks just as Cory returns from getting a drink in the kitchen.
“Aww, you think I’m pretty?”
Cory laughs as Summer rolls her eyes. “Eventhatdidn’t come out convincingly. Your heart’s just not in your comeback, Loge.”
“My heart’s not in anything.”What the hell? Way to sound lovesick.“Ugh…ignore that. I’m fine.”
“Fine fine orfinefine?” Cory asks, hurting my brain as my brows furrow.Huh?
“Aren’t they the same?”
Summer laughs, and they both shake their heads comically. Why do I feel like they’re about to gang up on me? “Oh, Logan, they are so different,” Cory says, patting me on the shoulder.
“If that’s true, then consider me whichever version meansI’m fine. You know me; I’m always fine.”
I try to reassure them both with a smile, but Summer’s scrunched nose and Cory’s sympathetic grin would suggest I failed. Just because I try to live stress free, and to always befine, doesn’t mean I am.
“Is it nerves for the event?” Cory asks. “These photos definitely prove that you shouldn’t be nervous. You’ve got talent; that’s for sure.”
“No, I’m not nervous. Uh…” I scratch my neck and grimace, not really wanting to get into this today, but something tells me they’re not going to give up.
