22. Leah
22
LEAH
“ W e’re not naming our son ‘Blaze,’” I said with a laugh as I started the three-point turn to roll over in bed. “Please tell me Hunter wasn’t being serious.”
Logan’s lazy laugh was infectious. He rolled onto his back and stretched his arm out, inviting me to cuddle up to him. He tucked one hand behind his head, making his bicep bulge out like a pillow. “He was dead serious. I pity his future children.”
“Your family should be banned from naming babies,” I snickered.
“Didn’t Ky text you some ideas?” he groaned as he pulled me into him.
I hummed thoughtfully. “They were too stuffy for my taste. They sounded like members of a country club.”
“Like what?”
“Chandler. Thaxton. Bryce. Easton.”
Logan cringed. “Yeah, my family sucks at name suggestions.”
I traced the soft trail of hair that stretched from his navel, beneath the waistband of his boxers. “I feel like we’re running out of time.”
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my temple. “We’ll figure it out.”
I glanced at the gilded old-school alarm clock that sat on my nightstand. “We should probably head over to help.”
Logan craned his head and peered at the time. “Baby, we don’t have to be early. Kris said they didn’t need help.”
“But it’s rude not to pitch in with Thanksgiving,” I argued.
“Let me put it this way. Kristin said that if you lift a finger today, she’ll get the baby a drum set for his first Christmas.”
I narrowed my eyes. “She wouldn’t.”
Logan just nodded. “Without batting an eye.”
“That’s diabolical,” I gasped.
“Don’t be fooled. Kris is a mastermind.” Logan’s light-hearted demeanor shifted. “How’d you sleep?”
I stretched like a cat, then curled back into him. “I only had to get up twice to pee. Unfortunately, I woke up four times to roll over.”
“Go back to sleep for a little bit. I’ll wake you up when it’s time to go,” he said as he combed his fingers through my hair. That nearly put me back to sleep. Goosebumps danced down my back as each touch and gentle motion lulled me into a trance.
“I should probably get up and start fixing my hair so I look presentable.”
“You can go just like this,” he said, skating his hand up my thigh. “Thanksgiving is a pajama affair. I think Hannah Jane is the only one who dresses up. Even Kylie will be in pajamas. Legend has it, they lace the mashed potatoes with melatonin so everyone goes to sleep afterward.”
I laughed. “They do not.”
“No, they don’t. The food is just that good.”
“Tell me about it,” I said as I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes.
Logan’s hand was where it always was—gently caressing my belly whenever he could get his hands on me. It was ridiculously sweet.
“We used to have Thanksgiving at the DeRossis’ house. That was before Will and Kristin built their house next door. Everyone would crowd into Maddie and Luca’s dining room and feast. Now, there’s so many kids between all of the families in their friend group that no one’s house is big enough to hold everyone. If it’s still warm enough to eat outside, we set up folding tables between the two houses, use both kitchens to get all the food done, and meet in the middle. But if the weather plays Jekyll and Hyde and it’s cold, Hannah Jane gets a tent and outdoor heaters from one of the rental companies she uses for her events. After that, everyone naps. The kids bring sleeping bags, and all the guest rooms and couches are taken up. Then everyone wakes up and pulls out the leftovers for dinner. I’m not kidding. Wear slippers.”
I hummed happily. “That sounds awesome.”
“It makes the trip down from Chicago worth it.” Logan found my hand under the covers and laced our fingers together. “What are your Thanksgivings like?”
“Proper. An inconvenient two PM meal of dry turkey, brussel sprouts, and cranberries served on fine china that can only be hand-washed. It’s a heels and pearls dress code. No potatoes because they have too many carbs.”
He grunted in disgust. “Then it’s settled. Thanksgivings are with my family. I could find a pair of size thirteen heels, but I draw the line at no potatoes.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, and it made the baby kick.
Logan’s smile made the corners of his eyes crease as he slid his hand across my belly. “There he is.”
“Promise me there are carbs and I’ll commit to Thanksgivings with your family.”
Logan cupped my cheek and slanted his mouth over mine. “Mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes and macaroni and cheese and stuffing and the best rolls you’ll ever have in your life.”
“Weird way to propose, but okay,” I snickered. “I accept.”
The kiss was soft and light. Not just in feel, but in heart.
We snuggled in bed, soaking in the lazy morning before changing out of our pajamas into pajamas that were more appropriate for company, and heading over to Kristin’s house.
True to what Logan said, rows of folding tables and chairs were set up on the lawn between the Solomons’ and the DeRossis’ houses. The kids were out in full force, having foot races up and down the cul-de-sac. People floated in and out of the houses en masse, carting chafing dishes piled high with food.
I couldn’t help but squeal in delight when I saw the mountain of buttery dinner rolls being carried by Hunter. I clapped my hands over my mouth as Logan opened my door.
He paused and followed my line of sight. With an amused laugh, he said, “Wait here.”
I stared at his ass in those sweatpants as he jogged across the yard, snatched a roll from the top of the pile, and ran back.
“I could have waited,” I said as he handed me the roll then braced my arm to help me out of the car. “I didn’t mean to be high maintenance.”
“Honey, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you looked like you were about to cry when you saw the rolls. They won’t care.”
“I love bread,” I said as I tore off a piece. It was perfect. Soft like cotton candy, melting on my tongue as soon as I slipped it in my mouth. It was slathered in butter and honey, and completely addictive.
“Miss Leah!” Gio screamed from the end of the cul-de-sac. He bolted over with Ellie hot on his heels. “I missed you!”
I laughed. “I just saw you yesterday. You can’t miss me already.”
“I know. But you make the best waffles. My dad made waffles this morning and they weren’t as good.”
Luca DeRossi, Gio’s father, was a world-renowned chef and restaurateur, which meant his waffles were probably really fancy and gourmet. Mine came from a box mix and only required a little water.
“Well, I’m here now and I’ll see you on Monday, bright and early.”
“Hi, Miss Leah,” Ellie said, much more demurely, as she slid in beside me for a hug. “What size is the baby this week?”
“Still a head of lettuce,” I said as Logan pressed his hand to the small of my back. “We’ll have to wait and see what next week’s vegetable is.”
“Gio! Come on! You’re up!” Asher Brannan shouted from their makeshift starting line.
“Bye, Miss Leah! Bye, Logan!” Gio shouted as he ran off. Ellie was right behind him, because where one went, the other was sure to follow.
I shivered as a chill blew in off the bay. It was bright and sunny, but the wind let the nip in the air linger. I clutched the half-eaten roll to my chest and took another bite.
“Come on, honeybee,” Logan said as he led me across the grass. “Let’s get you a plate of potatoes and put your feet up.”
“Leah, don’t you dare lift that plate!” Kristin shouted when she saw me scooting back in my chair and bracing to stand. She swooped in and grabbed the empty paper plate from my place setting.
“I’m fine. I need to stretch my legs anyway. Can I get anyone anything?”
The ladies packed around the folding table shook their heads. I had just gotten to my feet when strong hands gently squeezed my shoulders.
“I told you to stay off your feet,” Logan murmured as he guided me back to my seat and traded my half-empty glass of sweet tea for a fresh one. “We’re almost done cleaning up. You doing okay?”
Kylie was watching us from across the table, trying to hide her smile.
“I’m fine ,” I promised him. “My back’s just a little stiff from all this sitting. I can help clean up, you know.”
“Um, no!” Erica Pelham said from her seat between Kylie and Maddie DeRossi. “The men clean up after Thanksgiving. Don’t ruin this for us, Miss Goody Two Shoes!”
Logan chuckled as he pulled his hoodie over his head, folded it over, and tucked it behind my back for a little more cushion. “You still hungry? Want another piece of pie or a roll or something?”
I tipped my head back and peered up at him. “I’m full. But thank you.”
He left me with a quick peck, then jogged back to Kristin’s house.
“That boy is head-over-heels obsessed with you,” Melissa McGrath said with a grin.
“It’s very cute,” Maddie said. Bridget Brannan was beside her, nodding.
“How are things going between you guys?” Hannah Jane asked as she rested her elbow on the table and dropped her chin into her hand.
“They’re . . . going,” I said evasively.
Kylie smirked over her wine. “Don’t hold back on my account. I can handle it.”
“Aww,” Erica cooed as she squeezed Kristin’s arm. “It’s like one big happy family.”
“I might be one of the aunts, but there’s no family discount for my babysitting services,” Zoey joked.
I gave her a little nudge with my elbow. “You’re preaching to the choir.”
Maddie and Hannah Jane laughed.
“I think Gio might be more excited for the baby than you and Logan combined,” Maddie said. “It’s all he can talk about. We get nightly updates on how you’re feeling.”
I dropped my head into my hands and laughed. “He’s so perceptive for his age.”
“I don’t know how we would have survived without you these last few years,” Hannah Jane said.
“Well, you’re not losing me forever. Just a few weeks while I recover and get into the swing of things.”
Bridget took a pull from her beer. “Are you guys going to try to split time between here and Chicago?”
My gut churned. Logan and I hadn’t talked about the elephant in the room. I was blissfully ignorant when it came to how long he planned on staying in Beaufort. He had made no mention of going back. Working remotely like Bryan and Will did seemed to suit him just fine.
But was he planning on leaving?
“All right, ladies,” Chase Brannan said with a clap of his hands as he padded across the grass. “The dishes are done. All the kids are in their sleeping bags in Maddie and Luca’s basement with a movie on, and it is nap time.”
Bridget was the first up. “You don’t have to tell me twice. Maddie, we’re taking the guest room at the end of the hall.”
One by one, the ladies met up with their men and scattered to sleep off the carbs, but Logan was nowhere to be found.
Instead of going into Kristin’s house and finding a couch for myself, I wandered down the grass to the dock and sat on the edge.
“What are you doing down here, honeybee?”
I craned my neck to find Logan sauntering down the hill, then looked back over the water. “Gio’s room is on the second floor of Maddie and Luca’s house.” I pointed next door. “When I’m over there, I’ll look out the window to see if you’re sitting down here or not.”
Logan chuckled as he eased down. But instead of sitting beside me, he sat behind me and pulled me against his chest. His arms wrapped around my waist and settled on the sides of my bump.
I laughed when he brushed my hair to the side and peppered my neck with kisses. “I like this,” I admitted.
“Yeah?” he murmured against my skin. “Well, I like you.”
I hoped it stayed that way. I knew plenty of couples who didn’t survive the stresses of parenthood or co-parenting. Eventually that stress builds to resentment, then destruction.
“I...I know I don’t do a good job of telling you how I feel...” Logan rested his forehead on my shoulder. “And as fucked up as things have been, I’m glad it was you that night. Because I think the universe knew that I needed you, even if I never let myself admit it.” His breath tickled my neck as he exhaled. “I feel at peace when I’m with you. And I haven’t felt that before.”
Logan didn’t have to tell me. I already knew. He had gone from panicking anytime there was a new advance in our situation to anticipating the changes with excitement. He had gone from managing me to just being there with me and for me.
“You don’t have to tell me how you feel, Lo. You show me every day.”
I felt his mouth twitch in a smile as he pressed another kiss to my shoulder. “Only my family calls me Lo.”
I chewed on my lip. “Can I call you Lo?”
“Yeah.” He pressed his cheek to the shell of my ear and cradled my belly with his splayed hands. “You’re the mother of my child. That makes us family now. But more than that, you’re mine. First and foremost.”
I felt that delightful skittering in my belly as the baby kicked. I took Logan’s hand and moved it to the spot so he could feel. “Our bumblebee is energetic today. It must’ve been the pie.”
Logan laughed and pressed both hands on the spot so he didn’t miss a kick. “That’s wild. It’s...unreal in the best way.”
I leaned my head back, rested it on his shoulder, and closed my eyes as I yawned. “I might need that nap after all.”
“I actually came down here to see if you wanted to go on a drive. There’s something I wanna show you.”
I eyed the low incline that led back up to the driveway. “You’re going to have to carry me up the hill if you want me back in the car.”
Logan didn’t need to be told twice. He scooped me up and carried me like a bride up the hill. “I’ll carry you around everywhere just so your feet never get tired.”
And I believed him.
Logan held my hand as I braced with the other and eased down into the passenger’s seat. It was getting harder and harder to get up and down, and I still had three and a half months to go.
He took us on the scenic route around the bay, then took a quick left onto a gravel drive lined with trees. The path broke into a clearing on the water.
“Are we on the other side of the bay?” I asked as I glanced around. The two houses on the shore in the distance looked like the Solomons’ and the DeRossis’.
“Yep,” Logan said as he passed a tidy shotgun-style brick house. “That’s Steve and Erica Pelham’s place. It’s the one you can see from the dock at Kristin’s.” He pulled the car around a grove of thick trees and parked in front of a little cottage.
It was waterfront, but still shrouded by a thick tree line, offering lots of privacy. The bright teal siding and white scalloped trim was absolutely adorable. The wraparound porch had a sun-baked awning dotted with wind chimes.
It was vibrant and homey all in one.
“Are we visiting someone?” I asked as I looked down at my comfortable house clothes. “I was prepared for a pajama Thanksgiving. I wasn’t prepared for looking presentable.”
Logan just shook his head. “No one’s home. Steve told me about this place when he came over to the house to work out with Will. Said the neighbor behind his place was about to put the place on the market.”
Wait . . . was he talking about moving in together officially?
Logan jogged up the porch steps, grabbed a key that was hidden beneath a seashell on the porch railing, and let himself into the house.
I clapped my hands over my mouth to stifle the squeak that escaped. “Gosh, it’s adorable!”
Hardwood floors in an airy pine led to bright yellow walls in the kitchen and Carolina blue in the living room. Retro tile stretched from floor to ceiling in the bathrooms, accenting the pink walls and pink bathtub.
“It’s a three bed, two bath,” Logan said. “Pretty simple floor plan, but it’s close to everything and has a lot of privacy.”
“These colors have to be driving you crazy,” I snickered as I poked my head into one of the bedrooms. It was a sea-foam green—perfect for a coastal beach town.
Logan joined me as I darted from room to room. Each one had its own character.
“What do you think?” he asked when we snooped around a room with salmon-colored walls and a rattan ceiling fan.
“It’s like living in my head,” I said with a laugh. “I’ve never seen a house so perfect. I love the old beach houses around here. They’re so kitschy and colorful. They don’t take themselves too seriously. I hate the modern stuff. It’s all white and sterile, and I am way too messy to live in a white house. I like places that feel like home the second you walk inside.”
“Good,” Logan said as he took my hand and gave it three squeezes. “Because my offer was accepted this morning.”
Those seven words made me dizzy. I grabbed his biceps so I didn’t topple over in shock. “Your what? You...You bought a house?”
“I bought us a house,” he said gently. “Let’s be honest. No amount of rearranging is going to make another room or more space magically appear in your apartment. And as excited as Kristin is to be an aunt, I don’t think she wants a crying newborn around twenty-four seven.” Logan tucked my hair behind my ears and kissed me. “We need our own space.”
Tidal waves of fear washed over me, one after the other. Waves that I had tried my best to ignore. “Does...Does this mean you’re staying? You’re not going back to Chicago?”
“I’m only going back so I can pack up what few things I have left there, deal with my car, and get out of my apartment.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “You two are my home. So if there’s any doubt if I’m in; I’m all in, Leah. All in. Late nights. Early mornings. Diaper changes. All of it. I’m keeping my promise to you. I’ll do better, even if it’s just a little more than the day before.”
“I know it’s not proper to talk about money, but how the hell did you save up to put a down payment on a house here? Prices are insane. I make great money, and I barely qualified for my apartment. And waterfront houses?—”
“Will set up trust funds for all of us years ago. I’ve had access to mine for years, but I’ve never touched it. I wanted to prove to myself that I could save and be responsible with my money. I wanted?—”
“Not to make a mistake,” I said.
Logan nodded. “I felt like I needed to prove myself. That I wasn’t just getting a free ride because my sister happened to fall in love with a billionaire. I’ve never touched it because I couldn’t think of something worth spending the money on.” His kiss was silken, a silent promise of gentleness and tender love. “Until you.”