Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
PIPER
“ L et’s keep this civil,” Ruby says, touching Elliot’s arm and giving me a look . She’s the only one who knows about the bombshell I’m preparing to drop.
Elliot smiles tightly, standing behind the couch, before reaching over and taking Ruby’s hand. They’ve shown plenty of affection in front of me. Each time, Elliot seems awkward if his gaze strays to me, almost like he feels guilty for making Logan and me live in a world of ‘what if’ while he gets to be with his one and only.
When the apartment buzzer goes off, my heart leaps in my chest. My body tingles. I need to keep the steamy half of my anticipation firmly and stubbornly buried. But the recent news has put me even more on edge than before.
“I’ll get it,” Ruby says, leaving us.
Elliot watches her go with a warm smile, then turns to me, his expression tightening. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” he says.
“I need to tell you all something,” I reply.
“Maybe you should’ve seen Logan alone first.”
Shock sends my eyebrows up.
“I know,” Elliot says, reading me. “But you look like you won’t be able to keep your hands off him. Even a blind man could see how much you love him.”
“Is that such a bad thing?” I say with a challenge. “He’s a good man. A hero. He saved us, Elliot. He’s always done the right thing.”
“Being with his best friend’s sister is the right thing, is it?”
“Is it wrong?” I challenge him. “Would you go that far?”
He grits his teeth, then shakes his head. “Seeing how miserable you’ve been these last three weeks – and see you perk up now – I don’t even know anymore.”
When Logan walks into the room, I almost rush to him. My legs twitch, and my heart pounds. My body responds in other ways, too, aching and pulsing, sending desperate signals to sink my touch into his firm arms, to feel his solid chest, to press my lips against his until we’re both hot and ready for more.
Logan wears a casual T-shirt, showing his enormous arms, one hand still in a cast. He hasn’t shaved in a few days and has a sprinkle of silver over his strong jaw. As I stare at him, I feel his hair tickling me in an imagined kiss.
“Would anybody like anything to drink?” Ruby says, attempting to break the tension.
“I’m fine,” I murmur, feeling like I might puke it up if I risk anything.
“Me too,” Logan says, staring at me, his eyes twinkling like stars that were on the verge of dying before they found their fuel—before they found me.
Call me cheesy. Over the top. I don’t care. That’s what he looks like: an ember turned to a flame, turned to an inferno in my presence. His muscles strain as if he’s fighting the deep desire to be physically close to me.
I know because my body is doing the same, every sinew aching as hunger tries to send me flying into his arms.
“Maybe we should all just sit down,” I murmur, struggling to keep the shakiness out of my voice.
Ruby gives me a look of support. She’s the only one who knows how big this is and how important it is. We don’t plan the seating arrangements, but it happens that Logan and I sit on one side of the coffee table, Elliot and Ruby on the other.
It’s like we’re getting ready for a war of words. We’re sitting on separate chairs, but knowing I could reach over and touch Logan makes my entire body sizzle with the possibility. I almost want to sit on my hands to stop myself.
Three weeks apart has got me experiencing all the feels.
“So, what is this about?” Elliot says.
I take a breath, my hands smoothing over my belly. “Before the stuff with Sal, Logan, and I, we had some private time outside the city.”
Elliot nods. “Okay…”
“ Private time, Elliot,” I say, hoping he gets the hint without me having to say it.
“Oh,” he murmurs a moment later. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because it had consequences.”
Logan gasps, turning to me. I search his face for any sign of distaste, regret, any sign he wants to run now he’s guessed the truth. But there’s nothing but support there. He looks at me as if he’s sending a mind-made text. I’ll always be there for you.
“Are you saying…” Logan swallows, then reaches across and touches takes my hand. I know it could be a mistake. I know this is dangerous. But the moment we touch, I can’t let him go. “What I think you are?”
I blink, tears welling in my eyes. “I’m pregnant,” I say.
“Pregnant?” Elliot gasps.
“Yes. And I want to keep the baby. I want to be the mother of Logan’s child. I want us to have a family, but I don’t want to lose you, Elliot. I can’t imagine my baby growing up without his uncle. I know this puts you in an awkward position.”
“We’ve put you in an awkward position,” Ruby mutters, her voice tight with emotion. “You’ve been so gracious…”
“I’m going to be a father,” Logan says, getting choked up.
“I’m going to be an uncle,” Elliot whispers, the same croak of emotion in his voice.
“Don’t you see?” Ruby says. “This can have a happy ending. I know it’s not normal , Elliot. None of this is normal . When we started dating, it wasn’t normal . But it meant something. It was passion and love and loyalty and so many other beautiful things. And sure, maybe Piper and Logan aren’t normal , either, but I’m sure they feel for each other just as we do.”
Logan holds my hand tightly, his eyes glimmering. “I love your sister, Elliot,” he says huskily. “I never wanted to hurt you, but I can’t ignore or deny the truth. I loved her the moment I kissed her.”
“You always said you never wanted a family,” Elliot mutters.
“Is that true?” I ask.
Logan nods. “I never thought I’d be capable of love before I met you. I thought my scars ran too deep. That I was a lifelong Tom Joad.”
The mention of the emotionally scarred character from Wrath triggers something in me. It takes me back to the interview for the job. Things seemed much simpler then—our desire was an undercurrent rather than an overpowering tsunami rushing us ahead.
When one sob turns into two, then three, Logan leaves his chair and comes to mine. He pulls me to my feet and wraps his arms around me. I know we should wait until Elliot gives his blessing, but I also know we might be waiting forever.
I push my face against his firm chest, crying fiercely. A mixture of relief, happiness, and dread that this might end, either when Logan meets with Sal or less dramatically, less violently, in this room when my brother shatters our dreams.
“I love you,” Logan whispers. “I never thought I could, but you changed me. And I love our child already.”
“I love you both, too,” I say, struggling to get the words out past my shivering emotion. “So much.”
“Elliot,” Ruby says firmly. “I know this is hard for you, but look at them . Can you seriously look at them and say they don’t belong together?”
Logan wraps his arm around me, turning to Elliot and Ruby. Ruby clutches onto Elliot’s hand, gesturing at us with her other. Everybody has tears in their eyes. Everybody is caught up in the intensity of the moment.
“No,” Elliot whispers after a pause. “When I look at them – when I look at you …” He shudders, wiping a tear from his cheek. “I see love, I see dedication. I’ve been an ass, haven’t I?”
“No, Elliot,” Logan says firmly. “You’ve been what I always want you to be: a protective older brother. Things are different now. I can’t tell you I’ll turn my back on Piper because that would mean turning my back on my family. After the darkness we escaped from, you know I can never do that. I’m going to stand by my woman. I’m going to stand by our child. Forever.”
Elliot wipes another tear from his cheek, then gives up as more flow down his face. “I always wanted you to find someone, to be happy,” he says. “Both of you… I just never expected it to be each other.”
“I didn’t plan this,” Logan says. “But the moment we kissed, that was it. I was ruined for anybody else. I can’t even imagine being with anybody else. Piper’s my one, my only, the love of my life.”
Elliot sniffles. “I can’t stand in your way.”
Ruby smiles before I let myself dare to.
“Does that mean…” I can’t finish the sentence, hardly daring to let myself dream.
“It means I want to put this behind us,” Elliot says. “It means I want us to be happy.”
“It means if you two don’t kiss,” Ruby yells, crying and laughing, “I’m going to lose it! But first, let me distract big bro.”
Elliot laughs as Ruby grabs him and leans up for a kiss.
Logan wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. Joy spreads through every part of me, happiness so intense it’s like a drug. When our lips touch, I know we’ll never be apart again.
Then I think of the mob. Of Sal. And the moment threatens to be ruined.
But when Logan kisses me with even more heat, his hands sinking into my hips with a natural feeling, I can’t think about anybody else.
“Easy, you two,” Ruby says, giggling. “I can’t distract Elliot that much.”
Logan stops the kiss with obvious effort. Elliot reaches across the table, which feels like reaching across a weeks-long divide. “Congratulations, Logan,” he says.
Giddiness flickers in me as they shake hands. “Thanks, Elliot.”
“And you…” Elliot walks around the table, pulling me in for a hug. “You’re going to be the best mom, Piper.”
I hug my big brother tightly. “Thank you. I love you, Elliot.”
“I love you too.”