7. Thea
thea
Ever since that day when Logan took me for a ride up to the ridge of that mountain, my shoulders could finally relax, my stress finally settled, and I could get back to work.
It’s been a couple of weeks, and so far, business has resumed as usual, with one exception. Logan’s name was now on the business mail we received. Somehow, during our meetings, they had put Logan’s name on everything and neglected to inform me that his name would replace mine on almost all my mail.
Because of this, I was having to be meticulous in grabbing any and all mail before Annmarie or Juniper did, which wasn’t a big deal.
The first time it happened, I tracked Logan down and made him open it before handing it to me.
“It’s a federal crime to open someone else’s mail,” I’d told him when he looked at me like I was crazy.
“Oh yeah, I was meaning to send you to prison for opening my mail. I forgot my to-do list at home. ”
I half-appreciated his sarcasm. It helped me that he was so casual about this arrangement that he truly had no interest in owning my bar, even though he was quite literally saving me from ruin.
I had no idea if Eric could get released, but I didn’t trust that they’d keep him forever, despite the fact that there was evidence against him.
But if he did, I would be ready to face that and leave my sisters out of it. They have already been through enough. They didn’t need any added stress because of a stupid mistake from my past.
The spring sun was quickly changing to summer, and with it came happier attitudes and a lot more partying during the evenings, which I would not complain about, no matter how much I wanted to at times.
It kept me busy and helped me refocus on tasks.
I had set up an official area for the dart league, going as far as ordering a custom scoreboard for when Logan and his friends came to compete. I was surprised to see how many people were actually interested in joining the league until I realized we had nothing like this in town.
People loved being on teams, it seemed.
It was Monday night, and like clockwork, the Cash and West families came into the bar. I was not surprised to see CT and Cal Trevors, CT’s dad, joining the family dinners.
Last I heard, CT and Dani were engaged, but as far as I knew, there were no talks of weddings.
Not that I was in that group of people.
“Emily,” I call for one of my waitresses when she comes back from break. “Go grab table seven, please.” I point to where Logan and his family sit, and she nods, heading right over .
I have this need to take really good care of them. Maybe that is my debt to Logan hovering over my head, even if he doesn’t say anything, or maybe it is just because I liked that family a lot and appreciated their business.
Sure, Dorothy, whatever you need to tell yourself.
“What’s with the smile?” Annmarie scares me as she pops out at me from behind the back door.
“What smile?” I ask casually, keeping my head down. There’s no way she can tell who I was smiling at.
“Hmm.” Her suspicious hum has me turning to face her, but her eyes that I suspected would be trained on me are looking out at the tables in the bar.
Specifically, one table.
“I’ve noticed Logan has been coming around a lot. He was here just the other day.” The mail debacle. “It’s kind of weird, isn’t it?”
“He only comes for his dart league. And it’s their weekly family dinner.”
“Boy,” she says, checking her nails. It’s her I-know-something-is-up-but-I’m-not-going-to-talk-about-it pose. “That guy must really be into darts.”
I let my shoulders drop, my hands tightening on the rag I was using to dry glasses. “What are you talking about, Ann?”
“Oh nothing, just that I think my oldest sister is hiding a secret love affair with Mr. Cowboy.”
I snort, shaking my head back and forth. “I am not.”
“No?” Her tone has me looking up at her again, and she nods toward where he sits. “Then why is Mr. Cowboy looking at you like that?”
Without a thought, I whip my head toward his table, and sure enough, he’s staring at me, a subtle grin spread across his pillowy lips. I feel stuck in his gaze like I can’t do much more than stare.
“Oh my gosh.” Annmarie slaps my arm. “I’m right! You and Mr. Cowboy have something going on!”
I realize what she’s thinking and turn to her. “No, we don’t.”
“Oh, come on. You so do!” She laughs and shrugs.
“Come on, I know you keep things close to home, but you can share this stuff with us. You and Logan were fast friends when we moved here, it’s only natural that you’d want to date.
He’s…different.” She nods her head to herself, as if she’s thought about this before. “I can understand.”
“I’m not…” I trail off because what am I supposed to say?
The truth of our new closeness is that he’s quite possibly saving my sisters from financial ruin by taking over my part, even temporarily.
But I can’t tell her that. Annmarie helped pick me up when I was down, and she helped me get my head on straight and move so we could leave behind the ugliness that was my past.
I don’t want her to know that my past very well might start to haunt us again soon. Worrying them with that wasn’t fair.
It is my mess to clean up, not theirs.
I clear my throat and grab another glass. As I do, I see Logan rise out of the corner of my eye, and I turn to Annmarie. “It’s new.”
Her blue eyes widen, but not really with shock, it’s mostly delight. “I knew it!”
“Don’t make it a big thing, please. I’m taking it slow.”
Her face softens in understanding, and she rubs my arm. “I get that. But don’t let your past dictate what could be an awesome future. ”
“Are you going to take that advice as well?” My sister knows what I mean, but she just gives me a nudge and turns away.
Before I can apologize or comment again, a throat is cleared beside me.
I turn, and even though I knew it is him, I find my voice catching in my throat.
“Hello, there.” His deep timbre gives me goose bumps, and I rein in a smile.
“Well, hello, Mr. Cowboy.”
He raises a brow underneath his hat. It’s a chocolate brown color, and for whatever reason, it suits him perfectly. In the summer, I notice he only wears straw hats, so I think it is safe to assume those are coming. “Mr. Cowboy?”
I chuckle and set the cup in its stack, reaching for another one to dry. “That’s what my sister calls you.”
“I have a nickname from your sister?” He leans his elbows on the bar, eliminating more space between us, and I hold myself perfectly still. “This must be getting serious.”
I bite my lip and close my eyes, my head already shaking. “She just, she’s making assumptions. I shouldn’t let her, but the truth is?—”
“Complicated,” he finishes for me, and I nod. “I get it.”
“You do? You’re not mad?”
“No, I’m not. Actually…” He rubs a hand over his scruff, his hands are calloused and rough to the touch. I remember thinking so when he helped me on that horse. “I was wondering if you’d like to help me with something.”
“Anything.” My answer is quick and sincere. I’ve been dying, owing him so much when I’m doing so little for him in return.
“Well.” He glances over his shoulder at his family. “Lue needs to go hang out with her friends more often, but she’s been using me as an excuse not to. Says she doesn’t want me to be lonely.”
“Aw.” I press a hand to my chest, my heart melting at the sweet girl. “What a good kid.”
“She’s the best.” He nods. “But that’s not fair to her.”
“Okay, what do you need me to do?”
I find myself leaning toward him, our faces are only inches apart, and he seems to notice when I do. His eyes touch on my lips briefly before coming back to my own. I can’t say I didn’t get a quick glimpse of his lips as well.
“I need you to date me.”
There are moments in life where controlling your reaction is very, very difficult. “Date you?”
“It doesn’t need to be real, but I need you to be my excuse when she wants to go out but won’t.”
“I see.” I bite my lip. “Are you sure you want to do that? I don’t want to get her hopes up and have her upset when we…break up.”
“Dooming us before we even have a chance to date, huh?”
I hold up a hand. “Wait, you mean fake date, right? You’re not actually asking me out.” Please say yes.
His eyes hold mine, and he seems to be contemplating something for a moment before he shakes his head, a little grin on his lips. “Yeah, of course not. Just fake.”
“Oh. Okay.” I move the cups around. “So, we’re just saying we’re dating. No need to actually go on dates.”
Why was my heart beating so fast right now?
“Oh no, we’ll have to actually go,” he corrects, nodding his head. “If we don’t, she’ll find out through the grapevine that we’re not, and then it’ll ruin the whole thing. ”
“So…we’ll have to go on dates,” I clarify.
“Yes. We’ll have to go on dates.”
Yeah, my heart rate is not slowing down anytime soon.
“Oka—”
“Hi, Thea!” Luella pops up from behind Logan, and I wonder how long she was standing there.
“Hi, Lue,” I answer with a genuine grin. There was something so special about this girl, she is so sweet whenever I talk to her. You could tell that the girl grew up in a home with so much love. It spoke a lot about what a good dad Logan is.
“Did Dad tell you that I’m auditioning for the school play?”
“I’m not surprised at all,” I answer with a smile and lean my forearms on the bar top. Logan stands up straighter, his eyes roaming from my face to hers. She’s a tall fourteen, coming up to his chest already. “You were amazing in last fall’s play.”
It wasn’t normal in big cities to go to the local play productions, but this small town was dedicated to supporting its youth, and anyone who could tried to make it to the school events.
“Thanks! I’m really hoping I get my part. I’m worried I won’t remember all my lines.”
“You’ll do great, Lue,” Logan reassures her, and I’m pretty sure my heart doesn’t know how to function normally anymore.
“I concur. I think you’ll nail it.” I smile at her. “When are auditions?”
Lue talks animatedly about her audition, and I listen intently, stealing glances at Logan when she does and seeing him stand there patiently, letting her talk.
It’s refreshing to see a dad who’s so patient and kind and who lets their kids talk about their things. My dad loved us all, but he could get impatient when we were out, not letting us talk to his friends about school or other things because that’s not what kids were supposed to do.
I really like Logan’s approach.
And I really don’t know why this makes him so much more attractive to me, but it does.
When she’s done, and Logan’s mom calls her back to the table, she gives me a wave and ambles away.
Their food has arrived, and now Logan has to go. I tell myself I don’t wish he could stay.
“Well, I’ll let you work. How is Thursday?”
“Thursday?”
“Our first date.” His eyes sparkle when he says it, and I can’t tell if he’s excited about our first fake date— fake, Thea. It’s fake —or if he’s teasing me.
“Thursday works.”
He tips his hat at me and returns to his table to eat. I watch them for a minute. One big happy family having dinner, and I suddenly wish that I could be sitting with them, enjoying the meal.
I sigh and get back to work.
I have three days to come to terms with the fact that I am now officially fake dating Logan Cash.
Go me.