4. Logan
Chapter Four
LOGAN
I don’t know what I expected when I chose to buy this business. Maybe somewhere in my deepest of hearts, I wanted Meredith to beg me to come back, after all these years.
But it’s not like she ever really wanted me. I was just a fling for her, something to rebel against her parents.
“Long time no see,” I drawl as Meredith stands there, staring at me.
The receptionist’s eyebrows shoot up into her hairline.
“You two know each other?”
Meredith clears her throat.
“Not really. Not anymore,” she mutters, and disappears into the bathroom.
I watch her go and then turn my gaze back to my new employees.
“Now, why don't we get started with some paperwork?”
The office just stares at me for a moment longer before finally scattering, getting their documents. I’m finished in about an hour, signing contracts for new pay rates and to get them on my insurance.
Meredith doesn’t come out of the bathroom for a long time, nearly half an hour, and when she does, she doesn’t even look my way.
I’m disappointed even though I know I shouldn’t be. I know what happened between us was the right thing to do. Right?
After I finish up with the last mechanic, I make my way over to Meredith’s office. She has taken over the owner’s small office since she’s office manager. I don’t mind not having my own office. I like to supervise hands-on, after all.
I knock gently on the open door, and she looks up, her face contorting like she’s been sucking on a lemon.
“I guess you’re not happy to see me.”
“Why would I be?” She glares at me. “I didn’t even know you were in town.”
I shrug. “Business.”
“And you couldn’t have given me a heads up?”
“We haven’t spoken in years, Meredith.”
“And whose fault is that?” She huffs out a breath. “Come inside. I don’t want the whole office hearing.”
I walk inside, shutting the door behind me.
“I thought we agreed that we’d still be friends.”
She snorts. “Yeah, right. I never agreed to that.”
I look at her beautiful face, her big blue eyes filled with so much hate.
How did we get here?
I let out a long sigh. “Can we just bury the hatchet?”
“Is that what you want? For me to forget about everything?”
“That’s what I’ve done.”
“It’s not like I was the one who left, Logan.”
“No, but I heard you were dating the lacrosse captain two weeks after I left,” I snarl, and I honestly didn’t realize how upset I still was about that fact until I said it.
Her eyes widen slightly. “You... you kept tabs on me?”
My shoulders stiffen. “Not exactly. We just had a lot of mutual friends.”
“I don’t see how my dating life is any of your business.”
“I—” I start, and then pause. “Are you seeing anyone now?”
“Still not any of your business.”
I roll my shoulders around, jealousy bitter at the back of my throat. “So, that’s a yes.”
Meredith scoffs and rolls her eyes. “What do you want, anyway, Logan? Why did you buy this place? To keep tabs on me again?”
“I didn’t even know you were working here when I bought the place,” I lie easily. I don’t want her thinking I bought this place to be near her. Because that’s not the reason I did it. Is it?
“Well, it is what it is. We don’t have to be friends to work together.”
“I’d like it if we were.”
She doesn’t answer, and I place a packet down on her desk.
“This is your new contract. I’m hoping you’ll be happy with your new salary.”
Meredith looks down at it, skimming the words. Her eyes widen, and she looks up at me.
I grin. “Like what you see?”
“I appreciate the pay boost,” she says tightly, like it physically hurts her to say it.
“From what Dean said, you deserve it.”
She softens visibly at the mention of her old boss. “I’ve only been working here a short time, but I’m doing my best.”
She quickly signs the paperwork and slides it back to me.
“Thank you,” I say in a low tone, my fingers brushing hers as I take the documents back. Electricity shoots up my arm. It’s been so long since I’ve touched her.
Meredith doesn’t look up at me. “You’re welcome.”
I look down at her for a moment longer, wanting to say something to fix things, wanting us to be civil again.
But the words don’t come. I slowly leave the office, shutting the door behind me.
The rest of the day goes by in a sort of blur, and I’m not at the top of my game. I can’t help but be mired in memories of when Meredith and I were together.
It’s nearing five when everyone heads out, and I realize that Meredith is still in her office. I knock on her door again. She doesn’t answer right away.
“Meredith?”
She opens the door, standing there in her pantsuit, looking up at me. “Yes, boss?”
There’s a hint of a tease in her voice, and it makes me smile. Maybe she’s coming around after all.
“It’s almost closing time.”
“I’ve got a little work to finish. I’ll lock up.”
“Are you sure? I could drive you home.”
She stiffens. “I have my own car.”
“Of course, you do,” I mumble. Meredith is the epitome of “born with a silver spoon in her mouth.” She has everything taken care of, and maybe part of me resented that.
Meredith glares at me. “Don’t start, Logan.”
I hold up my hands in defense. “Who said I’m starting anything?”
“I know how you feel about my family situation.”
“You don’t know how I feel about it now .”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Do you feel differently about it now?”
I think about it for a long moment. “No.”
She snorts. “Typical.”
I want to roll my eyes, but I contain myself.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, princess.”
“Don’t call me that.” She pushes past me, stalking out of the building.
“Thought you had work to do!” I call, but it’s too late, she’s already outside.
I let out a long breath before following her.
I grab her wrist as she heads to her car, and she whirls around, her blue eyes aflame.
“What do you want from me, Logan?”
I huff out a breath. “I just want us to be civil.”
“I’m being civil.”
I scoff. “Yeah, right. If looks could kill, I’d be dead.”
She groans, rubbing a hand across her face. “I can’t pretend that I like you, Logan. But I don’t have to like you. You’re my boss, not my boyfriend.”
“We can’t pretend that the past didn’t happen.”
“Watch me.”
She takes the last few steps to her car.
“I talked to Grayson.”
She freezes with her hand on the door handle. “Did you?—”
Anger rises in me. “Don’t worry, princess. I’m still your dirty little secret.”
Her jaw tightens, and she gets into her car, speeding off as I stand there, staring after her.
Well, that went just swell. She hates my guts.
I wish I could hate her, too, but that’s clearly not in the cards for me.
Maybe buying this business wasn’t the genius move I thought it was.