21. Meredith
Chapter Twenty-One
MEREDITH
“Has he always been like that toward you?” Logan demands to know.
“What do you mean?”
“Creepy.”
I let out a long breath.
My family has a complicated relationship with the sheriff because, thanks to Logan, Grayson got in a lot of trouble when he was younger. The reason he was never arrested or prosecuted was because of the sheriff.
“Kind of.”
Logan stiffens. “I'll talk to him when he comes back in.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “No, you won’t. We don’t need to draw attention to…whatever this is.”
Logan huffs out a breath. “But I hate the way he talks to you.”
“So do I. But that’s life. Some guys are creepy.”
“Is Paul still creepy?”
I can’t help but smile a little at his jealousy. “Paul was never creepy. He was always nice to me, until you threatened him. Now he doesn’t talk to me at all.”
“Good.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m secretly a little pleased. I have to admit that to myself. I want Logan pining over me, wanting me. I don’t want him to want anyone else.
“Are you seeing anyone else?”
Logan stares at me as if I’ve grown a second head. “No. Of course not.”
“You don’t have anyone?”
“No one.” His voice is firm and fierce, and I believe him.
I let out a relieved sigh. “Good.”
He smirks. “Were you jealous?”
I shake my head. “Just didn’t want some girl butting in to this pregnancy like she’s going to be the new stepmom.”
“Oh.”
He sounds almost disappointed. I could tell him that I am indeed jealous, but I don’t. Better leave him wondering.
I head into my office and finish up the paperwork for the waiting list before leaving.
Logan is still in his office when I leave, so I don’t worry about locking up.
When I arrive at home, the place feels empty.
My mother is still in the Alps. She’s decided to stay an extra week because the skiing is so good. Apparently, the snow is just the right kind of powdery, or that’s what she’s said over the phone.
I normally wouldn’t miss her, but with everything going on, I kind of do.
I wish I could get her advice about things. Although I have no idea how to tell her–or Dad–that I’m pregnant with Logan’s baby.
I groan and plop down on the couch.
What am I going to do?
The front gate intercom buzzes, and I bolt upright.
Who could it be? Maybe a package for Mother?
I slowly walk to the intercom and press the button.
“Depeche Floral Delivery,” a monotone voice says, and I buzz them in.
They leave the flowers, two dozen red roses, by the door, and I pick them up, staring at them.
Are these for Mother? Does she have some beau I don’t know about?
I look at the note.
To my two favorite people. - Logan.
What?
He’s sending flowers to my mother’s place, now? What if she’d been home? How would I have explained that?
I huff out a breath but put the flowers in a vase. I’ve always loved roses, and Logan knows that. I guess I can display them until she gets home, or until they die. Whichever comes first.
I feel faint and realize I haven’t eaten all day, so I order a pizza.
This baby craves cheese pizza like something crazy.
I head upstairs to take a bath and don’t realize I’ve fallen asleep until the intercom rings again.
I put on my robe and head down to the door, paying for the pizza and sitting on the couch. I manage three slices before I’m asleep again on the couch.
When I wake up, it’s just a couple of hours before work so I groan and shower, putting on some light makeup and a skirt and blouse combo that I can still fit into. I’m gaining weight rapidly, losing my figure, and it’s making me grumpy.
Logan is at my desk when I arrive, and there’s a bouquet sitting beside him, but this time no roses–it's peanut butter cups. My favorite candy.
I groan out loud. “Logan.”
He grins sheepishly. “I know how much you like them.”
“I don’t need them. I’m getting big as a house already,” I complain, but grab one off the display anyway, opening it and popping it into my mouth.
Dina walks in behind me and startles at the present. “Who have you been sleeping with?”
An inferno sets off in my cheeks. “It’s nothing like that. I just have...generous friends and family. Celebration for me getting this job.”
The lie comes easily, and Dina relaxes, seeming to believe it.
She already knows about Logan, but I don’t want him to know that she knows. I like to keep my personal life personal, and I don’t want the whole office gossiping about me.
Dina brings me more paperwork, and I sigh.
“I guess I’ve got my work cut out for me.”
“You do. The phone’s been ringing off the hook all morning.”
“Before we officially opened?” Logan asks excitedly, standing up.
Dina nods. “It was ringing when I unlocked the door at seven-thirty.”
“You’re a good employee, Dina. I owe you a raise.”
“Remember that come bonus time,” she says dryly as he walks out.
She raises her eyebrow at me but doesn’t push, and I’m grateful.
I sit down at my desk and eat way too many of the peanut butter cups before placing them far away from me on the table at the far wall.
My stomach hurts since that’s been my breakfast, and I end up throwing them all up in the bathroom.
When I clean myself up and come back out, there’s even more paperwork to contend with, and I throw myself into work.
The next morning, there’s more flowers on my desk–lilies this time, another one of my favorites.
Logan stays in his office all day, so I can’t chide him, and I feel like that’s on purpose.
It goes on like that all week, and my feet are starting to swell and ache, I guess from the baby, and I’m in an irritable mood, tossing this day’s candy–caramel popcorn–into the trash.
“Hey…” Logan stands in the doorway. “Thought you loved caramel popcorn.”
“I do, but this baby doesn’t seem to have an off switch, and I don’t feel like throwing up this morning,” I hiss. “Besides, you can’t keep doing this. It’s drawing all this attention to me, and I’m already having to hide my weight gain.”
“What have you gained, five pounds?”
“Twelve,” I say miserably, holding my stomach.
He shuts my door behind him. “It looks good on you.”
“Stop it.” My ears feel hot at his compliments.
I feel like I’m gaining all of it in my butt and hips, and since I’ve always been pretty trim, it’s been an adjustment.
“You do. Curves look good on you, princess.”
“Meredith.”
“Ah, yes. No pet names at the office.”
Or anywhere.
I should say it, but I don’t, because hearing him call me princess makes me weak in the knees.
“Your appointment with the ob-gyn is soon, right?"
“Next week.”
“I have a reminder in my phone. I’ll pick you up from your place?”
“My mother shouldn’t be back yet, so that’s fine.”
“How long is she going to be gone?” He steps closer to me, and I back up, bracing my hands behind me on the desk.
“Couple of weeks. After that, you’ve got to stop sending things to my house.”
“I’m sorry.” He doesn’t sound sorry, and the smirk on his face tells me he’s really not. “I just want you and the baby to be happy and healthy.”
“Then maybe you should gift me some celery sticks instead of sugar.”
“Well, that’s no fun.”
I can feel his breath on my skin, he’s standing so close.
“Logan…” I’m not sure what I’m going to say.
“Meredith,” he breathes.
I have to get away from him. I walk around my desk and sit behind it, and Logan looks down at me, his eyes half-lidded and disappointed.
“My feet hurt,” I say in way of explanation. “Need a foot rub.”
“Then I’ll come over. Tonight.”
I gape at him. “I didn’t mean?—”
“I’m offering.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I do.” He leans over my desk, putting his hands on it. “I’m the father, aren't I? I want you to be comfortable.”
I don’t know how comfortable I'll be with Logan in my mother’s house, his hands on my feet and legs, but he’s right, in a way. We will have to be closer to each other if we’re co-parenting.
“All right,” I say finally. “I’ll see you tonight. After work.”
“Of course.”
He stands there staring at me for a moment longer before leaving the office.
I let out a long breath.
What have I gotten myself into?