54. Logan
54
***Logan***
I tilted my head to the side and studied the mural on the side of the hardware store. I’d avoided it for a while, not wanting to add to my misery. That misery wasn’t going to last for much longer, I’d decided. As Brooke’s man, it was my job to make sure she wasn’t hurting unnecessarily and I was putting an end to it. Even if I did have to be heavy handed and pushy. With that decided, I could stand beneath Brooke’s view of Beaumont and take it all in.
“You were right.” Noah’s voice reminded me that I wasn’t alone.
I knew exactly what he was talking about. In the background, woven into details of flowers and other nature was our treehouse. “This is us.”
“It is. It’s not about Beaumont. It’s us.” Colt stepped closer and then turned to face me. “How long do you think it would take us to build a treehouse?”
Noah bounced where he stood, his energy finally increasing. “Today.”
I grunted. “If we want it to fall down on us.”
“No, I’m serious.” He pulled out his phone. “We’ve both got a list of teenagers who always need extra cash. Call them. Colt, you go to the lumber yard in Demont and Logan and I will get the kids together. We can start as soon as you get back and have it finished today. Let’s end this shit tonight.”
A wave of hope filled me. “I can put a list together of what we need right now.”
“Do it. I’ll drop the list off at the lumber yard and swing by one of the flower shops. We’re doing this right.” Colt gripped my shoulder and patted Noah’s at the same time. “She comes home tonight.”
“Even if I have to kidnap her.” I shrugged at their looks. “I’m done with standing by while she cries.”
*
It was nearly ten o’clock that night when I pulled to a stop in front of Brooke’s mom’s house. I brushed my hands down my t-shirt, suddenly nervous. The treehouse was built, there were flowers inside waiting, Colt and Noah were ready. Everything was ready. Yet, my heart was in my throat and I felt like throwing up.
I barely got my first foot on the front porch when I was knocked backwards by Brooke’s giant dog. He panted happily with his front paws on my shoulders. “Jesus, dog. You scared the shit out of me. Don’t you know I’m freaking out enough without you adding to it?”
“Why are you freaking out?” Brooke’s voice came from the dark corner of the porch, startling me just as much as her dog had.
“What the hell are you doing out here?” I eased the dog back down on his four feet and stepped around him. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I saw that Brooke was in one of the outside chairs with a blanket and a pillow in her lap. “What the fuck? Did your mom kick you out again?”
She laughed and then sighed. “She made up with Jimmy and she’s sick of me moping. Her words. She told me that I didn’t have to sleep on the porch if I’d just go back to y’all.”
I grunted as it all sank in. “You chose to sleep on the porch over coming to us?”
She stood up and dropped the stuff in her arms into the chair. “I’m not sleeping on the porch, am I?”
A jolt of need hit me when she walked closer and I saw that she was wearing a tiny tank top and the smallest pair of shorts I’d ever seen. I’d been staring at her for too long, apparently, because she reached forward and thumped me in the chest. “What? Sorry. I just…”
“Do you want to know why I’m dressed like this?”
I licked my lips and stepped closer. “Uh huh. Sure.”
“I fell asleep on the beach today.” She studied me. “Half of my body is incredibly sunburned.”
My head jerked up and I met her eyes. “What?”
Her lips twitched like she was fighting a smile. “Yeah. I fell asleep cuddling Lucy after having an interesting talk with Kelly. My entire right side is sunburned and feels like shit. And I’m momentarily homeless.”
My pulse kicked up. “Little bunny.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I wish the treehouse was still around. It’d be just like that first time. Do you remember?”
I let out a hoarse bark of laughter. “You were wearing a tiny white tank top, just like this one. You also had on those tiny jean shorts. Your ass cheeks peeked out when you leaned over. You were fighting with your mom and didn’t want to go home.”
“Logan, I’m not saying everything is fixed but I’m tired of being without y’all. Can I come home?”
I grabbed her hips and yanked her into my chest. Holding her too tight, I inhaled the sweet scent of her hair and groaned. “Fuck, Brooke. Make me fight a little. I don’t deserve you coming so easily.”
“Do you not want me to come home?” Her worry was clear.
I pulled back and gripped her face. “I never wanted you to leave. I want you in my house, in my bed, forever. I want to marry you and have a dozen kids. I want to go to sleep buried in your body and wake up fucking you every day for the rest of my life. I want everything. I’m just not sure I deserve it after the way I treated you. I love you, though, little bunny, and I’m going to be selfish. I was coming to bring you home, no matter what. I’d already prepared to end up in jail for kidnapping.”
She blinked and tears darkened her long lashes. “I was half sunburnt that first night. It just feels like a sign. I don’t want to be apart from you anymore.”
“I remember. Everything.” I took a deep breath. “Come with me. We have something to show you.”
She nodded. “Do you have room for Lucy? We’re a packaged deal now.”
I didn’t look away from her. “We want it all, little bunny. Lucy lives with us now. I’ll set up his own room if you want me to. Anything to get you home with us.”
“Let’s go then.”
I dipped my head and kissed her softly just as a roll of thunder filled the night air. “I’m starting to think your crazy aunt really is psychic.”
A look of concern passed over Brooke’s face. “If she is, we’re going to have more surprises to talk about later.”
I stopped. “What is it?”
She stretched up and kissed me. “Later. Right now, I want to pretend like we’re crawling into our treehouse again.”
The front door creaked open and a very naked Daisy leaned out. “Leave the damn dog. I need y’alls night to be perfect so I can get rid of my adult daughter.”
Brooke groaned. “ Mom .”
Lucy huffed and barked but then he walked past Daisy. I stared after the dog and then down at Brooke. “Are you sure he’s a dog?”
She took my hand and pulled me away from her naked mom. “Not at all.”