9. The Dinner
NINE
THE DINNER
Bella
“This is weird, right?” I ask Logan as we pull up to Audrey’s brownstone. “Like, beyond weird.”
After years of girls’ nights and crisis calls with my best friend, I’m showing up to dinner with her brother. The same brother I’m in a fake relationship with. Even though Audrey knows we’re faking it, it’s still weird.
“It’s just dinner,” Logan says. “Stop fidgeting.”
“I am not fidgeting. She knows we’re faking this, but it’s just so awkward.”
“She only knows most of it,” he corrects, and we both think about the kitchen incident. And the art gallery. And the coatroom.
Before we reach the front steps, Audrey throws open the door. She’s in loungewear, hair piled messily.
“Finally!” She hugs me tight, whispering, “We’re talking about this later,” before turning to Logan. “You’re late. Again.”
“Traffic,” he says, and I laugh. I’ve known him long enough through Audrey to know he probably spent ages choosing that tie.
Audrey’s new place is exactly her style—the same blend of luxury and comfort I helped her pick out during countless house-hunting weekends. Wedding photos line the walls, including my favorite of her and Logan laughing just before he walked her down the aisle.
“Louis got stuck in surgery,” she says as we hit the kitchen. “But honestly? It’s better that way. Because Dad just called.”
“Shit,” Logan says.
“Yeah.” She pours wine without asking about our preferences—she already knows mine. “He’s pissed about the wedding.”
“When isn’t he pissed about something?” Logan’s voice has that edge I’m learning means family drama incoming.
“He says, and I quote, ‘How dare you get married without giving me proper notice?’ ” She rolls her eyes. “Like he would’ve shown up anyway.”
“You had me walk you down the aisle,” Logan says. “That’s what mattered.”
“Besides, Louis already got his blessing months ago. Called him in Edinburgh and everything. Not that Dad probably remembers—you know how he gets after pub hours.”
The kitchen falls quiet. I’ve heard all the stories about their father over years of friendship with Audrey.
“Did you tell him about us?” I ask, partly to break the tension.
“God, no.” Audrey tops off my wine. “He’d probably fly in just to lecture Logan about dating my best friend. Again.”
Logan shrugs. “Old habits.”
The oven timer beeps, breaking the moment. Audrey pulls out what appears to be lasagna, and the kitchen fills with the smell of garlic and herbs.
“You cooked?” Logan sounds skeptical.
“Definitely not.” Audrey laughs. “I ordered from Giovanni’s. But I did master the art of reheating without burning things.”
“A true culinary achievement,” I tease, helping her plate the food.
“Hey, not all of us can be stress bakers like you,” she retorts.
“Only sometimes,” I defend myself.
“Unlike some people,” she eyes me, “I don’t stress-bake at midnight.”
I nearly drop the serving spoon, remembering that night in the kitchen. Logan’s cough suggests his mind has gone to the same place.
“The cookies were delicious,” he says, voice suspiciously neutral.
Audrey looks between us, eyes narrowing. “Right. Well, dinner’s ready. Dining room?”
The dining room, like everything else in the house, is beautiful. A crystal chandelier casts warm light over the antique table, which Audrey has set with what I recognize as their mother’s china.
“The place settings,” Logan says quietly. “You kept them.”
“Of course I did.” Audrey arranges wine glasses. “Mum would have loved this, you know. Family dinner, her children successful, mostly happy...”
“Mostly?” Logan raises an eyebrow.
“Well, one of us is still emotionally constipated.” She grins at him as she serves the lasagna. “Though he’s staying out of drama. Which reminds me, how’s the board taking your relationship?”
I focus very intently on my wine glass while Logan answers. “They’re... pleased.”
“Especially Victoria,” I add, remembering the elevator incident. “She’s been particularly interested in our history.”
“What history?” Audrey snorts.
“We made something up,” Logan says.
“And she completely bought it.”
“Probably the best romantic meet cute she’s ever heard,” Logan adds.
“We probably made her believe in love again.”
Audrey makes a gagging noise. “Please stop flirting at my dinner table.”
The conversation shifts to safer topics—Louis’s hospital drama, Monarch’s latest acquisitions, and Audrey’s plans for the house. It feels almost normal, except for the way Logan’s hand keeps finding mine under the table or how Audrey’s eyes track our every interaction.
“Louis says the weirdest things happen during night shifts,” Audrey says when her phone buzzes. “Speaking of my wayward husband...” She steps into the hall to take the call.
“You having fun?” Logan asks quietly once we’re alone.
“Yeah. Yeah, I am. It doesn’t feel so weird anymore.”
“You see, I told you you were fidgeting.”
“You were right. Just this one time.”
“I am always right.” He smirks, his thumb traces circles on my palm, and I’m about to say something more when Audrey returns.
“Louis is done with surgery. Says he’ll be home in an hour.” She has that look in her eyes that always means trouble. “Which gives us just enough time to go through some old photos. I found them while unpacking.”
“Audrey, no,” Logan protests.
“Audrey, yes.” She grins wickedly. “You can’t honestly expect me to ignore the fact that my best friend is dating my brother—even if it isn’t real. The same brother, might I add, who once threatened to have my entire sorority investigated because he thought they were a bad influence on me.”
“They were doing bloody body shots off the house mother’s grandson!” Logan protests.
“That was my idea, actually,” I admit.
The look on his face is priceless. “You what?”
“Oh, there’s so much you don’t know about your girlfriend,” Audrey says sweetly. “Good thing I kept evidence.”
“Oh, wait,” I call out. “Am I in those photos?”
Audrey chuckles and just disappears into the study. I turn to Logan. “Just remember, whatever she shows you, I was young and in college.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Terrified.”
Audrey returns with what looks like every photo album from the past decade. “This,” she announces, settling on the couch between us, “is going to be fun.”
“Define fun,” Logan mutters.
The first album is from our college days. I groan at the sight of my freshman self, all bad highlights and questionable fashion choices. “Why do you still have these?”
“Blackmail,” Audrey says cheerfully. “Oh look, here’s the body shot incident!”
Logan leans in despite himself. “Christ, it really is the house mother’s grandson. What’s his name again?”
“Brett,” Audrey and I say together, then burst out laughing.
“He was pre-med,” I explain. “He was just teaching us anatomy.”
Logan’s eyes darken slightly. “I’m sure he was.”
“Okay, enough of that.” Audrey flips through more pages. “Here’s graduation. Remember how Dad promised to come?”
“And sent a card instead,” Logan finishes. “With the wrong year on it.”
I remember holding Audrey while she cried that day and how Logan had shown up at our apartment with expensive whiskey and take-out. He stayed until she fell asleep and then helped me clean up without a word.
“You were there, though,” Audrey says softly. “Both of you.”
The next album is more recent—photos from her wedding planning. There’s one of Audrey and me at her dress fitting, both of us crying.
“I’m glad I had you both that day.” Audrey pulls out a loose photo of Logan walking her down the aisle while I wait at the altar as maid of honor. “My two favorite people.”
I smile at her.
“Who are now dating,” she adds after a pause. “Which is still strange to think of, by the way.”
I need a break from the intensity of her stare. “Bathroom,” I announce, standing quickly.
On my way back, I hear voices from the kitchen. I know I should make my presence known, but something in Logan’s tone makes me pause.
“—just don’t want her hurt,” Audrey’s saying. “This thing between you...”
“It’s not just a thing anymore.” Logan’s voice is low and serious. “You know that.”
“Do I? Because the last time you showed this much interest in one of my friends?—”
“Bella’s different.” His interruption is sharp. “She’s brilliant, Audrey. The way she handled the CyberMind deal, how she thinks about business... she’s not just my girlfriend or my assistant. She’s...”
“She’s what?”
“She’s the reason I’ve started believing in second chances. And third chances. Hell, she’s made me lose count.”
My heart stops.
“Logan.” Audrey’s voice softens. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“I’m saying don’t worry about her. I’m not the same person I was.”
“You better not be. Because if you hurt her?—”
“You’ll kill me?” There’s a smile in his voice.
“Slowly and painfully. She’s my best friend, Logan. And whatever this started as... just be careful with her heart, okay?”
“Her heart isn’t the one I’m worried about,” he says so quietly I almost miss it.
I back up a few steps, then walk normally toward the kitchen. Logan emerges first, his face carefully composed.
“Ready to go?” he asks. “It’s getting late.”