22. Logan
TWENTY-TWO
LOGAN
“So, you’ve been gone a lot recently…” I can hear the smile in my mom’s voice. I took the day off to go with her to her doctor’s appointment. The clinical trial she’s been doing seems to be working, and they’re happy with how she’s progressing.
What’s even better is that Mom is feeling better. She doesn’t look tired anymore. She has more energy. Her smiles aren’t fake. I couldn’t be happier.
It also gives her more time to notice that I’m not home most nights. I can’t seem to get myself to leave Savannah’s bed, and until she decides to kick me out, I don’t plan on leaving.
“I do have a job, Mom,” I tell her.
She gives me a side-eyed glance as she smirks. “You know that’s not what I mean. You haven’t been home much in the evenings.”
“Hmm.”
“Hmm? That’s all I get?” she says
“Well, what are you asking, Mom?”
“I’m asking if my son has a girlfriend.” She might as well have said “Duh” after it.
I laugh. I’m honestly surprised it’s taken her this long to ask. “I don’t know, actually. Maybe.”
What Savannah and I have feels important.
I know I’m all in, but she’s still skittish.
She’s made it clear she doesn’t want a relationship, but we’re together almost every night.
And when we’re not together, we’re texting.
If that isn’t what a relationship consists of, I don’t know what is.
I’m not going to push her, though. I have confidence that she’ll come around.
“Maybe?” she asks.
“It’s… new. We’re still figuring it out.”
She doesn’t look impressed with that answer. “We are talking about Savannah, aren’t we?”
“Yes, Mom,” I admit with a sigh.
“I knew it!”
“Am I that obvious?”
She gives me a knowing look. “Yes. And the night that she was here for dinner, you couldn’t keep your hands off her.”
Yeah, that hasn’t changed. It’s even worse because she still doesn’t want to say anything to Max.
Max is really chill, but I think when he finds out Savannah and I are together, the chill will fly right out the window.
So, I have to be careful about touching her in public.
It makes it feel like we’re a dirty secret, which is not ideal. I want everyone to know I’m hers.
“Yeah, well, it’s kind of complicated because I’m her coach, you know?”
She waves me off. “I’m sure Tati would understand.”
“Maybe Tati would, but what about everyone else? And Max wouldn’t be happy. Anyway, none of that really matters because Savannah doesn’t want a relationship right now. She’s focused on skating and doesn’t need any distractions.”
“You keeping her up late every night seems like a pretty big distraction.”
“Mom!”
“What? It’s not like I don’t know what you’re doing. I was your age once.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, but I don’t want to talk about this with my mother.”
She laughs. “Fine. Just make sure you’re careful. The last thing she needs is to get pregnant.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “For the love of god, Mom. I’m almost thirty. I know how to not get a girl knocked up. Thanks.” Even though we technically could be taking more precautions.
She pats my shoulder. “Just making sure.”
I shake my head, looking for any way to get out of this conversation. “Anyways….”
Mom laughs again. “How’s everything else going? Are you enjoying coaching?”
“Actually, I am. I know you didn’t want me to retire last season, but I think it was the best thing for me. As much as I love skating, competing is so hard.” She nods because she knows exactly what I mean. “I think I needed a break physically and mentally.”
When I told my mom I was going to retire, she cried. I think I cried a little, too, but I knew I was ready. I wanted to be able to give her more of my time and mental space, but I couldn’t do that when I was so focused on skating and winning.
“That’s great, Logan. I should know by now to trust your decisions.”
“Yeah, you should. And coaching has been fun. The younger kids are awesome. They’re all so excited. And Savannah and Max are great to work with, even with her attitude sometimes.”
“I’m sure her attitude has lessened these days.”
I roll my eyes. “You’d be surprised. But I think that’s one thing I like about her. She certainly keeps me on my toes.”
“That’s good. You need someone like that.”
It’s refreshing not to have someone fawning all over me, as odd as that sounds. I like that Savannah doesn’t give in to me. She makes her opinions known, and I respect the hell out of that. I want a strong woman, not just someone who agrees with everything I say to keep the peace. How boring.
“Yeah,” I agree. “Now I just have to make sure I can get them to the Olympics. I don’t want to let her down.”
“You won’t, Logan. With your experience and their skills, it’s bound to happen. Just keep believing in yourself.”
“I will. Thanks, Mom.”
My phone pings with a text from Savannah, letting me know she’s home, which is code for get your ass over here. I smile at my screen and quickly type back that I’ll see her soon.
“Let me guess… you’ve got to go?” Mom says with a smile.
“Yeah.” I stand and lean down to kiss her cheek. “Don’t wait up.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t. Have fun, Logan. And remember what I said.” She gives me a knowing look.
“Got it.” Don’t get anyone pregnant. Check.
I grab a few things from my room and then head out to Savannah’s place. I stop at a store on the way and grab her some flowers. I don’t know what her favorite flower is yet, so I grab a bouquet with a good mixture.
When she opens the door for me, her face lights up. “Are those for me?”
“No, is Kelsey here?” I tease.
She playfully swats my arm as I hand her the flowers. “Beautiful flowers for the most beautiful woman in the world.”
I kiss her slowly. Too slowly for what is probably appropriate in public. My tongue slides lazily against hers as I deepen the kiss.
“Gross!” Kelsey yells from inside the apartment.
We laugh and reluctantly pull away from each other. “We should probably get inside before we give my neighbors a show they aren’t ready for.”
I look over my shoulder and see the camera doorbell on the apartment on the other side of the hall.
“Yeah, good idea.”
Savannah puts the flowers in a vase while I say hello to her sister. Then Savannah pulls me down the hall toward her room.
“Should I go ahead and put my earbuds in?” Kelsey asks.
“Probably a good idea, Kels,” I yell just before Savannah shuts her bedroom door and wraps her arms around my neck, bringing me in for a kiss.
I love that she wants me like this. She hasn’t seen me for one day, and first I get an “I miss you text” and now she’s trying to climb me like a tree.
The best part is I’m just as desperate for her.