Chapter 35 Logan
Logan
Fifteen minutes late. I would laugh at the irony of my father being tardy after all the years he spent beating into my head how rude it was if I didn’t think it was part of a setup.
I should be with Gwen right now, helping set up the booths and making sure she is okay.
It’s been a few days since she found out about Ophelia’s diagnosis and she’s been fully focused on the festival.
Also the shop, where she has picked up more of the backing duties and shifts to allow Ophelia more time to rest, despite her grandmother arguing that she was fine.
Gwen wouldn’t hear of it. She wouldn’t talk about it much either, but I was sticking by her for the long haul and wasn’t going to push her if she wasn’t ready.
The grief support blogs I’ve been reading say this is a marathon, not a sprint, and I need to allow her time to process while she has the freedom to do so.
I check the shipping on the decorations I ordered from her binder with Piper’s assistance to make sure it was all exactly what she wanted. It should have all delivered and I was itching to get to her side to see her reaction.
Camila sighs while scanning the menu in her hands, rudely removing me from my thoughts of Gwen, though she is never far from my mind.
“Logan, you know he will be here eventually. Why don’t we just go ahead and order some drinks? They have a wonderful wine list that would pair beautifully with lunch. Shall we share a bottle?”
I roll my eyes, not bothering to even remove my eyes from the phone in my hands. “It’s the middle of the work day on a Wednesday. No, I don’t want to share a bottle of wine with you.”
“Well, then can we at least take this time to talk? It’s the perfect opportunity. No one is here to interrupt.” She reaches over the table, placing her hand over my phone screen. Slowly, I lift my eyes to meet hers, just to instantly regret it when her lips curl up like she just won.
“Remove your hand from me, please,” I grit out.
Trying to keep my voice level and low so she knows I don’t mean it in any cute way.
She was always good about twisting my words.
Always, to the point that I would give up even trying to correct her about anything.
It was never worth the hassle if I tried to play nice just for her to hook her claws into it and drag it out to death.
I hold her gaze, finding a small glimmer of joy when I watch her faux-playful look drain from her eyes.
Her features almost melt away from the sickly sweet expression she uses to lure her victims into a false sense of security.
She should know better than to try it on me after all this time.
After everything she put me through and wants to put me through in the future.
Her eyes narrow and her lips purse as she slowly drags her hand away from me. I pull my phone back from her grasp, not willing to give her the chance to try to go through it. Not that she could unlock it, but I won’t give her the opportunity.
I drag my hand over my face, weighing if I can get out of this lunch meeting that I was informed was important.
Another longing glance at the door and, for the first time ever, I will my father to walk through the front door right now.
But clearly luck isn’t on my side and obviously I’m paying for some mistake I’ve made in the past that brought me to lunch with my ex-girlfriend.
The same ex that is working hand in hand with my father to turn our small town into a resort for the upperclass.
I glance at my phone again. Twenty minutes and still counting, only now I can feel her eyes lingering on me like a poison being poured over my skin. Pleasing my father and his demands to stay in his good graces no matter what my motives are isn’t worth this.
Unless I can use this to my advantage.
I swear a lightbulb physically goes off over my head as an idea forms. One I’m not thrilled to put into practice, but it could work.
“Actually,” I begin. Locking my fingers together and placing them in front of me on the table. “You’re right.” The words taste like venom on my tongue. Especially when I catch the twinkle in her eye telling me she thinks whatever fake persona she did worked on me.
“I do love those words coming from your mouth,” she purrs. “But what exactly am I right about so I can celebrate properly?”
I clench my jaw. “You said we should talk. Alright, let’s talk. I guess we do have a few things to catch up on.”
Camila perks up. Her shoulders go back as her back straightens. “Where should we start first?”
How about how my father is a greedy motherfucker?
I wave my hand between us. “Ladies first.”
“Well, for starters, can I just say how happy it makes me that you are finally back where you belong.” She looks at me expectantly, but then quickly realizes I’m not reciprocating her excitement and continues on. “I have missed you so much, Logan. I miss us.”
I scoff. “I think we already have been over whose fault that is.”
“It was a mistake,” she pouts.
“I don’t think you can classify sleeping with my roommate multiple times as a mistake. Seems like you knew what you were doing.”
She rolls her eyes. “I was sad and lonely, you barely paid me any attention when I came to visit.”
I pinch my eyebrows with my forefinger and thumb. “So that’s an acceptable reason to cheat on someone? Got it. We have already beat this into the ground enough. Is that all you wanted to talk about?” Doubtful.
“Let’s start fresh. Now that you are back, we can rekindle our love. And we can start by you escorting me to the gala on Sunday. It would be the perfect opportunity to show a united front as you begin your arguably useless campaign for mayor.”
I shake my head. “That’s out of the question.”
Camila huffs. “You and I both know we are end game. We were written in the stars. It’s in everyone’s best interest that you just finally admit it.”
“No, we were forced together by our fathers. Camila, you deserve someone who will love you the way you need. That person is not me no matter how hard you or our parents try.”
“You don’t get it, do you? Who said anything about love?”
You could hear a pin drop after that. I’m not sure what to say when she continues, not at all phased by her admission.
She sucks on her teeth. “Is this about Gwendolyn?”
I rear back. Instantly hating the way her name sounds coming from Camila’s mouth, full of disdain.
“This has nothing to do with Gwen.” I hate having to lie, because honestly it has a lot to do with Gwen. But that’s not for Camila to run to my father with so they can use it against me. Though the flash in Cami’s eyes right now tells me it’s too late.
“Don’t lie to me, Logan. I know you have been with her.
I even know that you had a little date night over the weekend.
” My mouth drops open, and she laughs. “The two of you weren’t very sneaky.
You think no one from this little hick town was at The Orange Peel?
Please, I knew the second you walked in with your arm wrapped around her.
Your father told me to just let it go, let you get it out of your system.
But this isn’t fair to me. You might not see it fully yet, but it’s in all of our best interests to make sure our families are aligned. ”
I narrow my gaze at her. “And that requires us coupling up for what reason?”
“Optics, Logan. You know it’s all about what people see, and they want to see a happily joined partnership.”
The waitress walks up to our table, interrupting whatever else she’s about to say as she beams up with a wide smile.
I don’t hear what she’s saying as I calculate how to direct this conversation, just watching as she points to things on the menu.
When the waitress turns to me, Camila stops her with a wave of her hand and a well-placed glare that screams ‘walk away’, which the young girl promptly listens to and turns away.
As much as I dislike having this conversation, it’s a necessary evil. So I take a deep breath and will my body not to jump from this seat and leave her.
“Remind me why this partnership is so important, Camila. Do you even understand what is going on?”
Camila rolls her eyes, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
“I’m not an idiot, Logan. No matter how much you think I am.
While you were off doing who knows what in the city, I was here sitting in on every board meeting and every work dinner I was allowed to be in.
You might not care about bettering our future, but I do.
” She quickly flicks her eyes around us to double-check no one is in hearing distance before leaning forward to continue talking.
“I know you don’t like your dad’s plan to turn this into a resort town.
You’ve been very clear about that. He began floating this idea around when we were kids.
Maybe you could have made a difference a few years ago, but it’s too late now.
The new era of this podunk town is upon us. ”
Placing my elbows on the edge of the table, I mirror her lean. “So tell me. If this is such a wonderful change, what’s with all the secrecy? Why is Willow Grove still in the dark about the changes that will affect their lives forever?”
“Cut the white knight shit, Logan. We all know none of these people would ever accept the plan no matter how much it’ll help them.
They are stuck in the past. The kitschy small-town persona can only take you so far these days.
Tourists want fresh, they want new, and this town needs tourists.
They will never see how this will better them if we give them a choice. ”
“No,” I snap. “It’ll better you, our parents, and a bunch of old millionaires that don’t give two shits about this town.”
“It will better all of us.” Her tone is strong, allowing no room for arguments.
I might not care for the girl anymore in the way she wants or agree with her, but I do have to say there is a backbone showing.
Something that wasn’t there when we were together.
“You don’t see it right now, but think of how much good it will do to get more eyes on this town.
More tourists means more money flowing through here.
Those small businesses on Main will boom.
Pull your head out of your ass and think about it for two minutes.
Think about more than your need to go against your father’s wants.
I might not completely agree with his why or how, but the plan overall will be good for Willow Grove. ”
“What about those who will be affected by the new contract Triton drew up? You know, the one your father agreed to for some unknown reason?”
Her nostrils flare with annoyance. “That was unnecessary, but not a deal breaker. Besides, it sounds like you might have stopped that one. Running to your little girlfriend’s rescue might have paid off.” The waitress stops by the table carrying two wine glasses and a bottle of wine.
Camila doesn’t acknowledge her, keeping her calculating eyes on me as I let her words sink in. I wait until she steps away again, still with no acknowledgment from Cami, so I thank her for her assistance—though I don’t want the wine she has poured.
My teeth clench tightly. “What are you talking about?”
Her lips tip into a sinister smile. “Not denying she’s your little girlfriend, are you?”
I continue to stare at her until she gives in and speaks again. “Fine, I overheard your father on a conference call earlier this week. Sounds like Triton is willing to reconsider, but…” She trails off to take a sip of her wine.
My leg bounces under the table with anticipation. “But what, Camila? Spit it out.”
“It all hinges on how well the Harvest Festival does. Think of it as an audition. If the people of this town can prove that their storefronts are worthy of being associated anywhere near their company, they will let it go. But if not…” She shrugs.
“You better hope sweet little Gwenny can pull this off.”
“Why are you telling me this? Why hasn’t my father given me this information?”
“If you want my honest opinion,” her long manicured fingers swirl her glass around. “I think he wants them to fail, Gwen most of all.”
“That doesn’t make sense. These are his people; this is his town. Is he really that money-hungry? What does her and her business have anything to do with the millions he is going to make from this deal?”
Camila laughs, but there’s no humor behind it. “This is when you are thinking too narrowly, Logan. It’s not about the money. It’s about the control.” She shakes her head softly. “It’s about you.”
I swallow back the bile rising in my throat. “It’s about Jake.”
Camila takes another sip of her wine, eyeing my reaction. “I know you want to paint me as the villain in your story. And, yeah, I probably deserve it to a point. But you have to understand your father is holding most of the cards, and the best thing to do is shut up and play.”
I shake my head, my index finger slamming into the table for emphasis. “That can’t be the only option, Camila. You have to see that.”
Her head tilts to the side, angling just enough to send a curtain of her chestnut hair falling over her shoulder. “Maybe I can be persuaded.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you really think I’m so dumb, so naive to believe you would come quietly and play the game our families have laid out for us?
You used to know me better than that. Then again, I did a lot of growing up and learning while you’ve been away.
A lot of watching quietly in the wings. I’ve seen how these things work.
I have an idea of how we can white knight this town in the way you want while still playing their game. ”
“But?”
She smirks, and I immediately regret asking.
“But it’s going to come at a price.”
I look around the restaurant. The midday lunch rush is dying down as I realize how long we’ve been here. My phone vibrates on the table. I pick it up to see a text from Gwen, and I can feel my body relax just at her electronic words.
Thank you for the surprise. You didn’t have to do that, but I am so grateful for it. If you’re not too tired after work, I would love to show you just how grateful I am. ;)
(I mean sexually, if you didn’t pick up on the winky face)
I type out a quick reply, unable to keep my grin at bay.
Anything for you. ;) I’ll see you tonight.
“Gag me,” Camila pretends to do just that. “Would it make you more interested if I told you I know exactly what your father has planned if you don’t fall in line? And it has to do with the reason you’re making goo-goo eyes at your phone right now.”
“What do you have in mind?”