Chapter Twenty-Four Logan
Chapter Twenty-Four
Logan
The next morning, sunlight filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I stir awake, blinking against the brightness, and the first thing I feel is the warmth of Grace's body curled against mine. I smile to myself, not wanting to move, but then it hits me—it’s the day before the wedding. Everything’s about to change, and I can’t keep putting this off.
I turn my head to look at her, her face relaxed in sleep, and my heart swells. She looks peaceful, beautiful, and the last thing I want to do is wake her. I want her to sleep in, to rest before the madness of the wedding. Just as I start to carefully slip out of bed, her hand reaches for me, tugging me back.
"Where do you think you're going?" she murmurs, her voice husky with sleep, and it sends a shiver through me.
Before I can answer, she pulls me down, her lips finding mine in a kiss that's both soft and heated, full of morning warmth and something more—something needy. My hand finds her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss deepens. It’s hard to resist her like this, especially when she’s looking at me with that half-smile.
"You should sleep," I manage to murmur against her lips, though my body’s already betraying me, leaning into her touch.
Grace chuckles softly, her fingers sliding into my hair as she pulls me closer. "I'd rather do this."
The way she kisses me makes it impossible to argue, and before I know it, I’m lost in her again. The intensity between us from last night hasn’t faded—in fact, it’s stronger now, and I sink into her touch.
“Shower?” she whispers, her lips brushing my jawline as she kisses her way down to my neck. The suggestion isn’t innocent, and I feel a surge of desire just hearing the playful tone in her voice.
I smile, unable to resist her, and together we stumble out of bed, heading for the shower. The hot water pours over us, and it’s impossible to keep my hands off her. The way the water slides over her skin, the heat of it mingling with the heat between us—it’s intoxicating. She laughs, pressing herself against me as the steam fills the bathroom, and my hands move to her waist, gripping her as I kiss her again.
Our movements slow, growing more deliberate, more intimate as the water cascades down our bodies. Her fingers trace the lines of my chest, her touch gentle but full of meaning, and I kiss her deeply, savoring every moment of this closeness.
By the time we step out of the shower, we’re both breathless, our skin flushed, but there’s a sense of contentment between us that feels unshakeable. We get dressed together, exchanging playful glances and light touches as we pull on our clothes. The air between us is charged, but comfortable—a mixture of love, excitement, and something unspoken.
As we head down to breakfast, hand in hand, I can’t stop thinking about what needs to happen next. We’ve come this far, and now it’s time to come clean—to tell everyone the truth about the fake engagement. As much as I know we should do it today, there’s another idea brewing in the back of my mind. Something bigger.
I glance over at Grace, watching her as she smiles at something on her phone, completely unaware of what I’m planning. The truth is, I don’t just want to come clean about the fake engagement. I want to make it real.
After the wedding, when everything has calmed down, I’m going to propose to her. For real. No more lies, no more pretending. Just us, together, for the rest of our lives.
I keep the thought to myself for now, not wanting to give anything away just yet. I want the moment to be perfect—something that will take her completely by surprise. But knowing what’s coming fills me with a sense of calm, a sense of certainty.
“Everything okay?” Grace asks, looking up at me as we sit down at a table for breakfast. Her eyes search mine, and I can see the love and trust there. It makes my heart race.
“Yeah,” I say, squeezing her hand under the table. “Everything’s perfect.”
She smiles, leaning into me just slightly, and I know that whatever happens next, we’ll face it together. But for now, I’m holding onto my plan—keeping it close until the moment’s right.
***
As we make our way to the breakfast terrace where Emily, Joseph, and Grace’s parents are sitting, I feel a knot tightening in my stomach. This is it—the moment we’ve been avoiding, the moment where we have to face the consequences of everything we’ve done. I glance at Grace, who looks both nervous and resigned, her hand gripping mine tightly. She’s been so strong through all of this, and as much as I want to protect her from what’s coming, I know we have to come clean. It’s the only way to move forward.
As soon as we approach the table, Emily looks up, her eyes brightening as she sees us, but her smile falters when she notices the tension between us.
“Hey, you two,” she says, trying to keep things light. “You look… serious. What’s going on?”
Grace hesitates for a second, glancing at me, then takes a deep breath and steps forward. “We need to talk. All of you.”
Joseph and Grace’s parents exchange concerned looks, while Emily’s smile fades completely. They know something is up.
Grace’s parents look at her expectantly, and for a moment, she hesitates. I can feel her nerves through the way she’s clutching my hand, but I give her a gentle squeeze, letting her know I’m right here. Finally, she speaks, her voice steady but uncertain.
“Logan and I… we haven’t been entirely honest with you all,” she begins, her eyes flickering to each of them. “This engagement… it wasn’t real. We made it up.”
Her mother’s eyes widen in shock, her father’s face hardening with disappointment. Joseph just sits back, his arms crossed, clearly not surprised, but letting Grace speak. I can see the tension rise in the room immediately.
Her mother is the first to speak. “What do you mean, Grace? You lied to us?”
Grace bites her lip, nodding. “It started as a way to avoid questions, to keep things simple… and then it spiraled out of control. I’m sorry. We should have told you sooner.”
Her father shakes his head, his face a mix of disbelief and anger. “I expected better from you, Grace. We trusted you.”
“I know,” she says softly, her voice breaking a little. “I’m sorry.”
Her mother looks between the two of us, her expression cold. “How could you do this? You brought us into this lie, Grace. Do you know how embarrassing this is?”
I can feel the weight of their judgment, and my gut twists as Grace struggles to explain. I can’t just sit by and let her take all the blame.
I step forward, my voice firm. “It’s not just Grace. This was my idea too. We both made a mistake, but it wasn’t out of malice. It just got out of hand, and we didn’t know how to stop. I want you to know something—my feelings for her are real.”
Her parents exchange skeptical glances, and her father narrows his eyes at me. “How do we know that? You’re telling us that this whole engagement was a lie. What makes us think you won’t break her heart?”
I take a deep breath, knowing this is my moment to step up. “I care about Grace more than anything. What started as a mess turned into something real for me, and I’m not walking away from her. We’re going to start fresh, no more lies. I promise you that.”
Her mother shakes her head, unconvinced. “Promises aren’t enough, Logan. This is your second chance, and you expect us to believe that everything will just magically work out? I’m not sure I can trust you.”
I feel Grace’s grip on my hand tighten, and I know this is harder for her than she’s letting on. Before I can respond, Joseph speaks up, his voice strong and clear.
“Mom, Dad, enough,” he says, standing from the table. “Grace is my sister, and Logan is my best friend. I’ve known about this for a while, and I didn’t say anything because I knew it wasn’t my place. I can tell you one thing—Logan is serious about her. They both made mistakes, but they’re trying to fix them.”
Her parents look at Joseph in surprise, but I can see the respect they have for his opinion. His words seem to carry weight, and the tension in the air eases, just a little.
Grace steps forward, her voice stronger now. “I don’t need you to believe in Logan or in us right now. I do need your support. I love him, and I’m going to make this work, whether you trust him or not.”
Her parents exchange a glance, and for a moment, I can see the conflict on their faces. They’re not convinced, but they love Grace too much to push her away completely.
Her father finally sighs, rubbing his temples. “I don’t know what to say, Grace. This is a lot to take in.”
Her mother nods in agreement, her expression still hard but less accusatory. “We’ll… try to support you; but don’t expect us to forget this.”
Grace nods, her shoulders relaxing just slightly. “That’s all I’m asking.”
As the tension slowly dissipates, Emily steps forward, her eyes soft with understanding. She gives Grace a warm smile and pulls her into a tight hug. “You should’ve told them sooner,” she whispers, but there’s no anger in her voice. Just love. “I get it. You were scared, and I’m just glad you’re happy. That’s all that matters to me.”
Grace smiles back, the relief clear in her eyes. “Thank you, Em.”
Joseph, standing next to me, claps a hand on my shoulder, a small grin tugging at his lips. “I always knew you had feelings for my sister, even before all this fake engagement stuff,” he says, chuckling. “I just didn’t think you’d take such a dramatic route to get here.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, I didn’t either.”
He nods, then his voice lowers slightly. “Seriously, man. I’m glad you’re both finally being honest. You’re good for her.”
Emily pulls Grace into another hug, then turns to me with a teasing smile. “Take care of her, Logan.”
“I will.”