Chapter 18 #2
On the surface, that sounds like normal conversation, but paired with Logan’s behavior the rest of the day?
It’s suspicious. Like the fact that he asked me to come with him on his afternoon drink run (a honey and dragonfruit concoction from Mabel that he winced his way through), he shut down the whole shop to take me to lunch at the diner (which we’ve never done), and then he hasn’t been hiding out in his office once today.
The only time I’ve been by myself was for a trip to the bathroom.
He has been hanging around the shop like he’s waiting for something.
When Mrs. LaGrande showed up with a box of cupcakes, I thought that might’ve been it. But after singing “Happy Birthday” with her and shoving a cupcake into his mouth, Logan has still been on his hovering routine.
Other than my family serenading me in a giant group call this morning, my phone has been surprisingly quiet too. I haven’t heard from Mia (which is weird) or Theo (which wouldn’t have been weird a few weeks ago, but given our now-regular texting habits, seems weird).
Birthdays have never been my thing, but this year feels extra uncomfortable.
I’m twenty-nine today. Staring down the barrel of thirty.
With no plan for my life. Not even a hint of direction.
I’ve distracted myself with fixing up the A-frame—but then what?
Compared to everyone else around me, I’m spinning my wheels.
Today doesn’t really feel like a celebration at all. It feels more like the walls are closing in.
I’m going to have a stiff drink—or two—later.
Logan moves to the window, watching out the glass for a few moments. He shuffles one way, then the other, trying to get a better view.
Something weird is going on. I feel it in my bones.
Suddenly, his shoulders perk up and he whirls toward me. “Fable . . . um . . . don’t move. Stay right there,” he says, waving to the register.
“Okaaaay.” He’s so adorably nervous that I can’t help but play along.
He wrings his hands. “Maybe close your eyes too.”
I bite back a laugh. “All right.” Finally, we’re getting to the bottom of this.
His shoes squeak against the floor as he paces, waiting for whatever this delivery is. Maybe he got me flowers? I hear him clear his throat, then the bell over the door jingles, and a familiar voice squeals, “Surprise!”
My heart leaps up my throat. I open my eyes to see Mia running toward me, her arms spread wide and a giant smile on her face. She’s here. My best friend is here, and I can’t think of anything I need more today. I dart around the counter and into her arms.
“Happy birthday!” She hugs me, and I get a face full of her long black hair, but I don’t mind at all.
“How? What . . . ?” I soak her in. “I was about to be so mad at you for forgetting my birthday.”
“Told you she would be.” Theo chuckles, but I can’t see him on account of the hair.
“You know me too well. I couldn’t call. You’d figure it out,” Mia says.
“I forgive you because you’re here,” I exclaim.
Mia pulls back, and I see the moment she spots the tiny bruise still on my forehead. It’s mostly faded, only a tinge of yellow left, but she zeroes in on it. “What happened?”
Blood rushes to my cheeks. I give her the same answer I’ve doled out for the last week. “Bumped into an open cabinet.”
Instinctively, my gaze bounces to Theo. He’s standing by the door, the tiniest smirk pulling at his lips, looking downright delicious as always—hands shoved into his dark-wash, fitted jeans, broad shoulders taking up all the air in here, and a nice button-down shirt with his sleeves rolled up to reveal those thick forearms.
The audacity of this man for coming here, looking like that. I hate how much I want to bite him. Respectfully. Disrespectfully. Somewhere in between.
“Damn. That must’ve hurt,” Mia coos, steering us toward where Logan and Theo are waiting. “Bree’s here, too, but she got a work call right as we pulled into town. Fancy lawyer shit and all that.”
I narrow my eyes on Logan. “Is this why you’ve been suspicious all day?”
He paws at his beard. “This guy didn’t tell what time they’d be here,” he grumbles, tipping his head toward Theo. “Just told me to, ‘Make sure she stays around the shop.’ Feels like I’ve been babysitting all day.”
A laugh tumbles out of me. “Lucky for you, I was on my best behavior.”
“Except when you were too pushy with Mabel.” He grimaces. “Trying to get us to go see the botanic gardens together.”
Mia wiggles her shoulders. “That sounds like a great date idea.”
“Right? That’s what I said!” Logan scoffs, but color rises on his cheeks. “You’re coming to dinner, right?” I ask him.
“Oh, no.” He shakes his head. “I’ve got stuff going on.”
Mia straightens to her full height—all six feet—and levels him with a stern look. “You’re coming to dinner.”
He ducks his chin to hide a grin. “Well, okay then.”
Once I grab my stuff—and offer Theo the last cupcake, which he devours in two bites—Mia steers me out the door. “I need to make one quick stop at the coffee shop,” I say, turning us in that direction. “We’ve got to convince Mabel to come to dinner too.”