THIRTY-FIVE
LOGAN
Originally, I had planned to leave for the weekend to visit my parents up in the mountains.
I didn’t want to leave Dakota, but my mother was a force to be reckoned with.
When Dakota found out I was going up into the mountains she was ecstatic.
She begged me to let her come, not knowing that I was visiting my parents. When she found out her smile wavered and she took back what she said.
I didn’t mind letting her meet my family. She was intelligent, kind, joyous and overall a beautiful woman. The idea scared her but she put on a brave face and was back to being excited.
So naturally, wherever Dakota went, the rest of us followed. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I knew she needed to get away after a dreadful two months of us being apart from each other.
She spent half of the flight asleep and the other half stuffing her face with food. The guys and I quickly understood that she was stress eating—she wasn’t the biggest fan of flying.
Now, her and I were in my car, driving up to the mountains while Chase and Kaden followed behind us in Kaden’s car.
* * *
“You brought your friends! That’s amazing!” my mother beamed as she charged towards me.
Susanna was about five foot tall with long brown curls cascading down her back. Her baby blue eyes always glistened even in the darkest days, and the energy that surrounded her could recharge anyone. I liked coming back here.
She engulfed me in her arms before doing the same to Chase and Kaden.
She let out a surprised gasp as her eyes landed on Dakota. She looked at me with hopeful eyes and Dakota entwined her fingers with mine.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Mrs Hale,” she smiled.
“It’s a miracle!” my mother gasped, putting both hands on her head before yanking Dakota into her arms. “It’s so lovely to meet you, sweetheart. But call me Susanna. Or mom. Or anything.”
“Mom, please,” I sighed and the look on her face was like never before seen excitement. With her smile not wavering, she shooed me away and only then did I realize how badly she wanted this for me.
“I’m so happy for you baby,” she swooned, squeezing my cheek in her hand and I smiled, pulling her hand off my face. Unfortunately, I would never be a grown man in her eyes.
The guys and I all knew the minute my mother had a gut feeling that I was ill, she’d drop everything and show up at our front door.
I’d be forced to stay in bed while she pampered and catered to my every need.
It would always end up with her cuddling me, and the first time it happened I had to remind her that I was a grown man who didn’t need to be coddled.
All she did in response was hold me tighter and kiss the top of my head whispering, “I know.” I knew then and there that it wasn’t for me, but for her. I was her only child, and according to her, I grew up way too fast.
“Austin! Come meet Logan’s precious girlfriend!” she called out to my dad as she whipped around, disappearing into the house.
Dakota’s body relaxed beside mine as she let go of my hand.
“Before you get mad at me,” she started, turning to look at all three of us. “Did you see the pure joy on his mother’s face. How could I rip that away from her,” she defensively said.
“It was a selfish decision to make,” Kaden announced—sounding bitter—and Chase agreed.
Dakota glanced over at me for some sort of assurance and I couldn’t help but grin.
“Logan,” Kaden almost reprimanded, and I shifted my eyes to him.
“I’m sure you can pretend for a weekend, can’t you?” I asked, pulling Dakota to my side. He was only pissed because he’d have to keep his hands off of her all weekend.
“Just do it for Susanna,” Chase said to Kaden, patting his shoulder. “After this weekend, we’ll all go back to normal.”
I gave him a single nod of confirmation before swinging my arm over Dakota’s shoulder. I led her toward the house, and she nervously looked up at me.
“I’m in so much trouble when we get home,” she whispered, and I couldn’t help but smile as I kissed her forehead.
“He knows you meant well.”
We entered the house, and my dad made his way down the stairs, wearing his usual denim jeans and plaid shirt.
“Logan! My boy!”
I internally cringed at the nickname. He wrapped his arms around me in a firm manner before taking Dakota’s hand and kissing the back of it.
“You definitely get your chivalrous tendencies from your father,” she smiled up at me, and my father chuckled.
“Now, you tell me if he forced you and you need some help, alright?” my father whispered to Dakota, making her laugh.
“I can’t say right now, he’s standing right here,” she whispered back, entertaining him, and my mother shook her head, swatting my father’s arm.
Lucy—one of my parents’ dogs—rushed toward us, and Dakota let out a shriek, dropping to her knees in excitement.
“Hi baby,” she cooed, and the great pyrenees wagged her tail in excitement as Dakota rubbed her. “You’re adorable,” she beamed, and my mother chuckled.
“I don’t think you’ll be getting rid of her anytime soon,” my father pointed out, but Dakota only shook her head.
“I don’t think I want to.”
Dakota was going to share my bedroom with me, so my mother gave Chase and Kaden each their own rooms. Another thing they weren’t happy about but couldn’t argue with the apology eyes Dakota kept giving them.
“Your mom’s letting us share a room?” Dakota groaned, lifting her suitcase onto the bed. She unzipped it and began unpacking her clothes.
My parents were extremely religious, which was part of the reason why I moved. Most importantly, why I keep certain details about my life private. I love Austin and Susanna, and didn’t want my personal life to cause any tension between us.
“Yes. Her only rule is no sex,” I answered, and her head snapped up to me.
“Oh.” I watched the most innocent look of realization flash across her face, and I couldn’t help but make my way over to her.
“It’s one rule we won’t follow,” I reassured her, wrapping my arms around her waist, and her eyes grew wide.
“But we have to,” she whispered as though she was afraid of being heard—caught. “We have to respect your parents, Logan. No—“ she playfully hit my arm with her folded t-shirt. “Premarital—“ hit “Sex—“ hit “Under—“ hit “Their—“ hit “Roof.”
“So, you’re going to spend three nights in this bed with me without us having sex?”
“Yes,” she confidently said. “You could learn a thing or two about self control, don’t you think, Professor?” she pushed her ass back against me and I groaned, looking down.
“No,” I sighed, burying my face in her neck, and she giggled, holding onto the side of my neck.
“Wait…” she trailed off, turning around to face me. “You can only have me for one night.”
I ran my tongue on the inside of my cheek as I let go of her. “Just don’t get caught.”
She nodded, seeming hesitant at first.
After I fell back on the bed, she didn’t miss her chance to straddle my lap. “I thought you were Italian,” she suddenly said in confusion.
I couldn’t help but smile as I grabbed her hips.
“Austin and Susanna are my adoptive parents,” I explained, and she made an O with her lips in understanding. Fuck, her lips. She must’ve felt my reaction under her because her eyes widened and she hit my chest.
“Focus.”
I grinned. “My biological parents passed away when I was young, and Susanna—being my moms best friend—promised to adopt me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” her face softened. “Do you keep in contact with your biological parent’s family?”
I nodded. “Yes, I visit my grandparents often.”
She shifted on my lap, looking down at her hands. “Your parents seem really sweet,” she smiled, and I noticed something flash behind her eyes before she masked it.
She leaned forward, pecked my lips and moved back, but I held her waist, stopping her. “What is it?”
She only shook her head, offering a convincing smile that I didn’t believe.
“Dakota.”
“It’s nothing, sir,” she leaned in to peck my lips, then left a trail of kisses up my jawline. My eyes fell shut, and she rolled her hips once, making me grip her hips.
She smiled against my ear before hopping off to continue unpacking. She feigned innocence, and I shook my head.
After adjusting myself—which she giggled at—I left the room.
When I closed the door behind myself, I spotted my mom and Kaden in the doorway of his room. She reached up to squeeze his cheeks, and he stood in the most uncomfortable way I had ever seen.
“Mom, can you give us a minute, please?” I asked, and she whipped around, nodding.
“Your dad just started the fire. Tell your other handsome friend and come downstairs.”
With that, she left, and Kaden followed me to Chase’s room. I opened the door, having Kaden close it.
“Knocking still applies here,” he reminded the two of us. He was sitting on the edge of the bed with his cellphone in his hands.
“My parents’ house, my rules,” I said as I sat down on his bed. “Because of how fucking nice she is, she decided to spend a night with each of us,” I explained and they seemed taken aback. “I’m telling you so that you can help her not get caught.”
“You seem to not like that idea,” Kaden happily pointed out as he crossed his arms over his chest. The fucker always seemed to find amusement at my inconvenience.
“What? Her sneaking around my parents house at night? No fucking shit,” I almost snapped but that only pleased him even more.
“Easy,” Chase smiled, also finding humor in this.
“I fucking hate both of you,” I got up and Chase chuckled while Kaden’s face morphed into a victorious grin.
“She doesn’t make being selfish easy, does she?” Chase rhetorically asked and I shook my head. “But we agreed to share,” he reminded both of us.
We never had any issues with sharing, but sometimes Kaden and I just couldn’t help ourselves.
“Get your head straight before I do it for you,” he warned and my chest rose and fell with a sigh. Kaden, as usual, didn’t seem to pay him any mind and headed for the door.
We collectively decided to head downstairs and found my mom in the kitchen. Right as we were about to pass her, she stopped both Chase and Kaden.
I slipped out the backdoor to find Dakota helping my dad chop some wood. She lifted an axe, slamming it into the wood but failed miserably.
My dad chuckled, giving her an encouraging pat and she tried again but failed even worse. Her angry expression vanished as soon as she saw me, and I couldn’t contain my smile.
“Please, tell me you’re here to save me,” she heavily sighed, handing my dad the axe.
“Of course,” I extended my hand to her, leading her back into the house. “Five minutes?” I leaned down to whisper, knowing I didn’t need to say more.
With rosy cheeks she nodded up at me and I hugged her from behind. I buried my face in the crease of her neck, inhaling her sweet scent and she chuckled.
“Oh, Logan!” Susanna called out, stopping both of us as we passed the living room. “How would you feel about me divorcing your father and marrying both Chase and Kaden?” she asked and I couldn’t help but sigh. “Would you approve of that?”
“Mom,” I protested and a look of pure innocence took over her face as she lifted her hands in the air.
“What?” she defensively asked.
Austin entered the living room and I noticed Dakota’s eyes shifting between Chase and Kaden.
“Your wife wants to divorce you,” I said, making him chuckle.
“Over my dead goddamn body,” he effortlessly replied and I noticed the bashful smile spreading across my mom’s face.
Thirty years and she still gets shy around him.
I couldn’t help my grip on Dakota’s hand tightening, and she glanced down at our entwined fingers then back up at me.
I kept my eyes on my mom, but didn’t miss the smile on Dakota’s face as she leaned closer to me.
“That woman is mine, and I’m watching both of y’all,” he said to both men on either side of my mother and Chase grinned.
“He can’t fight both of us at the same time,” Chase shrugged and Kaden nodded in confirmation.
“Yeah?” Austin smirked, pushing up the sleeves of his plaid shirt and my mom broke out in laughter.
“Okay, okay. You don’t have to fight over me,” she dramatically sighed, getting to her feet.
She rested her hand on Austin’s chest and reached up, pecking his lips before turning to face us.
“We have a dinner to get to, so please,” she paused, turning to look at me. “Don’t burn my goddamn house down.”
I’ve heard that before.
The radio was playing, and as soon as I heard the intro to Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley, I sighed.
Susanna shrieked, and rushed over to the radio, turning up the volume incredibly high—all while tapping her foot.
Out of instinct, my dad made an effort to move back one of the sofas and as expected, they danced the entire living area full.
Dakota broke out in a broad smile, glancing up at me with glistening eyes of excitement.
Soon, my mother’s eyes landed on me and instinctively, I shook my head. But, that didn’t stop her. She had one arm around my waist and grabbed my hand before dragging me to the center of the room. Chase chuckled, and Kaden clearly found just as much amusement in this situation.
Reluctantly, I entertained my mother, and soon enough, Dakota was swept up by my father.
Her laughter filled the space, disappearing between the music every so often. Kaden was Susanna’s next target and suddenly, he wasn’t smiling anymore.
I fell down beside Chase, watching Kaden uncomfortably move around with my mother since he wasn’t one for dancing, but still decided to entertain her.
“Look at her,” Chase leaned over to say, and when my eyes landed on Dakota, my heart warmed at the sight of her.
With her head thrown back in laughter, her long hair draped down her back.
She really was all I ever needed. I don’t think she’d ever be able to comprehend how much I love her… crave her. She was my darkest desires morphed into a drug that fueled me.
Every second, every hour. All I could think about was her.
She had consumed so much of my brain capacity that not being near her made me physically ill.
The constant need to touch her, taste her and even smell her had overridden who I was before.
I didn’t know a life without Dakota anymore, and every part of me never wanted to go back.