12. Logan
12
LOGAN
I ’m not sure what words just came out of my mouth, but the look on my mom’s face makes it all worth it.
It feels right, regardless.
Those words feel right.
“You’re not serious,” my mother spits. “Have you lost your damn mind?”
“No, not at all. I’ve never been more certain of anything before in my life.”
“Logan,” Serena says softly.
“I will not allow you to disrespect her. Who causes a scene at their granddaughter’s birthday party anyway?”
“Logan,” Mom growls. “I forbid you to marry her. You’re already engaged to Nikki Westerheide. You know this.”
“I haven’t proposed to anyone except for Serena, and she accepted. Nikki Westerheide is some sick and twisted arranged marriage that you guys planned with her parents.”
“She’s perfect for you. She’s got a good pedigree and…”
“She’s not a damn dog. Besides, I’m certain that you invited her to this party, and she couldn’t even show up.”
“That’s because Abby threw chocolate milk at her the last time she was here.”
“If Abby doesn’t like someone, there’s a reason.”
“She is four. She doesn’t like anyone.”
“She loves Serena.”
“She’s four.”
“Don’t disrespect my fiancé again,” I tell her as I link my hand with Serena’s and lead her off.
“What in the hell was that?” she asks.
“Ummm, I’m not sure. I…I kind of reacted and…”
“Logan, you just lied to your mother and brought me into your lie. I’m not okay with that.”
“It was the only way to get her to stop. She’s planning a wedding for me and Nikki that neither of us want …”
“That’s not my problem.”
“Serena, don’t be mad.”
“How can you tell me to not be mad? You just brought me into a lie.”
“It doesn’t have to be a lie.”
“It is a lie.”
“Serena, this would actually be the best option for us.”
“Have you been drinking? What’s wrong with you?”
“No, I haven’t been drinking. Seriously, this is genius.”
“Why?” she sighs.
“Because I can buy your building, and you don’t have to worry about the eviction. An engagement to you will make whatever deal my parents have with the Westerheides null and void which means that I don’t get forced into something I don’t want to do.”
“Buy my building? No. You told me that you would be able to get the eviction turned over or whatever if Abby was happy with her party.”
“Turns out I don’t have that kind of power. He’s mostly evicting you because he had a better offer for more rent on that storefront. You were grandfathered in at the old rent rates and…”
“So, you lied to me? Were you going to tell me?”
“I can fix this, Serena.”
“No, because I’m not going to allow you to buy someone so that I can continue to run my store. I won’t be indebted to anyone, especially to a man whom I’ve just caught in two lies.”
“Serena,” I sigh as I take a step toward her.
“I am working right now, Logan. I have things that I need to take care of, and they don’t entail fighting with you or getting pulled into your family drama. Count me out.”
What does that mean?
She turns on her heel and walks away quickly.
I feel their eyes on me before I see them.
Shit. I do not want to deal with the assholeness that is the majority of my family.
The party’s still in full swing, kids laughing, parents chatting, but the air around me thickens with every step my parents take toward me. I know this isn’t going to be good.
My mother’s standing off to the side, her arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line. My father is beside her, his expression stony. Chaz, my douchebag of an older brother, is there too, leaning against the wall with that smug, condescending look he’s perfected over the years. The three of them, united in their disapproval, wait for me to join their little tribunal.
My father steps forward, his voice low but firm. “Logan, we need to talk. Now.”
I nod, following them as they lead me away from the crowd to a quieter corner inside the house. The moment we’re out of earshot, my mother turns on me, her voice dripping with disdain.
“What on earth are you thinking, Logan? A party planner? Really? Have you lost your mind?”
My jaw clenches, but I force myself to stay calm. “Her name is Serena, Mom. And yes, I’m thinking clearly. I’m engaged to her because I love her.”
“Love?” Chaz snorts, pushing off the wall to stand closer, his voice laced with sarcasm. “You don’t even know the meaning of the word. She’s a gold digger, Logan. Open your eyes. She sees the family name, the money, and she’s latching on for dear life.”
“That’s not true,” I reply, my voice hardening. “She isn’t like that. You don’t even know her.”
My father steps in now, his tone colder than usual. “We don’t need to know her, Logan. We see what she’s after. She dresses like trailer trash, for God’s sake. What kind of impression does that make? You’re tarnishing our reputation by even being seen with her, let alone considering marrying her.”
“Tarnishing the family name?” I chuckle. “Chaz’s three DUIs are tarnishing the family name. Your allegations of embezzlement, mom’s alcohol problem, Tate’s drug problem—those are things that are bad for the family name. Or maybe the number of prostitutes you’ve gotten caught with also might have done it.”
“How dare you,” my mother growls as she slaps me across the face.
“I changed my last name for a reason. I built my company from the ground up. I have busted my ass to make a legacy for myself.”
“And you’re about to ruin it with this little bitch,” Chaz laughs. “You need a certain type of woman and she sure as hell isn’t it. You can’t be seen at functions with her. You’ll be the laughingstock of our world.”
“You’re the laughingstock of everyone,” I growl. “What would you know about any woman? You’ve been divorced three times, and you’re engaged to another woman that you can’t even be faithful to. You have four kids from four women, and you don’t even see them.”
“Oh look, little Logy up on his high horse as usual,” Chaz slurs.
Of course, he’s drunk.
My parents have spent thousands on expensive rehabs to help him, and it never sticks.
My fists clench at my sides, but I keep them down. “You’re wrong. Serena is talented, kind, and?—”
“She’s beneath you,” my mother interrupts, her voice rising in frustration. “This is not how we raised you, Logan. You’re meant to marry someone of your own standing, someone who understands our world. She is not that person. She has pink hair, for goodness sake!”
Chaz jumps in again, his words cutting deep. “Do you even realize what you’re risking here? The business, the family legacy—everything we’ve worked for? And for what? Some girl who doesn’t even belong in the same room as us?”
I can feel my pulse quickening, anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Serena belongs wherever I say she does. And I don’t care about your ‘legacy.’ I care about her.”
My father’s expression darkens, and he takes a step closer, his voice deadly calm. “Then you’d better start caring, Logan. Because if you don’t end this engagement, you’re out. Out of the business, out of the will, out of everything.”
I have my own business, for Christ’s sake. I don’t need to be in theirs.
“We called in favors for your little tech business,” my mother cackles. “Have fun keeping any of your customers without our connections.”
“I’ve built this business from the ground up with my hard work and…”
“Bullshit. We all knew you needed to get this out of your system. You wouldn’t be anything without our family name,” my mother sneers.
She can’t be serious right now.
Wouldn’t they be trying to sabotage me, though, just to prove their point? Is she just talking out of her ass and trying to manipulate me?
That is her favorite game to play.
Then, the weight of my father’s words hits me like a punch to the gut, but I refuse to back down. “You’re seriously going to disown me because I’m marrying someone you don’t approve of? Last I checked, this is the 21 st century.”
“We’re trying to protect you, Logan. She’s not the right choice. You’ll regret this. We’re giving you a chance to think clearly, to make the right decision.”
Chaz smirks, folding his arms across his chest. “Listen to them, Logan. Don’t throw everything away for a mistake.”
I look at each of them in turn, seeing the judgment, the disdain, the complete lack of understanding. They’ve already made up their minds about Serena, and nothing I say will change that.
“I’m not making a mistake,” I say, my voice steady. “But if you can’t accept Serena, then maybe I don’t belong in this family after all.”
Their silence is deafening, a wall that slams down between us. My father’s eyes narrow, my mother’s lips tremble slightly, and Chaz just shakes his head, disbelief etched on his face.
“You’re making the biggest mistake of your life,” my father finally says, his voice cold and final.
“Maybe,” I reply, turning on my heel and walking away from them, back toward the party, back toward Serena. “But it’s mine to make.”
“Uncle Logy, Uncle Logy!” Abby squeals as she comes racing into the house. “Look what Serena did!”
Abby’s brown hair has strips of bright pink hair clipped into it. My mother gasps and grabs my father’s arm.
“Are you kidding me?” she breathes. “Abby, get those out right now.”
“No!” Abby yells defiantly as she stomps her foot.
“Deirdre!” my mother screams loudly. “Look at this!”
Dee comes running into the kitchen, clearly thinking that someone is dying, and looks at my mother in shock.
“What?”
“Her hair! Look at what that wretched woman did to her beautiful hair! A little girl doesn’t need…”
“Oh jeez, Mom, lighten up,” Dee sighs. “They’re clip-ins and come right out. It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s a huge deal.”
“I don’t have time for this. It’s my daughter’s birthday and it’s the first day that she’s had nothing but joy on her face. If that wretched woman is the cause of it, I don’t care what you say.”
Dee takes Abby’s hand, and they start to walk off. My mother reaches down and grabs a handful of the pink hair. Abby screams out as one of the pieces is ripped out. Dee whips around and looks as though she’s about to slam my mother into a wall.
Can’t say that anyone would blame her.
“Don’t you ever put your hands on my daughter again,” she hisses as she puts herself in between Abby and Mom. “You can leave now. You’re not welcome here anymore.”
“Do you see what that woman has caused?” Mom snaps at me.
“ You’re that woman, Mom. You’re the one who thought ripping out your granddaughter’s hair was a good idea,” I interject.
“Leave, now,” Dee repeats. “Don’t think I won’t call the police to have you removed and report that you put your hands on my daughter.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“I think you know I will without hesitation.”
“Let’s go,” my father says quickly as he grabs my mom’s arm.
The three of them walk out without a word. Abby runs back outside, and my sister watches as my parents and brother leave the house. She looks back at me with wide eyes, like she’s ready to cry. She looks so defeated.
“I’m proud of you.”
“I’m proud of you for standing up to them. That’s a big deal.”
“Right back at you, sis.”
“I’m tired of her telling me how to raise my kids but not attempting to have any sort of relationship with them at all. It’s infuriating. The way she talks about Abby and…I won’t stand for it any longer.”
I engulf my sister in a hug. “Well, we might have both just been booted out of the family.”
“Was that what they threatened you with?”
“Yup.”
“Do they not know you’re a billionaire?”
“Mom tried to tell me that if I didn’t end it with Serena, all of that would go away because they’re the only reason I’m successful.”
“If anything, they probably tried to hinder your success at every turn.”
“That’s what I thought. They can claim whatever they want. I don’t care. I know how much work I’ve put in and all the amazing things I’ve accomplished. They won’t take that from me.”
“Good for you. But…I’m a little confused. How did you and Serena suddenly go from boyfriend/girlfriend to engaged.”
“I may have told a little white lie. I reacted too quickly when they were being assholes to her.”
“And how did Serena take the news?”
“Not well.”
Dee laughs and nods before she smiles at me. “You might want to go fix that, baby bro.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I chuckle as I walk back outside.
I hope she lets me fix it, anyway.