20. Logan
20
LOGAN
W hat just happened?
She just dumped me?
Did I hear her right? She can’t seriously never want to see me again, right?
How can someone throw someone they love away so easily?
They can’t, but they can definitely throw away someone they were using.
My mind races, struggling to grasp the reality of what just happened. This can’t be real. One minute, we walked together, and the next, she tells me she never wants to see me again. My chest feels tight like I can’t breathe.
What just happened?
I replay the conversation in my head, trying to make sense of it. Serena was angry, accusing me of lying, of using her, of buying the building out from under her. But that’s not true. I didn’t buy the building, and I’m not dating anyone else.
I didn’t do any of the things she’s convinced I did. But she didn’t even give me a chance to explain or talk it out. She just accused and judged. She looked at me with such anger and hurt in her eyes, and I had no idea how to make it right. It all happened so fast, like a wave crashing over me before I even knew it was coming.
She didn’t want to listen. She didn’t believe me.
It hurts more than I want to admit. I thought what we had was real. I thought we were building something together.
But now? Now, I don’t even know what to think. I guess it’s better that I learned now, right? Before things got even more serious. If she’s willing to believe the worst of me without even asking, maybe it’s better this way.
But that thought doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. The thought of her walking away, of never seeing her again, is like a knife to the gut. I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t how it was supposed to end.
I start walking, my feet carrying me on autopilot. I don’t even know where I’m going at first. I could go home, back to my empty apartment where everything reminds me of her, but the thought makes my stomach turn. I don’t want to be alone right now. I need a distraction, something to take my mind off this mess, even if just for a little while.
I call my driver, knowing where I need to go to distract myself.
“Can you come grab me? I need to go to Dee’s.”
“Absolutely, drop a pin, and I’ll be right there,” he replies.
“Thanks.”
I drop the pin and before I know it, I’m standing outside my sister’s house. The lights are on, and I can hear the faint sound of a TV from inside. I knock lightly on the door, not wanting to startle anyone but also hoping Dee is up and willing to let me crash here for a bit.
The door swings open, and I’m greeted by chaos. Abby is bouncing off the walls, literally jumping from the couch to the floor with a superhero cape tied around her neck. Dee stands in the middle of it all, looking frazzled, her hair pulled back into a messy bun and dark circles under her eyes. She looks like she’s on the edge of losing it.
“Logan!” she exclaims, relief flooding her voice as she sees me. “Thank God you’re here. I’m about to lose my mind with these three tonight.”
I glance around, noticing that her twins are nowhere to be seen. “Where are the twins?”
She sighs, pointing toward the hallway. “I’m trying to get them down, but Abby refuses to go to bed. Every time they’re close, she wakes them up. She’s convinced she’s on some mission to save the world and won’t settle down.”
I smile despite the heaviness in my chest. Abby’s always been a handful, but I love her boundless energy. “Why don’t you get the twins to bed, and I’ll take care of Abby?”
Dee looks at me like I’ve just offered her a lifeline. “Are you sure? She’s been at it for hours.”
“I’ve got this,” I reassure her. “Go get some rest. I’ll take care of our little superhero.”
Dee doesn’t need to be told twice. She gives me a grateful smile and heads down the hallway to check on the twins, leaving me alone with Abby. I turn to my niece, who’s now standing on the couch with her arms stretched out like she’s about to fly.
“Hey, Abby,” I call out, catching her attention. “Wanna watch a movie with me?”
She looks at me, her big eyes sparkling with excitement. “Can we watch Frozen again, Uncle Logan? Please?”
I chuckle. “You’ve seen that movie a hundred times. Are you sure you don’t want to watch something else?”
“Nope!” she says, shaking her head emphatically. “I want to watch Frozen . Pleeeeeease?”
I can never say no to that face. “Alright, Frozen it is.”
We settle down on the couch, and I grab the remote to start the movie. Abby snuggles up beside me, her head resting on my arm as the familiar opening notes of the movie begin to play. As the movie goes on, I can feel some of the tension in my chest ease. Abby’s joy is infectious, and for a little while, I can forget about everything else.
By the time the movie ends, Abby’s eyelids are drooping, and she’s fighting to stay awake. I scoop her up in my arms, her tiny body warm and heavy.
“Come on, kiddo, it’s time for bed,” I whisper as I carry her down the hallway to her room.
She mumbles something incoherent, but she doesn’t resist as I tuck her into bed. I pull the covers up to her chin and sit beside her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
“Can you read me a story, Uncle Logan?” she asks, her voice soft and sleepy.
“Of course,” I reply, reaching for the book on her nightstand. It’s one of her favorites, a story about a brave little girl who saves her kingdom from an evil sorcerer. I read to her, my voice low and soothing, and it doesn’t take long before she’s fast asleep.
I sit there for a moment longer, watching her breathe softly, her face peaceful in sleep. She looks so innocent, so free from the worries and burdens that weigh me down. I envy her, in a way. I wish I could return to when life was that simple.
When I finally get up and leave the room, I find Dee in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with her eyes closed, a cup of tea in her hands. She looks exhausted, but there’s a small smile on her face.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she says without opening her eyes. “Abby’s a whirlwind, and the twins aren’t much easier.”
“I’m happy to help,” I say, sitting at the kitchen table. “You need a break every now and then.”
Dee finally opens her eyes and looks at me, her smile fading as she studies my face. “What’s going on, Logan? You look like you’ve been through the wringer.”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “It’s Serena.”
She raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.
“We had a fight,” I say, the words feeling heavy in my mouth. “I don’t even know what happened, Dee. One minute, we were walking, and the next, she’s accusing me of lying, of using her, of doing things I haven’t done. And then she just…she just walked away.”
Her expression softens, and she sets her tea down on the counter, coming over to sit beside me. “Did she say why she thinks you’re lying?”
“She thinks I’m buying the building where her store is. I guess she found out that our family was involved, but she didn’t even give me a chance to explain that I had nothing to do with it. She also thinks I’m seeing other women behind her back, which is completely ridiculous.”
She frowns, leaning back in her chair. “That doesn’t sound like Serena. She’s always seemed so level-headed. Did something happen to make her think you’re lying?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, frustration lacing my voice. “She said she heard things from other people, but none of it’s true. I don’t know how to make her believe that.”
“Logan, if she heard something from other people, maybe they’re the ones trying to mess with her head. Or maybe she’s just overwhelmed and doesn’t know who to trust.”
“Maybe,” I say, though the thought doesn’t make me feel any better. “But why wouldn’t she trust me? I thought she knew me better than that.”
Dee reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Relationships are hard, Logan. Even the best ones have moments like this. It’s easy to get caught up in the emotions and misunderstandings, especially when there’s so much at stake. You also have to take into account that the two of you haven’t known each other very long, and neither of you owes the other anything. Trust takes time, and you and our family don’t have the best reputation with that.”
“I know, but it hurts that she didn’t even give me a chance to explain. She just made up her mind and walked away.”
Dee looks at me with sympathy, her eyes softening. “Maybe she just needs some time to cool off. People say things they don’t mean when they’re upset. Give her some space, and then try talking to her again. If she loves you, she’ll come around.”
“I hope you’re right. I don’t want to lose her, Dee.”
“You’re not going to lose her, Logan. She’s probably just scared. But if you’re honest with her, if you show her that, she’ll come back.”
“I hope you’re right. I just don’t know how to fix this mess. I feel like everything’s falling apart, and I’m powerless to stop it.”
Dee gives my hand one more reassuring squeeze before standing up. “Sometimes, all you can do is be patient and let things settle. I know it’s hard, but if you care about Serena, show her that. Keep being the person she fell for.”
I appreciate her words, even if they don’t entirely ease the knot of worry in my chest. “Thanks, Dee. I needed to hear that.”
She heads back to the kitchen, and I get up to leave. As I’m heading out, I take one last look at Abby’s room. The sight of her sleeping peacefully makes me smile, even if it’s bittersweet. I wish I could feel that same sense of calm right now.
I step outside into the cool night air, hoping it might clear my head a bit. My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it, not wanting to get pulled back into the swirling chaos of social media or the pressure of unanswered messages. I need a moment to breathe.
I get into my car, and my driver heads back to my empty home. My thoughts keep circling back to Serena. I replay our last conversation, trying to pinpoint where things went wrong. Her accusations seem so out of place compared to the woman I know—the woman I thought I was building something real with.
Eventually, we pull up to my place, but I don’t have the energy to go inside. Instead, I walk around to the back and fall into a chaise lounge by my pool, staring up at the night sky. The stars seem distant and unreachable, much like the clarity I seek. I want to fix things with Serena, but right now, I don’t even know where to start.
All of this is my family’s doing, and I need to figure out how to stop them from ruining one of the best things in my life. If I don’t, I could lose the only woman I’ve ever loved.