Inevitable (28 page)

“He probably has some other bar he picks them up at.” I laughed, pretending not to care.

She shook her head, still smiling. The girl knew me better than anyone.

“Caleb thinks Logan is dating someone and just wants to keep it quiet.” Her brows rose. “But I think he has a crush on a certain blonde teacher.” She slapped my knee and stood, walking into the kitchen with her empty plate.

What if was dating someone? Would he tell me? It’s not like I’ve ever asked and I know there’s still a lot of things about him I don’t know. What if it was Mackenzie? Ugh! I cringed. It was obvious from the previous interactions I’d witnessed with him and Mackenzie, she was interested. Logan made sure to keep Mark and me apart whenever Julia came around with him, and I wondered what exactly Logan knew about my past with the tramp.

I chuckled to myself, rolling my eyes. It wasn’t my business. If Logan wanted to share something with me then he would.

“So, just friends, huh?” Hilary said, walking back out with another slice and slouched down on the couch.

I sat up and looked her straight in the eye. “Why would I lie to you? Logan is fun to be around and Oliver is a great kid; I would never want to hurt him by fooling around with his father.”

Hilary nodded her head but still seemed unconvinced.

“I was over there just last weekend watching a movie in the theatre they have in their basement. You have got to come watch a movie there. I mean it’s amazing and—”

“Cassandra, what happened when you were there?”

“We watched a movie.
Jurassic Park
to be exact.” Poor Oliver only made it half way through before he ran from the room terrified. Bad choice of movie. I scrunched my brow but slowly understood her question. I puffed out an exasperated breath. “Oliver sat between us for goodness sake. It’s completely platonic, I swear.”

Hilary scoffed and picked up her glass of soda.

I was not letting up until she believed me. I was determined for her to understand that what Logan and I had was strictly a friendship. “Honestly, I don’t even think Logan feels that way about me anymore. I can’t remember the last time he blatantly hit on me. It’s been all house related talk, helping him furnish Julia’s secret new place which is only so I’ll win the little bet I have going with him.”

“Logan West wants to sleep with you. I can see it clearly every time he’s around.” Hilary laughed, looking at me like I was blind.

I groaned, setting my plate on the coffee table. “I am not kidding. Last week, I bent over right in front of him to tie my shoes and I glanced back and he wasn’t even looking! Not even a friendly appreciative glance. I work hard for this ass!”

Hilary’s eyes flew open wide chuckling as she attempted to choke down her drink.

“Oh my God, Cassandra!” Hilary shrieked. “You glanced back! So what, you were hoping he was checking you out?”

“No, I just…I don’t know. But trust me, the man no longer wants to sleep with me. Which is good, since I’m spending Christmas with him.”

“Christmas?” Hilary raised her brows.

“Yeah, I’m sending my mom on a cruise with some of my grandparents’ savings I inherited, so I’ll be alone. Logan helped me pick out the cruise line and set everything up for her. It was actually Oliver who invited me over though.”

“So then you’re going?”

I nodded. “I think it will be fun. I mean you should have seen the shorts I was wearing when I bent over! He didn’t even give the tiniest glance or single perverted remark. It was…bizarre.” I laughed.

“You’re crazy!” She giggled. “What are you going to get him? For Christmas, I mean.”

“I have no clue.” I had been thinking about it ever since Oliver invited me. “What are you getting Caleb?”

“Nothing!” Hilary shook her head. “We’re just friends too.”

“Sure you are.” I giggled. “For the record, Caleb has never
not
checked out your ass.”

“Yeah, I know,” she said softly. “I like him and I know he likes me but…he won’t make a move and I’m too terrified he’ll reject me.”

“I don’t get it. Maybe he’s afraid to?”

We both burst into a fit of giggles. Caleb had never been afraid of making a move on a girl.

“Maybe you could…ask Logan? I mean, I know him and Caleb talk a lot,” she asked, hesitantly.

“All right, I’ll see what I can pry out of him. But if he confirms that Caleb is waiting for you to make the first move,” I pointed my finger at her, “you better do it!”

I pulled myself from bed and headed into the bathroom. There was only one week left until Christmas, and today was a Saturday to take it easy and hang out with my mother before she left for her cruise.

Once I grabbed my purse, keys, and phone, I opened my morning text from Logan.

Have a wonderful day with your mother, sweetheart

After sending back a cheerful but quick reply, I was in my car, headed to Haven. I instantly found my mother’s short, dirty-blond hair in the back of the restaurant.
I smiled, looking forward to spending the day with her, and headed over.

Stopping a few feet away, I noticed the middle-aged man with a trimmed mustache wearing jeans and a grey polo. He was the same guy I saw her talking to at the carnival back in August. Hesitantly, I walked over and gave her quick hug, warily eyeing her guest.

“Cassandra dear, this is my friend, George.” Mom smiled brighter than usual and reluctantly I shook his hand.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Cassandra. Your mother has told me so much about you. I feel like we’ve already met.”

I nodded, pulling on a tight polite smile before shooting my mother a confused glance.
Who the hell was this guy?

I took a seat across from them in the booth and I awkwardly waited for her to explain. Christmas was always spent with mother-daughter bonding, and this year with her going on the cruise, our spending today together was a huge deal for me.

Once I realized my mother was too busy swooning over the man beside her than to ask how my week had been going, I sighed. “So, George, do you work with my mother?”

He looked over at her and smiled. “No, we met at the prison when she was bringing in some scumbag. I’m a guard there. The prisoner tried to cop a feel from your mother and I stepped in. She felt she owed me for my help, so she agreed to have coffee with me after our shift.”

“I did not feel obligated.” My mother giggled, pulling his hand into hers. “I had been secretly eyeing you for a while.”

I felt a small wave of repulsion hit me as I watched my mother nuzzle her nose with his. I swallowed, looking anywhere but across the table. Mom used to date when I was younger, but none of the men ever lasted long and thanks to my grandfather and his shotgun, they rarely got to know me. By the time I was a teenager she had stopped dating altogether, her sadness undeniable. She just gave up on finding the right guy.

“So, you work at the prison? Must be an interesting job.” What was I supposed to talk about? I had no clue what else to ask. Luckily, the waitress finally decided to stroll over, taking her sweet time. My mother leaned over, planting a long, lingering kiss on his lips.

I made a face and muttered. “I’ll take a vodka, straight.”

It was just past noon and I rarely drank liquor, but I was going to need it if I was expected to endure any more of my mother’s touchy feely, happy couple time with a stranger. I wanted her to be happy, I really did, but preferably in the privacy of her own home, not on the one day we were supposed to spend bonding.

“Vodka?” My mother cut in, insulted, then looked up to the elderly waitress. “She’s kidding, bring her a Coke.”

I rolled my eyes, then met my mother’s disapproving glare. I never felt more like a child as I looked up at the waitress and nodded for the Coke. I let out a heavy sigh, holding up the menu to block my sight.

“I hope you don’t mind me coming along today, Cassandra,” George finally said.

“No, not at all. We were just going to spend the day at the salon and then a movie. Hope you don’t mind chic flicks.” I peeked over my menu, hoping he would take a hint.

“Actually, George and I wanted to have lunch and then the movie. I need to skip the salon today, honey. We um…sort of made plans for tonight.” She looked up at me, her eyes pleading for me to understand and let her off the hook.

My menu dropped from my hands, smacking on the table. “What? But you’re leaving tomorrow for your cruise.” My voice grew an octave higher, full of frustration and hurt.

Her expression softened. “I know and that’s why we made plans tonight. George is going with me. We were going to stay at a hotel closer to the airport tonight so you wouldn’t have to drive me so early in the morning,” she explained, offering me an apologetic smile.

I blew out a deep breath, looking away from both of them, choosing not to think about what was going to take place in said hotel room. I didn’t want to ruin their time together. My mother deserved to be happy.

“Yeah, no problem.” I caved. “I’m glad you’ll be going with her.” I looked at George and gave him a friendly smile.

“Thank you, Cassandra. I hope we can spend more time together after the holidays. Your mother is quite the lady; I plan on sticking around as long as she’ll have me.” George’s voice was optimistic, which brought a genuine smile to my face.

I sat there listening to them fill me in on their brief time together while I picked at a large chef’s salad. Every time my mother giggled, I was filled with too much happiness for her to be truly annoyed.

George pulled out his wallet to pay after the waitress dropped off the bill.

“No, let me get this,” Mom cut in, grabbing her purse.

“Felicia, I’ve told you already, I enjoy spending my money on my honey.”

I chuckled and then excused myself to the restroom, not needing to watch their playful banter.

As I walked past the bar, I heard the familiar husky voice hum through me.

“I am not asking this time. It’s important, damn it, Julia!” Logan growled into his phone.

I detoured toward him and took the seat next to his at the bar. I smiled when he looked up from his burger and fries. His hard features softened, his lips curling up into a broad smile as he took me in.

“Fine, go spend the weekend with your girlfriends, but I am rethinking your Christmas gift!” Logan slammed his phone down, took a deep breath, and then turned his stool to face me.

“To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure, sweetheart?”

“I’m having lunch with my mother and her new boyfriend.”

Logan’s brows rose at my tone.

“Boyfriend? Good for her.”

“Yeah, I know, but still a bit icky for me.” I pouted, snatching one of his fries.

“Icky? Such a childish word for an educated woman like yourself.” He chuckled, watching me roll my eyes.

“So what were you yelling at your sister for? Let me guess, she stole your credit card before jetting off on a luxurious shopping spree in Paris?”

“Not quite. I have an important business meeting tonight out of town and she just called to let me know she was half way to Hawaii for the weekend. My sister can be quite fickle at times.”

“She’s young.”

“She’s a pest, but I do love her, so now I have to find a babysitter last minute.”

“I told you, you should consider getting a nanny.” I grabbed the ketchup and popped the lid, pouring a little on his plate, then stole another fry, dunking it once and tossing it in my mouth.

“You know I don’t trust just anyone with Oliver.” He watched me take over his plate, amused. “Please, help yourself, sweetheart.” He chuckled as I grabbed yet another fry, coating it in the ketchup.

“Sorry, I had a salad. I’m still hungry.” I plopped it in my mouth then pushed his plate closer to his chest, holding my hands up that I was done. They were yummy but a bit salty. My eyes flickered to his soda then up at him.

Logan grinned. “As I said, help yourself.” He handed me the glass.

“Thanks.” I brought it to my lips and took a long sip. Ice cold lemonade. I sighed, savoring the freshness in the cold of winter. My eyes caught his and I swallowed, loudly. He was watching me. Staring at me with his head slightly tilted to the side. His casual expression hardening to something primal and raw.

I had shared drinks with plenty of boys before, but it never felt like this. My stomach clenched, feelings awakening, sending a heat wave straight through me. It was such an innocent action between friends, but between Logan and me, it felt intimate.

I pulled my gaze away, took another sip and swallowed before setting the glass back in front of his plate. “I can watch him,” I said, breaking the thick tension hanging between us.

Logan inhaled a short breath, blinking a few times. He turned his stool back, facing the bar, and took a bite of his burger. Swallowing, he looked over at me with a cocked eyebrow.

“What? You don’t trust me because I stole a few fries? Geesh.” I laughed and punched him lightly in the arm.

Logan grinned as he playfully shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt your time with your mother’s new beau.”

“Oh, please interrupt.” I gripped his forearm. “I am begging you to interrupt!”