Page 97 of Becoming Selfish

“She’s not wrong,” my dad laughs from the corner of the couch.

Walking around the back of the sofa, I bend down behind Logan, wrapping my arms around the front of her shoulders and leaning my chin on the back of the couch.

She holds my forearm with one hand and uses her other to gesture towards the TV. “Now, Steph...Steph is a beast,” she says as number thirty hits a deep three-pointer.

“That’s right, girl.” My dad holds his fist out for Logan.

As she bumps her fist against his, I can’t help but shake my head and smile, watching three of my favorite people bond in front of my eyes.

When the halftime commercials start playing, Logan taps against my forearm for me to release her from my grip. “I’m gonna go see if Mary needs help with dinner.” She gets up from the couch and makes her way to the kitchen.

Walking around the sofa, I sit down in Logan’s vacated spot between my dad and brother.

“So...” my dad begins. “You’re in love with your brother’s best friend.”

“Jesus, Dad. Want to say that a little louder?” I sarcastically ask as both Marc and our dad laugh at my discomfort.

“And no. I’m not in love with her. It’s only been a few weeks.”

“Bull-fucking-shit,” Marc chimes in, obviously not believing me.

“Son, you look at her the same way I look at Mary. That’s love, kid.”

Is it? I’ve never been in love before, so I don’t know what it’s supposed to look or feel like. But whatever I feel for Logan, I know I’ve never experienced it before. I think about her constantly, I always want to be around her, and I want to be the best version of me that I can be for her.

Fuck. Maybe my dad is right.

“She’s not even officially my girlfriend, yet,” I add.

“Well, what the hell are you waiting for? Honestly, I think I like her more than the two of you,” he jokes, referring to Marc and me.

“That’s not even a question. I definitely like Logan more than you guys,” Marc adds, bantering back with our dad.

“Aren’t you going to tell me what a terrible idea it is? Or that she’s going to be a distraction for me or some shit like that?”

“EJ, I only ever said that about those random girls that always hung all over you because they didn’t mean anything to you. This is the first time I’ve seen you care about someone outside of the three of us. To be honest, I was worried that you never would. But, you’re different with her, I can tell.”

He’s right. This is the first time he’s ever seen me care for someone because it’s the first time I ever have. I’ve never even thought twice about another girl before, but with Logan, she hasn’t left my thoughts since the first night I met her.

“You don’t think it’s a bad idea to have a girlfriend while I’m trying to chase this dream of making it in the NHL?” I mean, I was planning to ask her to be my girlfriend regardless, but still, I would like to hear my dad’s take on it. I’m always down for listening to his advice. I care about his opinion more than anyone else’s.

“Son, I need you to listen to me,” He sits up straighter and turns towards me, obviously feeling very serious about what he wants to say. “There is no dream worth achieving if you don’t have the people who matter the most standing next to you when it happens.”

Well, that just hit me like a ton of bricks.

When I think about it, if I got called up to the league tomorrow, Logan might be the first phone call I make.

“So, don’t be an idiot,” my dad adds with a smile.

“Boys, dinner is ready!” Mary calls from the kitchen.

I take my usual seat at the dining room table across from my dad and next to Marc. The only difference is that tonight I have Logan sitting between my brother and me.

“This looks so good, Mary,” Logan tells my stepmom. “I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in weeks.”

I pass her the salad and mashed potatoes before taking my portion, and it makes me smile to see that she’s not shy with the amount of food she adds to her plate.

“Do you cook much, Logan?” Mary asks.

---