Page 151 of Sin Bin

She swirled her wine, admiring its rich color. “I never told you this, but one weekend when I was home, I saw your Meadow. Or at least I think it was her. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her, obviously. But I’m pretty sure it was her because she was taking a bunch of foster kids to the planetarium.” Cynara smiled. “I looked out the car window, and there she was just skipping along and laughing with the children, looking like a black Mary Poppins.” There was no snark in her voice. Just warm amusement tinged with admiration. “I started to pull over and say hello to her. But then I changed my mind.”

“Why?”

Cynara shrugged. “I wasn’t feeling sociable.”

Logan smirked. “Color me shocked.”

She gave another shrug and sipped her wine, her eyes twinkling at him over the rim of her glass.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

Cynara lowered her glass. “She filled out nicely, your little Meadow. I bet you’re just loving all those sexy curves.”

Logan couldn’t hide his grin. “I am, as a matter of— Wait.” His eyes narrowed. “How do you know I’ve seen her recently?”

It was Cynara’s turn to grin. “Mom told me. Apparently she heard you give Meadow a shout-out after a game—”

“Coño,” Logan muttered in exasperation. “Did everybody and their mama see that damn interview?”

“Our mama did,” Cynara said with a snicker. “She called me up all excited, babbling about how she nearly fell out of bed when she heard Meadow’s name come out of your mouth. She deduced that you and Meadow must have recently reunited. She’s been dying to ask you, but she wanted to wait and see if you’d bring it up yourself. I know she could barely contain herself when you guys were sitting here and you promised to share some big secret later on. Just know she’s going to harass you until you pour out your heart to her.” Cynara chuckled. “She’s already counting down the days until you announce your engagement.”

“Whoa,” Logan exclaimed. “Let’s not get carried away here. Meadow and I are just friends.”

Cynara stared at him. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No. I’m serious.”

Cynara threw back her head and burst out laughing, holding her stomach like she’d just heard the world’s funniest joke. She had a nice laugh. Rich, warm and throaty. Too bad it was being unleashed at his expense.

He glared at her. “What’s so fucking funny?”

“You are,” she wheezed, dabbing at her watery eyes. “You are an absolute comedian, Logan. Seriously. What you just said was positively hilarious. I mean, c’mon, dude. Are you really going to sit there and pretend that you haven’t been carrying a torch for that girl since you were a prepubescent ten-year-old? Remember that misshapen little pendant she made for you? You used to wear it around your neck and sleep with it under your pillow every night. Remember that day you were playing outside and one of the neighborhood kids tried to snatch the pendant off your neck? You practically beat him to a pulp!”

Logan scowled at the memory. “That kid was an asshole. And he should have kept his fucking hands to himself.”

“He bloody well learned that day, didn’t he?” Cynara snorted, drank more wine, then shook her head. “Do you remember hounding Dad to find out where Meadow lived so you could go visit her? He had to gently explain to you that her adoption records were sealed, and he could get in big trouble for looking up her address and showing up at her new home.” Cynara sighed. “You had the longest, saddest face any boy could ever have, and I think you moped for days after that.”

“It wasn’t that long,” Logan grumbled.

“You’re right. It was more like weeks.” Cynara grinned at him. “So now that you and Meadow have found your way back to each other after all these years, tell me again why Mom shouldn’t expect an engagement announcement?”

Logan felt his lips twitch and struggled to hold back a smile. “We’re getting reacquainted, strengthening our foundation. Let’s just leave it at that for now.”

“Whatever you say.” Cynara sighed and tapped her glass with a perfectly manicured fingernail. “I bet Meadow wants as many children as you do. I can totally picture you guys with a brood of multiracial kids like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.” She winced. “Sorry. Bad example. Brangelina broke up in the messiest way possible. I wouldn’t wish that upon you and Meadow.”

“Uh, thanks, I guess.” Logan decided it was time to change the subject. “So I hear congratulations are in order.”

“For what?”

“Mom told me you’ll be giving a big speech at the U.N. later this year. That’s awesome, Duchess. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” She shrugged, trying to appear unaffected.

Logan grinned proudly. “Look at you repping for Afro-Latinos.”

Her expression hardened. “I’m African-American.”

His grin faltered at the correction. “You can certainly call yourself that. But you’re also Afro-Latino.” He held her defiant gaze. “Don’t deny your Dominican heritage just because you hate your father.”

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