Page 60 of Bittersweet

“I didn’t know what I was going to do, if I’d be able to get it fixed. It’s going to be above and beyond what my insurance will cover, and I can’t afford it right now. I can’t afford to stay here.”

“I said you could stay with me.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“Why not?”

“Because that would be us living together, and we’re just figuring us out again.”

“It would be temporary.”

“I’d never be able to leave after waking up with you in my arms every day. When we live together, it’s going to be when you officially belong to me.”

Harper’s stomach fluttered, despite how upset she was with him. Being his wife had been the original plan, but she hadn’t expected him to mention it so soon after they’d gotten back together.

“I also have to think about Kayla. She needs to be able to see her mom, and being closer to Naya would be easier for everyone. Plus, my parents have offered to let us stay with them until I get things sorted out. Gary has a spot for me at his company doing construction. Things just seem to be falling into place and leading me in that direction.”

“Away from me.” The flutters had left her stomach and were now replaced with nausea.

“Would you ever consider moving to the east side of the state with me? I know you have this place, but you could get another and expand the business. Savannah could run this one and you could run—”

“Stop it. Just stop.”

“I don’t want to be away from you, Harper. I want you to come with us.”

“I can’t.”

“You won’t even consider talking to Savannah about it?”

“Savannah has to take some time off. Her parents are both sick, and she has to go back to Traverse City. The shop will be all my responsibility pretty soon, so there’s no way I could leave right now.” Her knees felt as if they were about to give out, and all she wanted was to give in to it and sink to the floor in a mess of tears, but she held it in.

Logan glanced around the room again as if he was looking for answers that weren’t there.

“Why can’t you just stay?” her question came out in a whisper, and this time, when he reached for her, she didn’t flinch.

He took her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “I’ve gone over this again and again. Staying puts us in a bad financial situation. I don’t have any job leads here. The truck is toast … literally.” His attempt at humor fell flat. “I can better provide for my daughter over there.”

Tears flooded Harper’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks. “This isn’t how it was supposed to go. We were supposed to be together from now on. You promised you’d never leave me again.”

“I’m not leaving you, Harper. I’m moving temporarily. We can make this work, okay? We’ll figure it out.”

“That’s what people in long distance relationships always say in the beginning, but then it gets hard, and they can’t see each other as often as they want. Jobs get in the way. Other obligations. They resent each other for not making the time, and their feelings change, and the love fades, and then it’s over.”

“Harper, that won’t happen to us. I promise.”

“You can’t promise that. You can’t know what’s going to happen.” She turned out of his arms and headed for the counter to get a tissue.

Logan followed and came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, holding her back against him. “I know I love you, Harper. I can promise that I love you.”

“What if love’s not enough?” She started to cry again. “I wish you’d never come back here.”

Logan’s arms fell to his sides. “You don’t mean that.”

“Yes, I do.” She didn’t. “If you hadn’t come back, I still wouldn’t know the reason you left the first time, but at least I wouldn’t have to go through you leaving me a second time.”

“But you know the reasons why I’m leaving this time.” He turned her around to face him. “I love you, Harper, but Kayla is my child, and she has to come first.”

Harper understood that. She did. And she truly had forgiven him for leaving because of his baby. But it didn’t hurt any less.

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