Page 134 of Take It Offline

“Logan,” I sigh.

I’ve tried letting him down gently. I expected it to be quick, the same as when he dumped me. Instead, he keeps trying to debate it, as if he can bargain his way back into a relationship with me.

Without asking, he clasps my elbow and steers me through the crowd into the house. “I think it’s better if we have this conversation in private.”

It won’t matter where we have it, but I can appreciate him not wanting an audience.

He doesn’t stop walking until we reach the wine cellar. As we descend the steps, I’m struck with déjà vu. But I push it out of my mind.

“All right,” I say, keeping a few feet of distance between us. “You’ve gotten me here, so say what you came here to say, and let’s put this to rest.”

“You can’t deny we make sense on paper, Emma. I like that you’re different from the other girls my parents set me up with. I’m not ready to settle down, and you’re still preoccupied withyour career, so it’s ideal. I can wait out your little hobby, and when I’m ready, you can step away from your job. You can’t honestly say you’d rather be with that loser you brought last time, and you’re not exactly in a financial position to be turning me down.”

I’m five seconds away from putting my heel through his liver.

Logan has the audacity to stroke my cheek. “I know I had a problem with it before, but I’m willing to accept you even if you’re broken.”

Heart lurching, I pull away.

I have no interest in a man who wants to break me in, overpower me, or make me his prize.

I need a partner who will stand by my side. Equal. Who recognizes my worth and my power and celebrates it.

Who holds his own just as well during a storm as while it’s calm.

Who reflects the breadth of my love in equal measure.

Logan isn’t that man.

He lives to be heard. The right answer is always his, even if it’s fed to him.

There’s a platinum card where his heart should be.

But Charlie…

He raises the bar for me. He’s never asked me to lower myself, and he isn’t afraid to push me either.

I stare at Logan, seeing the truth now. How he preferred his place to mine, how I madehimfeel inadequate. “I’ll never be able to be less than perfect with you.”

“That’s ridiculous. You’re hardly perfect,” he says. Instantly, his eyes go wide, and he backtracks. “You know what I mean.”

I bite back a scoff. Does he really expect this to win me over?

“Work isn’t a phase, Logan. It’s not temporary, and it’s not a silly little hobby I’m keeping up for fun. Even if I didn’t need the money, I enjoy it. My parents understand that; why can’t you?”

“What will happen when you have kids? You can’t expect to do both.”

“You’re right. I don’t expect to do both.” I do a mental recap of our relationship using this new insight, and I’m left with more questions. “I thought you liked that I had a job.”

“Please,” he taunts, and I guess we’ve reached the mask-off portion of the evening. “I only entertained this charade because it meant I was off the hook to propose for a few years. All my other girlfriends have been obsessed with the ring, but not you. You were too distracted playing assistant. I know you like feeling important, but it’s degrading. We both knew you’d end up back here.”

“I should throw this in your face,” I grit out, anger flooding me, “but I don’t want to waste top-shelf wine on a bottom-shelf man.” Within the confines of my heart, the piece of him I’ve been holding on to falls away, leaving me lighter. The shackles of promises made, the fantasy I held of our future, all of it, gone. “You lied to me.”

“I softened the truth.”

Footsteps descend the stairs. Probably a server looking for more wine. Good. I’m ready to be done with both this conversation and the man in front of me.

“I care for you, Emma. I always have.”

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