Page 35 of That First Flight

“Good for her.”

Logan slaps the table, drawing our attention towards him. “For the first Wednesday in forever, I finally have some news for everyone and something exciting to share.”

“You finally got to sleep with your one and only celebrity crush?”

“Why do you have to keep bringing that up?” He pouts. “You and I both know that will never happen.”

“Continue on with the news, Logan,” Marc urges him.

“I had a meeting with the chief today. We discussed a possible promotion for me this summer. If all goes well”—he throws his arms out to the side—“you’re looking at the next Chief of Police.”

“No way!” Thomas starts.

“Good for you, brother!” Marc slaps his shoulder.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for it, but I’m excited.”

As one of Logan’s best friends, I worry about him constantly. Being a cop in the city isn’t for the weak. It’s constantly being alert for what’s lurking around every corner.

“Careful, you’re starting to show your age,” Thomas jokes.

“I’m still a fresh, young, and feisty thirty. Relax.”

“Anyway.” Marc shuts that conversation down. “Was everything good with the house when you left?”

“Tip top shape. I checked the weather the other day and the storm didn’t hit as bad as they thought it would. But it was better to be safe than sorry.”

“Are you still in contact with the bartender?” Logan asks.

I grin. “She has a name you know.”

“Eww. Fix your face.” Logan wrinkles his nose in disgust. “Why are you smiling like that?”

“Here we go,” Thomas says as he leans forward on the table, eager to hear more.

“Should I tell you now or later that she’s here in the city?”

“I thought she lived there?” Marc questions.

“She did. But…” My eyes scan each of the boys before I spill. “I may have kinda-sorta… brought her home with me.”

“Jesus Christ.” Marc runs his hands down his face.

Logan extends his fist across the table for a fist bump. “My brother.”

“Where the hell is she staying? Did you just put her up in theMarriottor something?” Marc asks.

“My apartment is big, but we don’t need to call it theMarriott.”

“She’s staying with you?” Marc exclaims.

“She is.” I bring the glass of whiskey to my lips before I whisper the next words over the brim, “Her and her daughter.”

Logan practically sprays his drink across the table. “Come the fuck again?” he asks at the same time Marc says, “She has a kid?”

Listen, I was as shocked as these guys when Macey dropped the news on me about her having a daughter. Not just any daughter, but the girl that I took photos with outside of Samuel's place.

When she told me, my brain swirled with so many questions. My initial reaction was that Macey doesnotlook old enough to have an eight-year-old.

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