Page 70 of Accepting Fate

I knew the minute I saw that stupid ass smirk when he looked at Logan that I was going to be fighting my brother for Logan’s attention.

Logan is mine. She knows that and so does Noah, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to compete to be her friend and favorite Hayes brother.

Logan is sitting on my lap staring out at the forest, lost in thought. I know she’s probably nervous, but I think it may have something to do with the fact that I just saw her back.

When she turned around and I saw the scars littered across her back, I had to do everything to stop myself from demanding she tell me who did it.

They aren’t small superficial scars. Some are smaller, but some are so deep that it looks like she was stabbed. I don’t want to push her but I’m growing impatient with the secrets. Every day I see how much her past has affected her life and I wish she would let me in so I could help her move forward.

She has been alone for so long that she only knows how to rely on herself. I just need to wait a little longer and show her that I’m not going anywhere, and that I will protect her.

I nuzzle into her neck. “Sorry about Noah. But I think you two will get along. If you feel uncomfortable, we can leave, just tell me.”

Relaxing back into me, she pulls my arms tighter around her waist. “It’s okay. I wasn’t prepared to meet your family, but he seems nice and funny. I wasn’t expecting the blonde hair though,” she says, trying to hide her laugh.

“Some of it is natural. My grandma’s hair was blonde.” Looking over my shoulder to make sure he’s still inside, I whisper, “He dyes it. He went through a boy band obsession in high school and never got out of it.”

Logan can’t contain her laughter anymore and it's like music to my ears. She may think she is all darkness but, in my eyes, she is a bright shining light.

Tilting her head back, I cut off her laughter and kiss her. She turns slightly and melts into me.

Music comes on through the outdoor speakers and I take that as my signal that Noah is coming out.

Seconds later, I hear the door open.

“Alright, you two, keep it classy,” Noah says as he walks over.

Logan goes to move off my lap and I tighten my arms around her waist. She looks over her shoulder giving me a questioning look and I give her a quick kiss.

“Mine.”

Rolling her eyes, she turns back to Noah who is staring at us with a smirk on his face.

He hands us both a beer and hops into the hot tub, sitting directly across from me and Logan. Taking a swig of his beer, he props his arms along the side. “So, Gray, you finally decided to trade in that sissy truck to match me?”

Logan hides her smirk behind her beer bottle.

I shake my head and say, “It’s not a sissy truck, douchebag. And no, that’s Logan’s Jeep.”

His mouth drops open and his eyes dart back and forth between me and Logan. “It’s your Jeep?” he asks her.

She nods. “Yeah. It’s older but she gets me where I need to go,” she says, sounding shy. Under the water, I brush my thumb along her side, hoping to reassure her.

Noah leans forward and raises his hand to give Logan a fistbump. “Jeep twin, FUCK YEAH!”

All of us burst out laughing. Noah is one crazy asshole, but he knows how to make everyone in the room feel comfortable.

That must have been the thing that broke the awkwardness because Logan’s shoulders relax, and she flashes me a big smile.

“So, Logan, how did you meet this scary-looking dude?” Noah asks, settling back into his spot and drinking his beer.

“I’m a nurse at MRMC and Grayson brought someone in while I was on shift.”

Noah looks to me, confused.

“Lily and Alana,” I say, clearing things up.

I watch as Noah recalls that night. I know he is still a little fucked up from his close call.

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