Page 79 of Puck'N Enemy
Eva turns, startled, as Logan appears in the kitchen, shirtless and looking very much like someone who’s just woken up. His eyes dart to me, then to his mom, instantly piecing the situation together.
“Mom, relax,” Logan says firmly as he walks into the kitchen. “It’s okay. He’s with me.”
Eva’s brows furrow in confusion.
Logan moves to my side and gently takes my hand. Squeezing it, he leans in and presses a soft kiss to my cheek.
“It’s all right,” he says calmly. “Go back upstairs and rest. I’ll talk to her, okay?”
I swallow, still frozen from shock, but the warmth of Logan’s touch soothes me enough to nod. I glance at Eva, who’s still staring at us with wide, shocked eyes.
Letting out a sigh, I shut off the stove, hang my head and quickly make my escape. Heading back to Logan’s bedroom, I shut the door and lean against it, heart thudding.
Up here, I can’t hear a word that’s being spoken between Logan and his mom, but I can imagine the chaos and arguments that must be happening downstairs.
The last time I saw Eva, it was during that awful time four years ago. I’d hurt Logan and brought him to the hospital, broken and unconscious.
Eva didn’t want to believe I was the one who’d hurt her son. I was, after all, his best friend and we always hung out together.
But that day, I convinced her I was an asshole, that despite the kindness she and her family showed me, I hurt her son. Back then, I wanted Logan to believe I didn’t care for him. Ineededhim to believe I betrayed him so he wouldn’t go after Pete because of me.
Eva is going to need a lot of explanation to trust me again.
The silence stretches on, making my stomach twist with anxiety. What if she still hates me despite everything? What if she doesn’t want me near Logan?
The minutes that tick by feel like hours.
Finally, the door creaks open. Logan steps inside, his expression softening when he sees me. Without a word, he crosses the room and pulls me into a tight hug.
“It’s okay,” Logan murmurs against my hair. “Mom understands what you went through. Whatwewent through. I explained everything to her but it’ll be a while before she comes around.”
“I know,” I say in a low voice. “There’s no way she’ll forgive me for hurting you.”
“But Mom knows what you did to protect me and this family,” Logan says in a grim tone. “She’s in a bit of shock right now but she’ll be okay after some time. I promise.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, looking up at him.
Smiling faintly, he brushes his thumb over my cheek. “Yeah. Now, come downstairs with me. I’m starving for some food. Aren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Here, wear my shorts,” he says, grabbing a pair from his wardrobe and flinging them at me.
“Thanks,” I reply, quickly putting them on. Still feeling hesitant, I follow Logan out of the room.
To my surprise, the kitchen smells even warmer now. Eva stands by the stove, finishing up the pancakes I’d spread on the pan. She plates them up neatly, alongside fresh fruit and a pot of coffee.
When she turns around to face us, her expression isn’t angry anymore. It’s… gentle.
“Come and eat,” she says, putting the plates on the table. “I’ll have to head back to work now, but I wanted to make sure you’re both taken care of.”
I freeze for a second, taken aback by the kindness she’s showing me right now. “Eva…thank you,” I say softly.
She gives a short nod. She even touches my shoulder lightly before picking up her handbag. “Take care of each other, okay?” she says. “I’ll see you both later.”
I watch her leave, feeling an unfamiliar but comforting sense of acceptance. For the first time in years, I feel like I’ve been truly accepted back into the Johnson family.
I’m home.
