Page 77 of My Song for You
“Shit, man. Have you seen the story that went viral about you and Logan?” he asked.
I ripped my hand through my hair. “Yeah, I just read it.”
“Does Callie know about it?”
“I have no idea. If she knows, she hasn’t contacted me. I do know, though, that she had nothing to do with it.” As it was, she was going to be spitting lava once she learned the truth was now out there.
“What are you going to do?”
“Fuck if I know. I mean, other than telling Logan before he finds out from someone else.” I inwardly groaned. This was exactly what Callie had feared. And if one tabloid had picked up the story, it was guaranteed that others would jump on the chance to tear it wide open too. Everyone we knew would be hounded for details. As it was, I had no idea how they’d even found out that Callie was Logan’s aunt and that Alexis was dead. “How the hell did you deal with it when your story was leaked to the media?”
“Not very well,” Nolan admitted. “But at least I didn’t have to go it alone. I had Hailey.”
“I doubt Callie’s going to be quite as understanding.”
“You’d be surprised. She cares for you more than you give her credit for. Look, if you want to skip practice today, we understand.”
“No, it’s fine.” The classroom door opened and the kids paraded from the room. “I have to go now. I’ll talk to you soon.” I ended the call and waited for Logan.
A hushed whisper fell over the room. Curious glances darted in my direction. If there was ever a moment signaling impending doom, this would be it.
A gray-haired teacher stepped through the doorway and scanned the area. Her gaze landed on me. “Mr. Leigh, if you could come with me, please?”
“Is something wrong?”
The you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me expression was the only answer I needed. I followed her into the classroom. This was the first time I’d been inside it, and it was exactly what I’d expected. The tables and chairs were kid-sized, as were the shelves scattered around the room, with their colorful storage containers. A huge alphabet rug, with pictures alongside their corresponding letters, sat in the reading corner. The classroom had been designed to be bright and cheery, a place where a kid would want to come to learn.
Unfortunately, the four-year-old sitting on a chair was anything but bright or cheery. Logan’s gaze was glued to the table, his arms folded tightly across his small chest. Another teacher was talking to him, but I couldn’t tell if he was listening or had tuned her out.
“What’s going on?” I asked, and squatted next to him. A bad feeling sliced through me, leaving a jagged edge. Sarina had mentioned that the article had gone viral an hour ago, but that didn’t mean someone hadn’t seen it sooner.
When Logan didn’t answer, I glanced up at the teachers for help.
“Why don’t we go into my office, Mr. Leigh?” the gray-haired woman said. “Rachel, can you stay with Logan for a few minutes?”
The younger woman nodded.
“Logan, are you okay if I go off with…?” I glanced at the gray-haired woman.
“I’m Mrs. Mansfield. The assistant principal.”
I followed her into her office and took the chair in front of her desk that she’d gestured at. Logan’s classroom might have been bright and cheery, but it was clear that Mrs. Mansfield preferred a less upbeat, blander space to work in. It was simply furnished, with just the basic necessities—a desk, bookshelf, filing cabinet, chairs, all in black. The only artwork on the walls was a single large painting of a mountainous landscape at sunset, done in a fiery red, the harbinger of doom. It was also the only splash of real color in the room.
She walked to her seat and sat back in her chair. An urge struck me to remove my lucky guitar pick from my pocket. I fought back the impulse.
“One of the students came to class this morning,” she said, “and told Logan that you’re his father and Callie was only his aunt. The individual also told him that his real parents didn’t want him, and that’s why Logan is living with his aunt. Understandably, this upset Logan, and he hit the other child.”
Shit.
I didn’t know what I was supposed to say or do. If I had foreseen all of this, I could’ve been better prepared. As it was, I was still struggling with the idea of being a father. I knew nothing about it, other than I wanted to be like my own father, who I admired and respected.
“I suggest you take Logan home and talk to him about how he’s feeling. And I would like you and Callie to meet with our school counselor.” She released a slow breath. “Is it true you’re involving the courts in a custody battle?”
“I only found out two weeks ago that I’m a father, and I’m still coming to terms with it. Logan loves Callie and I don’t want to destroy their relationship. That’s all I know.” It was pretty much the truth. She didn’t need to know the rest. I was sure she wouldn’t approve of the fact that Callie and I were just testing the waters, with no actual plans of making things permanent between us. That wasn’t what Logan needed.
He needed a family.
Chapter 32
