Page 53 of A Summer Mismatch
“That Captain America is in the wrong,” he grumbled to Cameron, shaking his head. “He should’ve signed the Accord and followed the rules. Where is his loyalty?”
“But what about doing what’s right?” Julia asked, poking at her mashed potatoes. “He was following his heart.”
Grandpa grunted. “What good is following your heart if it hurts other people?”
She winced.
“Shhhh,” Cameron said, giving them both a glare.
“Sorry,” Julia whispered, and Grandpa turned the sound up. She rested her chin in her hand, her appetite suddenly gone.
What in the world was she going to do about Logan?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Logan
Logan:How is Willow doing?
Nonna:She’s surviving.
Logan:Is there anything I can do?
Nonna:Just keep the kids happy. She loves it when you send pictures of them.
Logan:I’ll keep doing that then. Is she going to be ready for them this weekend?
Nonna:Yes. The shock is wearing off and the anger is settling in.
Logan:Uh oh.
Nonna:It’s a good thing. Anger fuels the veins. Gives her energy. It’ll eventually wear off, but right now it’s helping her move.
Nonna:How is Grandpa holding up without me?
Logan leaned against the railing of Adia’s pen and thought through how to answer her question. It was an especially hot day, and sweat rolled down his back. He was heading out in a few minutes to do an animal show at The Palms, and he couldn’t be regretful that he’d be in an air conditioned room for the rest of the afternoon.
Kai was coming with him, and Allison and Finn were on night shift this week, which meant they were leaving the elephants in the care of Ryan. Logan had been working with him on respecting the animals, but he swore his words went over the man’s head.
They needed to hire another keeper. Logan had been given the go-ahead to engage in interviews and hire someone, but time was something he was lacking—with watching Leo and Amelia, worrying about his sister, observing Adia, and thoughts of Julia filling every spare bit of space he had left in his mind.
Just thinking of her made him smile. And thinking of her kiss made every single other intelligent thought fly from his brain.
She was going to be at the event at The Palms today, which was more reason to hurry and get everything ready to go.
He glanced at his grandma’s message, unsure of how to respond. Grandpa had been acting strange this week. He’d sent Logan the phone number and picture for one of the waitresses at The Palms, who didn’t look like she could be a day over eighteen. Grandpa had also been talking about Samantha, the activities director, in a very pointed way. How pretty she was, and how she always had such a great, positive attitude and was so attentive.
Logan had talked to Samantha a few times on the phone to arrange his visit to The Palms, and though she’d made a good impression on him, she wasn’t Julia. It felt a lot like his grandpa was trying to set him up, something he’d never done before.
But what would Nonna say to that? She’d probably laugh and tell Logan to humor him. Logan didn’t want to humor him. He wanted Grandpa to stop trying to set him up, and planned on playing dumb until it became impossible to do so.
Logan:Grandpa’s making sure the kids are having a lot of fun. He’s going to sleep for a week when they go home.
Nonna:He’s been sending me pictures too. The kids aren’t the only one having a blast.
She forwarded him a picture of Grandpa playing mini-golf with the kids, and another one of them wading in the ocean.
Logan:I’ve got to run. Give Willow a hug for me, and tell her that the kids miss her, but they’re doing fine.
