Page 58 of Out of Bounds
I looked at Bree as someone I couldn’t and shouldn’t have, because in my head we came from different worlds because our families were different.
That hasn’t changed, and it’s the line that continues to keep itself between us.
The only difference now is I can’t get her out of my head. I can’t forget the way we were that night.
“Logan, whatever my reasoning it doesn’t change the craziness. Bree and I got married in Vegas. It’s not real and we can’t stay married. Which means I’m not going to get my family business anytime soon.” I dip my head and shake it. “The universe hates me. I see my grandfather in less than three hours’ time and I don’t know what I’m going to say to him. What the hell am I seriously going to do?”
He sighs and smiles. “Well, the old Ethan would flip a coin and go with whatever the coin told him to do.”
I laugh. I put that coin away the day I graduated high school. I used to get myself in all kinds of trouble living life like that.
It told me to steal the cash machine and run Pastor Baker’s car into the lake. It told me to set Farmer Tanner’s chickens free and flood the school. At least my childhood and adolescent years weren’t boring, but damn.
“Logan, I’m not sure what’s the wisest thing to do.”
He reaches into his pocket and tosses me a quarter. I catch it and smile.
“The point is, take a risk and do something you wouldn’t normally do.”
“But what’s the question? What am I asking myself? It needs to be something objective with an either or choice.”
“Only you can come up with that.”
“You sound like you’re training to be a Jedi.”
“Well, if you have any better ideas, feel free.”
I don’t.
* * *
My grandfather beamsat me when I walk into his office at Crystal Resort.
My nerves spike and the knots in my stomach tighten with anxiety. I’ve never seen him look so proud of me.
He gets up from behind his desk and makes his way to me to give me a hearty hug and a slap on the back.
The smile that follows is one I don’t deserve.
“Son, I am so proud of you,” he says when we sit.
“Thank you.”
“I swear though, Miranda looks an awful lot like that muffin girl you used to tease when you were little. That Bree Dawson.”
I laugh off key. “Because um…she… is.”
He raises his brows and blinks a few times. “Okay, there’s a lot I’m dying to know but now there’s even more. Care to explain? It’s not like you’ve been an open book over the years and I tried not to pry.”
I bite down hard on my back teeth scanning through my thoughts. In my line of work I hear all sorts of stories and I can’t summon one of them or string a few together to give him an answer to save myself.
He stares at me expectantly and something comes to mind. The truth mixed with a lie.
“Yes, I can explain. Miranda is Bree’s middle name. She preferred it for work purposes, so I always tell people her name is Miranda and when you meet I’ll give her the opportunity to decide what she’d like to be called.”
He looks satisfied with that answer and nods. “I see. I had a few friends who went by their middle names. Why on earth didn’t you tell me it was her though?”
“Because I knew you’d make a big deal out of it, and we’ve only been together for the last five years.”
