Page 99 of Cougar

“Not really.” He leans back and runs his fingers through his hair. “I saw Zach’s Jeep in the driveway.”

“He’s been out for hours. They had their homecoming game last night.”

“They win?”

“Of course.” I smirk. “How did you get here?”

“Uber.”

“And the guard let him through?”

“One of the guards hopped in the front seat and rode with us.” He lets out a light laugh. “They act like the President lives here or something.”

“They’re just doing their jobs. We pay a lot of money for our privacy. So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“I have a daughter.” He pauses to blow out a breath, and I raise my brows. “Her name is Zoe. Her mother, Whitney, and I dated in college for almost a year. She broke up with me right before Christmas, and during winter break she left school. I never heard from her again until she showed up at my apartment with Zoe. I didn’t need a DNA test to know she was mine.” He leans forward and rests his elbows on his thighs. “Do you remember when Zach was little, he had those little blond curls?”

I chuckle. “Yeah. Your mom refused to cut his hair because she loved his curls.”

Logan nods. “I know. Zoe has those same blonde ringlets. Long story short, Whitney and I tried to make it work. We crammed into my tiny-ass apartment. She stayed home with Zoe while I went to class. A few weeks ago, I came home from class and she was gone. Like all of her and Zoe’s shit was just gone. I called her phone, and it had been disconnected. I didn’t know how to get in touch with her family or friends, so I called my dad and he hired a private investigator to find her. She’s in Heritage Bay.”

Emerson

Jay is lying in bed staring at the ceiling when I walk into her room. “You look deep in thought.” I snicker.

She gives me a sleepy smile. “I’m trying to talk myself into getting out of this bed. I have an appointment with Xavier at ten.”

I look down at my watch. “You better get moving. It’s already nine.”

“But I’m too comfortable,” she whines.

I drop down on the edge and pass her the envelope.

“Another letter?”

I offer her a sad smile. “For homecoming.”

She nods as she runs her fingers over the word “Jaybird” written in Marcus’s handwriting on the front.

Standing from the bed, I head for the door, then pause with my hand on the knob. “Jay, I’ve never read any of your letters. So, if you ever want to talk to me about them or share them with me….” I shrug.

She presses the envelope against her chest and stares back up at the ceiling. “I know.”

* * *

After Jay leaves for her salon appointment, Harper comes into the kitchen. “Need help?”

“Actually, yes.” I walk over to the kitchen table and pull out one of the small boxes from the shopping bag, then pass it to Harper. “What do you think?”

Cole got Harper these really cute bracelets for her birthday at this little boutique near the square, so I picked up a few to give out to the girls at the party. Honestly, there were so many to choose from, I was tempted to buy one of everything. I even bought one for myself, a silver bangle with the word “breathe” etched across the top.

“Oh, I love this.” She brushes her finger over the “live a happy life” charm, then snaps the lid back on. “Do you need me to put these in gift bags?”

“Please.” I pass her a handful of tissue paper and small gift bags. “How was she?” I ask.

“She’s okay. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

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