Page 120 of Whenever You Call

“Ready?” I asked.

“I mean… I’d rather stay here and fuck you.”

“Later.” I winked, laughing at his tortured expression before I led the way.

We walked through the house and out into the backyard, but just before we stepped out, Logan let go of my hand, taking his place behind me before Bella saw us together that way. As much as she knew about us now, we’d both agreed to take it slow for her sake. To let her adjust and see us as friends before we started kissing each other, holding hands, or cozying up on the couch in front of her. All of that would happen one day, Logan assured me, and I already couldn’t wait for the day when we fell into a comfortable pattern of existence together. The three of us. Nothing in the way.

The moment Kate caught sight of Logan, she stood up from her seat and rushed over to him.

“Logan!” she cried, holding her hand out for him to take. “The man, the myth, the legend.”

Logan went to shake her hand, only for Kate to slip hers past his and pull him into a bear hug like she’d known him all her life. Her cheek pressed against his chest as she squeezed, and he looked at me with wide eyes, his arms trapped down by his sides until Kate finally took a step back, setting him free again.

“Bloody good to meet you,” she said.

“Likewise,” he said in a huff of laughter. “Nice accent. Whereabouts in England are you from?”

And just like that, I lost him to her.

She grabbed his hand and guided him around to the patio couch opposite the one she sat on, where she poured him a glass of wine whether he wanted one or not.

It was right there in my backyard, with my mismatched family of four, that the most beautiful sense of calm washed over me.

This was what I’d always wanted, and now everything felt soreal.

Livia took her place beside Kate, and as soon as she got the chance to, Bella slid in beside Logan, tucking herself into his body only for him to wrap his arm around her shoulders as though they’d always sat together that way. As though it was the most natural thing to do, and it didn’t add more love into my already overflowing heart.

I glanced toward Cole’s tree with the microphone hanging down, waiting for someone to go to it and speak to him. For the first time since his death, I had a lot to say… if only we’d been alone.

You could have had this.

I’m sorry if that hurts you.

I’m sorry if seeing me happy causes you pain.

I do still love you.

Just not the way I think I’m falling in love withhim.

Because I was. Falling in love with Logan had been easy, especially when I’d tried so hard to make it complicated, trapped in a never-ending cycle of worry over what the world would think of me moving on so quickly.

I’d never wanted to hold back. I’d held back forthem. For a society I didn’t even know. A bunch of strangers. People I’d never met and never would meet in this lifetime, and because of them, I could have missed all this.

You’ve been so stupid, Hannah.

My attention drifted over the warm lighting around the pool and then up to the dark night sky where stars were hiding somewhere behind the smog and the bright lights of the city, but when I finally looked back at my family again, each of them sitting around the same table, engrossed in each other’s lives, I couldn’t deny anything anymore.

Iwasin love with Logan Thomas.

All I could do now was hope he loved me in return.

Kate didn’t leaveuntil after midnight, making sure to give me a little pep talk and speech of approval at the door.

“He’s amazing, babe,” she whispered. “Truly. Go, be happy. It’s your time now.” Then she kissed me and promised to call more often, no matter how busy she got.

Thirty minutes later, once Bella had drifted to sleep on the patio couch, Liv pulled me in for a hug, too, telling me she was beat, and she’d be back around lunchtime the next day.

“Why don’t you take the day off?” I told her.

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