Page 16 of Secret Baby With My Brother's Best Friend

"Thank you." I waited for a few minutes, and the waiter returned with my order and left.

I sat at my table, enjoying my meal, when my eyes suddenly scrolled past the local newspaper being read at the table across from me. My eyes darted back to it, the headline across the front page of that particular section having snagged my attention. I got to my feet, walking up to the couple at the table.

"Good afternoon," I smiled as I stood at their table.

"Afternoon," they chorused, looking at me curiously.

"Sorry to interrupt you, but can I take a quick look at your newspaper?" I asked, my smile unwavering.

"Uhm. Sure. You can keep it," the man said with a grin.

"Thank you," I replied, taking the newspaper from him. I returned to my seat, and I dropped the newspaper in front of me, staring at the picture on the front page of the gossip section. It was a snapshot of Logan teaching me how to play baseball last night. I thought we were the only ones there but clearly not.

The headline read: "Logan Thompson, Baseball Star, Spotted Sharing Special Moment on Tour with Mystery Woman.

Oh! No!

I leaped to my feet, abandoning my delicious brunch. I couldn't bear to sit there longer with my face plastered across this article. I hurriedly made my way upstairs and knocked on Logan's door a couple of times. I wasn't in an exceptionally patient mood. I knocked again and was about to knock again when he opened the door, wearing nothing but gray boxers.

Are you ever dressed? I wanted to ask but decided against it. I barged into his room, brushing past him, and he shut the door, looking surprised. My eyes involuntarily glanced down at him, and my stomach churned.

"What are you doing here? What happened to us staying five feet apart?" he blurted coldly, growing impatient when I hadn't said a word.

I shoved the newspaper at him, and he caught it before it fell to the ground. "What the hell is this?" I barked my question at him, ignoring his own.

Logan looked at me cluelessly, lowering his gaze to the paper. He focused on the article page for over a minute, absorbing its contents. The muddled look on his face told me he knew nothing about this before now. "Where did you get this?" he demanded.

"I saw it at the restaurant. The couple across from me was reading it. I asked if I could take a look," I explained, feeling the weight of the situation settle deeper into my bones. "But that is beside the point right now. What the hell is this rumor? I came here to work for you, not to be caught on camera and become the center of attention."

"Relax," Logan said calmly.

"Relax? I cannot relax, Logan. My face is on the headline of gossip news," I retorted, frustration evident in my voice.

"I'm well aware of that fact, and arguing about it in my room won't change anything," Logan replied indifferently, picking up his phone. He remained composed while I was on the verge of a breakdown. "It's all over the internet," he declared like that would make me less agitated.

"Great!" I sighed in exasperation. "You need to do something about this. Now! Post something on your Instagram or say something publicly to dissolve the rumor," I suggested desperately.

"Like what?" Logan raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know. Post a picture of a hot lady with a cute heart emoji, or address the rumor directly, and they'll shift their attention away from this," I said, gesturing toward the newspaper lying on his bed and feeling agitated by it.

"I don't think that's a wise move."

"Saying nothing is worse. Silence is often taken for affirmation," I argued, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Logan didn't seem to get it, the longer the rumor was out there, the more that people would dig trying to find out who that mysterious woman in the picture was, and I worried for Cassie.

Logan sighed. "You need to calm down."

"Easy for you to say, you don't have a…." I trailed off, catching myself quickly before the word "daughter" dropped from my lips. I pursed my lips, calming down. That was close—too close.

Chapter Ten

Logan

"I don't have a what?" I questioned, eyeing her carefully, and for a minute, I had this feeling that Harper was hiding something from me.

"Nothing," she mumbled quietly and took a seat on my bed. I was sure it was something, but I didn't want to push it. "This is a lot, Logan, and I don't like it. With this much attention, I feel like I can hardly breathe. I can't have them digging into my life and thinking that you and I are something," she emphasized. "You and I are something," like the thought of us being something was somehow unpleasant to her, but I knew for certain it was the contrary.

"It's uncomfortable. You need to do something," Harper urged, holding my gaze. I could see the worry in her eyes, and I felt a need to comfort her somehow, but I couldn't dare touch her.

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