Page 71 of You Had Me at Merlot

Helen’s eyes went wide. “Now?” She glanced at the shower.

“I know. I can be quick, but it’s going to bother me if I don’t get it out.”

“Tell me while I shower?” Helen didn’t wait for a response and instead stepped inside beneath the water. Leighton closed her eyes, wishing Helen had given her a moment. Didn’t matter. She’d learnedher lesson about holding back information years ago and would not make the same mistake again. Ever.

“Here’s the thing about Logan Morrow. He—”

“I did catch he has your same last name. Now my brain’s in overdrive. Don’t you dare tell me he’s your long-lost relative.” She added a laugh.

“No. He is.”

Helen poked her head around the corner of the shower wall. “Stop. Are you kidding me?”

“He’s my father.”

Helen’s eyes went wide. “Why in the world wouldn’t you have said so? This is awesome.”

“Not exactly. We don’t speak. We’ve never had a relationship.”

“I can’t believe that. You’re in the same city.”

“I know.” Leighton swallowed, uncomfortable, but knowing this was an important conversation. She hadn’t planned on getting into Logan, but given the fundraiser, it was the right move.

“Come with me tonight. We can change the narrative.” Helen popped back into the shower with an amazed look on her face. “I’m literally flabbergasted to hear that he’s your dad. I mean,Logan Morrow. He’s got a lot of great ideas about how to get this state back on track. I love his calm demeanor, as well. Never gets riled up when the other side stoops low.”

Leighton blinked. Helen had skated past her feelings. She could tell it wasn’t overt. In all honesty, she was probably still processing. But underneath it all, Leighton wished Helen had paid at least a little bit of attention to how this whole thing affected her. A contrast from the support she’d felt from Jamie.

“If it’s okay with you, I think I’m still going to skip the fundraiser.”

“I don’t have to go either,” Helen said. That was something, at least.

“You don’t have to miss it on my account.” Secretly, though, she hoped Helen would.

“Yeah? Because personal feelings aside, I think he can make a real difference. He’s pushing some fantastic programs for the arts. We need him.”

“Totally understand,” Leighton said, swallowing the disappointment. Helen was a good person who cared about her. She didn’t need to let this difference in perspective affect their relationship. Politics mattered to Helen more than she’d anticipated, perhaps.

“Wait,” Jamie said the next day when Leighton swung by Too after work. She’d stayed a little late for a West Coast meeting, which meant they were well into wine bar hours when she arrived. She scanned the space, amazed at the number of red wine and hot doughnut pairings. People were really taking to the combo, which she understood entirely as she bit into a warm cinnamon sugar. “What do you mean she went to the fundraising event? After you told her he was your absent asshole father, she still went?”

“She already had the invite and was so excited. I think her friend Audrey was going as well, so there was a social component.”

“Did you tell her about the letter you wrote and how it came back? Or the way he treated your mom?”

“No.”

Jamie paused mid-bottle open. “Leighton.” Her voice was quiet. “This thing with Logan is a big deal for you, and she needs to honor that. Loyalty is a real and true thing.” She poured the glass of merlot and delivered it to the waiting table by the window, brightening as she went.

Leighton watched her progress and the warmth that radiated off her as she interacted with the customer. Jamie had recently cut a couple of inches off her hair. It just brushed her shoulders now. Leighton loved the new look. Plus, she felt better after just talking to Jamie about the fundraiser scenario, which of course she knew would be the case. It always was. Jamie just seemed to understand so much about Leighton and what she needed. It was nice to feel truly seen by another person. “I hear you, and if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll tell her how it made me feel,” she said when Jamie returned.

“I want more than that for you. Do you want me to talk to her?” There was a fire behind those blue eyes. “I will have no problem explaining how her actions could affect you.”

Leighton laughed. “No. Absolutely not. The day my friends have to communicate to my girlfriend on my behalf would be a sad one. I can do it.”

“If you say so. I know Helen means well, but this was not cool.”

“I’ll handle it. You’ve given me the kick in the ass I needed.”

Jamie nodded, the fire dimming. “Girlfriend, huh? I knew you two were official, but this is the first time I’ve heard you use the word. It’s a big step.”

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