Page 125 of Finding Us
“Logan.”
“This is my son, Blake.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Blake.” When he holds out his hand, Blake shakes it, just like I taught him to. “Wow, that’s a good strong handshake.” Blake smiles, and I stand a little taller. “Angel, CJ,” he calls out.
“Yes, Daddy,” a little girl screeches as two kids come barrelling down the hallway.
“This is Blake,” he says to them before turning his attention to my son. “These are my kids, Angel and CJ.”
“Hi,” Blake says bashfully.
“Do you want to come play with us?” CJ asks.
Blake looks up at me. “Can I, Dad?”
“Of course, bud.”
When the three of them run off, Logan moves his attention back to me. “Come in,” he says. We cross the expansive foyer and make our way down the long hallway, “So how do you fit in to this dynamic?”
“I’m Connor’s best friend, and I dated Jacinta for a little while.”
“Ah, the best friend’s little sister, how did Connor take that? I know how protective he is of her.”
“Not great at first, but he warmed to it after a while.”
He chuckles. “Fair enough. Your breakup must have been amicable since you’re still around?”
“I kind of messed things up between us, but I’m hoping she’ll forgive me for that one day.”
I’m usually a private person, so I have no clue why I’m opening up to a stranger. Maybe I’ve been hanging around Connor too much, and he’s starting to rub off on me.
Logan reaches up, tapping me on the back. “The old unrequited love … I’ve been there. It was like that for me when I first met Brooke, but look at us now. Take my advice, if Jacinta is really what you want, don’t give up.”
“I don’t plan to.”
“Persistence pays off in the end … well it did for me. You’re still here so count that as a positive.” I dip my head,I’m only here because they feel sorry for me.“Come meet my beautiful wife and I’ll grab you a beer. You drink beer, right? I have spirits if you prefer.”
Beautiful wife.I love that he said that. This night is already turning out to be nothing like I expected, and I feel shitty for automatically judging them on the size of their house.
“Beer’s fine, but I’m driving so I can only have one.”
When we enter the kitchen, I see his wife is indeed beautiful, but she has nothing on my Red. I can tell by the way the women laugh and hug each other that they’re close. I’m grateful Grace and Jacinta had people like this in their life to help; I only wish my mum had the same. Things may have turned out differently for her if she did.
I follow him towards the girls. He drapes his arm over his wife’s shoulder, pulling her into his side and placing a chaste kiss on her temple. “Brooke, this is Mason. Mason, this is my wife, Brooke. He’s Connor’s best friend.”
“And Jacinta’s boyfriend,” she says excitedly, and I see her husband grimace. “I’ve heard all about him.” My eyes dart to Red, and her cheeks are now the same colour as her nickname. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
“Actually, they’re not together anymore,” Logan tells her.
“Oh no! How come?” she asks as her wide eyes move from me to Jacinta.
Thankfully, Grace steps forward and saves me from having to have that awkward conversation. “They’re having a break, but I’m sure they’ll work it out in time.”
“I’m so sorry, Jaz,” Brooke says, reaching for her hand and giving it a sympathetic squeeze. When Jacinta dips her face, I feel like a colossal arsehole for what I did.
“Would you ladies like a glass of wine?” Logan asks, and I’m grateful for the change of subject.
After a disastrous start, the evening continues to improve as the night wears on. Instead of the posh meal I was expecting, Brooke made a variety of salads, a hot creamy potato dish, and some cheesy macaroni—which Blake has already had three helpings of—and freshly baked, crusty bread.
