Page 80 of Consuming Logan

“A trinket won’t fix this, Logan.”

Why was she being so cryptic? Ava was always chastising him about being more considerate of other people. Granny Lou would arrive with her knitting project, needing his help. Instead of leaving her without a second pair of hands, he wanted her to be prepared.

“I’m treating Ava to a special night.”

A heavy silence fell on the other side of the line. Fear, real and gripping, wrapped around his spine. “Did something else happen?”

The protector in Logan thought of Ava being hurt. Had something happened to Drew or Ariss? No. She would have called him.

“Logan,” Granny Lou sniffled. “Ava called last night. She told us that the wedding was off.”

The family must have misinterpreted what Ava meant. How could they think that he or Ava would call off the wedding? Nothing, not even death itself could make him leave Ava or his babies. A little snag of hurt dropped in his chest. Did his future in-laws think so little of him? They could trust him with Ava. He would always take care of her. No matter how angry he appeared, he loved her.

“Granny Lou.” He adjusted the phone at his ear, grabbing the empty bourbon bottle and glass to deposit in the kitchen. He frowned at the dry bottle. No more of this shit for a while, he thought. “We decided to do the courthouse ceremony. Like Dawson and Janna.”

He could hear Granny Lou’s breathing rate increase, but then the rumble of a truck engine pulling into the driveway drew his attention.

“Logan there won’t be a wedding.”

He frowned, pulling the phone away from his ear. He’d asked her granddaughter to marry him.

“Of course there will.” Maybe not in the traditional sense, but she sounded too emotional at the change in venue.

“Ava told us some things you said to her,” she continued. “You want a prize wife, Logan. A trophy to follow your star, listen, and obey. Ava is a woman of faith. One of God’s treasures. She is not for sale or sport.”

“That’s not true. I love, Ava.”

He heard Granny Lou’s sorrowful sigh, filled with pain and resignation.

“Your ego wants a worshipper, but Ava already has a God. Now I’m gonna tell you this and hear me good, Logan. If you can’t love my granddaughter and respect her choices as much as your own, I want you to leave her alone.”

He interrupted. “I do.”

“Don’t lie to appease me with fast, easy answers, Logan Masters.”

The thunder between his ears grew louder.

“There’s been a miscommunication between me and Ava. I need to go,” he ground out. “A truck just pulled—,”

Granny Lou began to speak, continuing even as he tried to get her off the phone. The doorbell rang.

Ring. Ring.

Damn it. He heard something about moving her things.

Ring. Ring.

“Hang on,” he called out.

“Granny Lou, please—.” He couldn’t hear her above the racket at the door.

“Ava’s not coming home,” she stated.

The words cut through him like a sickle. His heart stopped. His knees gave way and he crumpled to the floor. No. He refused to believe Ava would betray him.

“It’s not true.”

“Yes,” she whispered. The pain in her voice echoed the ache in his. For the first time since the accident, Logan felt real terror. “She told her parents she’d find a new place and let us know when she was settled.”