AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dad catches sight of us as we approach, and I really hope Logan doesn’t notice his slight sneer. Mom’s reception, thankfully, is a whole lot warmer.
“Parker,” Dad says.
“Happy birthday, Daddy.” Reluctantly, I let Logan go just long enough to give Dad and Mom quick hugs and kisses.
I go right back to clutching Logan’s arm, feeling relief move through my body like an electric current once I'm secure at his side. What does it mean that I feel more comfortable with this man than I do with my own parents—or at least, with my dad?
“You remember Logan,” I say pointedly.
I place a hand on Logan’s chest again. It’s a gesture that I hope communicates something like:This man is under my protection. If you mess with the bull, you get the horns. Proverbially.
Or, on a more basic level:Mine.
“Mr. Douglas,” Logan says.
I can tell from the length of the handshake and the clenching of jaws that one or both of them is squeezing too hard. I would bet money Dad started it, and Logan’s not going to back down.
Men and their stupid battles of the handshakes. Can’t we all just get along? Can’t we???
I nudge Logan a little with my elbow and he releases my dad.
“Mrs. Douglas,” Logan says, and my mom surprises me when she steps forward to wrap him in a tight hug. I think Logan’s surprised too, based on his expression.
The hug is a little awkward since I’m still holding Logan’s arm. But I promised to be glue, and I meant it. Especially when we’re in firing range of my family.
“Please, call us Don and Janet,” Mom says.
I almost snort at Dad’s expression. Clearly, he is not on board with the first name basis idea.
Mom gives Logan a warm, genuine smile when she pulls back. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Logan. Too bad Brandon isn’t here.”
I glance between her and Dad. “Brandon’s not here?”
“Something came up with work,” Dad says. “I needed him to go to New York.”
“But it’s your birthday,” I say.
“Which means obviously I couldn’t go. It’s fine,” Dad says, waving dismissively. “This needed to get done. Brandon and I see each other all the time.”
I’m sure they do. But while this whole event is a little excessive for a birthday, I find it sad Dad basically forced Brandon to choose work over family. My brother is already in danger of becoming a fully-fledged workaholic just like Dad. Not JUST like him, because Brandon is warm and kind and fun. Or he can be. There’s still hope for him yet, but this kind of thing does not bode well.
The only positive thing about Brandon’s absence means one less awkward encounter with a hostile member of my family. I glance at Logan, whose expression is totally neutral. I mean, HOT neutral because the man is never justneutral, but he looks neither pleased or disappointed by this news.
Just as an awkward silence descends on our little group, a man with a shock of white hair and a thin mustache edges his way into the conversation. I’m not mad at all when Dad turns to give the man his full attention.
“Don’t be a stranger,” Mom tells Logan with another smile.
Then she joins my dad, and it’s over. I breathe an audible, dramatic sigh of relief. If I were the type to carry a handkerchief, I’d wipe it across my brow.
“I’m sorry,” I say when my parents are out of earshot.
“You can’t apologize for other people, Parker.”
“No, I know. It’s just … you deserve better.”
Logan pins me with a look. “So do you.”
His words warm me, but I can’t hold his gaze for long. I look away, watching as Dad curls an arm protectively around Mom. She drops her head on his shoulder. “Dad is tough to deal with. But he has some good qualities. He really does love my mom. That’s not nothing.”
