Page 16 of Stuck Together
“That’s not what I expected you to say.”
“Why? Do you really think that poorly of me?”
“I don’t know what I think about you anymore. And your attitude toward me isn’t exactly warm and fuzzy. From where I sit, you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, Madison. I could never hate you.”
I shook my head and whispered. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“It’s just ... this is complicated. Work is complicated. Everything about you being here and working for me is complicated. I don’t need any more complications interfering with work.”
I was struck by his genuine distress over the situation in which we were in. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Forget I said anything.”
“Fine.” It figures he’d start to talk about his feelings and then quickly shut down. He never was good at expressing himself. But our feelings didn’t matter. All that matter was we were now colleagues and had to make this work “Can we at least try to get along and deal with this? There was a time when you and I were friends. Maybe we can be again.”
“You want us to be friends?”
“Why not? Plus, I need this job. And you need help with this client market. You and I both know this market isn’t your strength, but it is one of mine. Let's make the best of this and put the past behind us. It'll probably make our grandmothers happy if we at least pretend to like each other as friends.”
Logan glared at me for a second. “You really think this can work?
“Why not? Like I said, we used to be friends.”
Something flickered in his eyes. They darken as he stared at me for a second before you turn back toward the road.
“Well, anything is pos—”
His phone rang through the car, causing me to jump. He’d synced it to the car, and his ringtone rang loudly through the speakers startling me.
“Excuse me, I have to get this.” He swiped the accept button, his expression immediately softening before he spoke. “Hey, pumpkin What's up?”
“Daddy!” A very little, girlie voice beamed through the car and my eyes widened. “You didn’t come see me this morning. I didn’t get to say goodbye.”
“Sorry, pumpkin. I told you last night before bedtime that I had to go out of town today. That's why we said our goodbyes last night when I left you with Gigi. Remember?”
“Yeah, but you say goodbye to me every morning. I don't like it when you don't say goodbye.”
“Rylee, sweetheart, we talked about this last night. You knew I wouldn't be there this morning. I'll be back in a few days. And besides, I told you I’d call you as soon as I arrived at the resort.”
“It’s not the same.”
“I know, but I’ll call you twice a day while I’m gone.”
“Promise?”
“Of course, pumpkin. I wouldn't miss a chance to talk to you.” Logan’s face beamed with pride and happiness as he talked to the little girl on the phone. It was a side of him I never expected to see. “Tonight Gigi will give you a kiss at bedtime and that kiss will be from me, got it?”
“Okay, Daddy, I'll see later.”
“Yes you will. Now I better go since I’m driving. Love you, Rylee.”
“Love you too, daddy.”
He hung up the phone and stared straight ahead. He had to feel my eyes on him, but he never looked my way or acknowledged the surprise that I know covered my face.
After what felt like several minutes of silence, I asked, “You have a daughter?”