Logan tried to convince himself he didn’t give a fuck about the conversation with Jodie. If the first thing that came to her mind when she thought of him was that he tortured her as a teenager, pushing her away back then had worked.

And he didn’t regret his advice about the pregnancy. It was true it wasn’t his decision to make, but he didn’t want to see her throw everything away for a fling with an asshole roommate.

Which, speaking of, he was tempted to deck Noah, or worse, for tossing Jodie aside the way he had.

Logan drove. It was his standby when he needed to clear his head. He wasn’t sure how far he went. He was more concerned with what was in his thoughts than the road signs. He headed in all directions.

The sun was dipping near the horizon when he turned down a suburban street. It looked familiar. Why was he here?

He approached a familiar house, and the memories rushed back hard and fast enough he had to pull to the curb to process.

That was why he knew the place. At Christmas, their folks had decided since Logan and Jodie were in California, they’d rent a place up here for the holiday.

Logan had dreaded this family get together as much as any. He spent the first few days avoiding Jodie. That wasn’t an option Christmas morning.

When she came down to breakfast, she wore pajama pants and a T-shirt, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. It didn’t matter he saw her like that half the time when he dropped by her apartment. That day, with the lines of stress gone from her face and the teasing hint of a smile dancing on her lips, she was more gorgeous than he’d ever seen her.

She sat down across from him, and her mom placed a plate of French toast in front of her. “Thank you.” Jodie grinned at Megan and handed her a card. “For you and Duke. Merry Christmas.”

It had been a few years since they all gathered ‘round the tree and opened presents. Now their gift exchange consisted of envelopes and small, brightly wrapped packages passed out at the breakfast table. So Logan wasn’t surprised when Jodie handed him a gift-card sized envelope. His name was written on the front in her careful, flowing script.

“Merry Christmas.” Joy sparkled in her eyes.

He gave her the gift he’d gotten her. “Same.”

Jodie’s smile grew. “Open it.”

Her excitement was simple and contagious. Logan tried to be casual about prying the flap open on the envelope, but when it didn’t flip up easily, he gave in to curiosity and tore into the red paper.

He pulled the card out and, when he saw the generic wreath on the cover, raised his brows and looked at her.

Jodie shrugged, grin still in place. “I couldn’t find you a card that was appropriate, so I snagged one from the drug store.”

He couldn’t complain about that. Did he expect her to go out of her way? Two tickets slid into his hand. The printed text said Blink-182. His jaw dropped, and he snapped his jaw shut when he realized he was gaping. The concert was sold out. He’d tried for weeks to win tickets, or buy them from someone. Something. “No.”

She giggled. “You know, if you’re interested.”

“How did you get these?”

“I know a girl who knows a guy.”

“Then if you owe her, maybe she can go with you.” He nodded at the gift he’d handed her. “Your turn.”

She didn’t make any pretenses about being delicate with her envelope. She shredded the white paper. “No card?” Her frown only lasted for half a second before her smile returned. “Fair enough.” She shook out the contents, and gasped. “Oh my God.” Jodie skipped around the table and gave him a huge hug.

A shock of heat spilled through him at the spontaneous moment, and he squeezed back. “It’s just Disney Land.”

“I know but… I mean…”

He hadn’t thought it was a big deal when he made the purchase. Watching her glee, he felt like he’d done the most amazing thing in the universe. “You’ve always wanted to go, and you weren’t going to make arrangements yourself. There are two passes, so you can take a friend.”

“You,” Jodie said, as if it were the only right answer. “You’re going to take me.”

He didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back, he realized that was when he really started to fall for her. It wasn’t simple lust anymore. After break, when they got back to school, he’d told Phoebe he wasn’t interested in casual hook-ups anymore, and she’d dragged out of him that he couldn’t get Jodie off his mind.

Someone knocked on Logan’s car window, jarring him back to the present. He looked up to see a redhead, about Jodie’s age, peering at him. She looked familiar. His brain whirred through faces. That was right, she was Bailey. The woman they’d rented the house from.

He rolled down the window. “Yes?”

“Are you okay?” Bailey hoisted a young child on her hip. Another tugged at her hand. “You’ve been sitting out here staring into space for about fifteen minutes.”

Logan shook the past away. “Sorry about that. I’m not trying to be creepy. My family and I stayed here at Christmas.”

“I remember you.”

“Momma.” The boy holding her hand tugged her toward the driveway. “Go.”

The boy couldn’t have been more than one or two. Barely big enough to walk.

“Can I help you with anything?” Despite the tired lines around her eyes, she looked happy.

“No. Just reminiscing.”

“Momma.” Now the girl in her arms was squirming.

“Just a second, Julie,” Bailey said to the girl. She turned back to Logan. “I’m sorry to cut things short then. Normally someone else gets the place ready for renters, but the timing didn’t work out. I need to get these two home now, though.”

“Do you need a hand? Getting them in the car, I mean.” Logan didn’t know where the offer came from, but it seemed appropriate.

Bailey gave him a grateful smile. “I’d love that, thank you. Will you grab Jack?” She nodded at the boy.

Logan climbed from his car, and picked up Jack. “Hey, kiddo.”

Jack blew spit bubbles at Logan, then rubbed his fingers over his mouth and wiped them on Logan’s cheek.

“Gross, little guy.” Logan couldn’t yell at the toddler for being, well, a toddler, so he kept his voice kind as he tried to hold the boy and wipe his cheek off on his shirt sleeve at the same time.

Jack squealed in delight and repeated the spit-bubble gesture on the other side of Logan’s face.

Logan scrunched his face up in mock disgust. “You think that’s funny?”

Jack clapped and laughed and squirmed.

“Leave the nice man alone.” Bailey took Jack to strap him into his car seat.

Logan used the excuse to dry his face as best he could, but he couldn’t help smiling.

“Thanks for your help.” Bailey turned back to him. “You’re good with kids.” Despite having to cart around two children, the corners of her mouth had been tugged up since she approached him, happiness gleaming in her eyes.

Would Jodie look like that with kids? Logan shook the thought aside. “No problem. Can I ask you something? I’ll make it quick.”

“Sure.”

“Do you ever feel like you gave anything up? Having kids so young, that is.” He frowned. “Never mind. That was rude of me.”

Bailey laughed. “It’s all right. And no, I don’t. There are days that take more planning. Tonight for instance. And I don’t know if I could do it without Wyatt, but I never surrendered anything. I gained two lives to appreciate and nurture.”

Logan said goodnight to Bailey and headed home. He couldn’t get Jodie out of his head, but his thoughts traveled in a different direction than before. His gut churned at her hurt when he tried to shove his opinion on her.

But a glimmer of awe sparked through guilt at how determined she was to do this, even if it was on her own. He’d seen her succeed at everything in her life she set her mind to—it was one of the things he admired about her—and this wouldn’t be any different. Besides, if he was forced to admit it, he wouldn’t mind seeing a little Jodie-tot running around.

He’d be Uncle Logan, and he could spoil the kid rotten. And she’d be an amazing mother. Hell, if she let him, he’d even babysit. The thought caught him off-guard, but it felt right.

A new layer of reality barged in. There had been something in her eyes when she looked at him—regret, mixed with the anger and hurt. He and Jodie didn’t have that kind of relationship. He’d be better off going back to avoiding her.

 

****

 

When Saturday evening and dinner with their parents rolled around, that wasn’t an option anymore.

That was okay. He could scowl at her and be aloof, the way he always was. Apparently she expected it.

He was waiting at the restaurant, where they were all supposed to meet. He wasn’t surprised to be the first one here. Dad would be a little late. He always had a hard time finding his way around this town—said the layout of the city didn’t make sense.

Jodie didn’t keep Logan waiting long. She arrived a few minutes later. He tried not to stare, as she crossed the parking lot toward him. It was impossible to ignore the way she looked in that sun dress, though. It was deceptively innocent, like so many things she did. Sleeveless and hugging her torso, it showed off her breasts without exposing more cleavage than was appropriate for dinner with the folks. The skirt flared out at her hips and ended just above her knees.

Is she wearing panties?

What the hell was wrong with him? That should be the last thing he wondered about.

I bet she’ll look even sexier when she starts to show.

Correction—second-to-last thing.

He bit the inside of his cheek until he tasted copper. The pain was almost enough to subdue the heat flooding his body.

He smiled, but was tense, as she drew closer, and she stared back blankly in return.

“About the other day…” He trailed off.

“There’s nothing to say.” Her tone was cold.

“But—”

“Kids, sorry to keep you waiting.” Logan’s dad stepped into view from behind Logan, his arm wrapped around Jodie’s mother’s waist.

“It’s fine. We haven’t been here long.” Logan gave Megan a quick kiss on the cheek, and Jodie exchanged hugs with her and Duke.

In those few short seconds, Jodie’s demeanor shifted from icy to politely distant.

Good. Everything was returning to normal. Their parents wouldn’t think anything was amiss. And nothing was.

“How are you doing, hon?” Megan asked as the four of them headed inside.

Jodie cast a glare at Logan. “Great. A few hiccups here and there, but otherwise fantastic.”

“Hiccups.” Logan forced the sarcasm into his laugh. “Those are on you.” He might not like being the keeper of her secret, but it wasn’t his to share.

“Be nice,” his dad warned.

Megan sighed. “I hoped being away from home, in a less restrictive environment, would help you two learn to get along.”

“Right.” Jodie scoffed. “Not in this century.”

“There’s no reasoning with children.” Logan slid into the bench seat across from their parents.

Jodie took the spot next to him. He tried and failed to ignore the heat of her bare arm against his or the weight of her thigh as it pressed into him.

“Because I’m the unreasonable one, for recognizing you’re as inconsiderate as your friends.” Bitterness tinged Jodie’s words.

Guilt weighed heavy inside him. He didn’t want to pick this fight. He couldn’t think of an alternative, though. He couldn’t do nice without remembering there could be more. “Don’t hate Noah because someone in that apartment is getting some.” That was a low blow, even in the scope of their arguments, but halfway wouldn’t work.

“Logan,” his dad barked.

“It’s okay.” Was that a quaver running through Jodie’s reply? No. Her expression was blank. And those definitely weren’t tears shining in her eyes. She stood so abruptly, she jarred the table. “I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

Twin gazes of disappointment studied him from across the booth. “Could you two try to get along for one evening?” Megan asked.

She had no idea.

“Megan’s too polite.” Dad sounded angry, rather than resigned. “What the hell is your problem, Logan? She’s your sister.”

That was Logan’s problem. He knew the variations on this conversation, though—what he was expected to say next. “I’m sorry. I’ll try harder.” He didn’t feel the smile he forced to the surface.

Their waitress took their drink orders. He ignored the instinct to get an iced tea for Jodie, and let her mother order instead. When his beer arrived a few minutes later, Jodie still wasn’t back. He swallowed half his drink in a single gulp, but it didn’t squelch the guilt crawling inside.

“Maybe you should go check on her,” his dad said to her mom.

Logan couldn’t do this forced indifference-bordering-on-cruelty. He didn’t know how he’d maintained the facade for this long. “I’ll go.”

Megan eyed him with disbelief. “Are you going to storm into the ladies’ restroom to find her?”

“I’ll knock politely and ask if she’s in there. I was the one who was rude. I should apologize.”

“Damn straight you should.” His dad’s irritation couldn’t hide his surprise.

Logan found Jodie in the hallway near the restrooms. She was leaned with her back to the wall and her gaze tilted toward the ceiling. She didn’t move when he approached.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

She didn’t look at him. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

It wasn’t a no. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s nice.”

He couldn’t do this. If he’d realized it would only take a taste to fuck with his head this way… It didn’t matter. What was done was done, and he wanted to make things right. “This will probably sound weak, but I was trying to—”

“Pretend there wasn’t a spark between us? Protect yourself? By being an intolerable asshole?”

He didn’t know if she was talking about tonight or the conversation in her apartment. Both, probably. “I didn’t say my execution was good.”

“Not good?” She scoffed. “Are you serious? Almost since Day One, you’ve made my life a living hell. Sometimes it’s better. The other day—wow. And, okay, that was a one-time thing. No illusions here. But I didn’t expect you to revert by five years when it was over.”

Fuck. He’d spent so long thinking it was smart to keep her at arm’s length, he never stopped to consider how the consequences weighed on her. “I know it’s not a good excuse, but back then, I was a teenage boy who already had the urge to fuck everything that moved. Then you came along, and it wasn’t an option, and I wanted you more than anyone, anyway.”

“You’re right. That’s a really shitty reason.” She rolled her head to the side and finally looked at him. Her eyes were dry but rimmed with red and smudges of mascara.

“I’m sorry. About what I said back then. About forcing my opinion on you the other day. You’ve got a plan to make this baby work. I don’t even have to hear it to know you’ve thought things through and can make it work. You can make your own decisions, and I respect that.”

Now the words were flowing out, he couldn’t stop. “I’m sick of fighting. Pushing you away. Questioning us. I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say besides that, but I’ll spend however much time it takes, proving to you that I mean it.” As the words spilled out, he realized how true they were.

She hugged herself and turned to face him. “I can’t do this hot-and-cold thing anymore. I’m guilty of it too, but I’m done.” The hurt on her face and the resignation in her voice gnawed at him.

“Me too.” He wasn’t sure what part he was admitting to. All of it? He hovered his hand millimeters from her cheek, wishing he had a way to prove what he said. She licked her lips, and impulse sparked. He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers.

“Stop.” When she placed her palm on his chest, it burned through his shirt. “Someone will see.”

“Good point.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her through the nearest door. Which happened to be the women’s restroom. He was grateful it was empty. He nudged her into the stall at the end, kicked the door shut, and grasped her face in his hands. “Better?”

“No. Not better at all.” Despite her words, the lines of tension had faded from her face. She grasped his shirt in her fists and crushed her mouth to his.

Oh fuck me. He was instantly hard. He pressed closer, pinning her to the wall. Her body molded to his, soft and yielding. He couldn’t believe he was doing this. Feeling her up, making out… More, in a public restroom, with their parents sitting in the dining room.

And he had zero interest in stopping. She ground her hip against his erection, sending a jolt of desire through him. How far could they go in here? Within a limited time frame? He scraped his nails up her thigh as he dragged her skirt up past her panties. So she was wearing them. Not for long.

Someone knocked, and the bathroom door creaked. “Jodie, hon? Are you in here?” It was Megan.

Logan dropped his head onto Jodie’s shoulder with a silent sigh. “Fuck,” he whispered. Could Megan see two pairs of feet back here? The stalls had doors and walls that reached almost to the floor, so probably not.

“Yeah, Mom. Give me a second.” Jodie’s voice was calm and even.

How the hell did she manage that?

She traced the edge of his ear with her mouth. “I’ll go out first. Follow me in a couple of minutes?” Her voice was so low, he strained to hear it, even with her lips that close.

Logan nodded.

She pushed him back, the disappointment on her face reflecting his. “Lipstick,” she mouthed.

He stared at her, trying to make sense of her meaning.

She dragged a thumb along his bottom lip, and when she pulled away, red smudged her skin.

Good point. He should wipe that off.

Jodie stepped from the stall.

“Are you all right?” Megan asked.

“I’ll be fine.” The sound of running water mingled with Jodie’s reply.

“Where’s Logan?”

Their voices faded as the door creaked open again. “I don’t know. Not in here—that’s for sure.”

Logan spun and flopped back against the wall, his heart hammering against his ribs. If his luck held out a little longer, the bathroom would stay empty long enough for him to leave unnoticed.

He grinned at the empty stall. It was worth it. He’d do that again in a heartbeat.