Logan

The bell jangles like a flock of angry birds as someone crashes through the door. Our clients crane their neck to see what the commotion is about. I’ve got my hands deep in someone’s hair. Since we’re behind the partition that hides the sink I can’t see who entered.

We’ve got the television on and turned to the game show channel. It’s hard to hear what Tanya is saying, but when the customer who barged in replies to her, I stiffen.

I recognize that voice.

“Yvonne,” I beckon with my fingers, “can you finish washing out the dye and flat iron?”

She bobs her head and rushes to change places with me. I grab a clean towel and dry my hands as I stride forward. My instincts prove correct when I spot Lauren Duncan standing in the middle of my salon.

Her voluminous red hair tumbles over one shoulder. She’s dressed in a tight white T-shirt and skinny jeans. When she turns around and locks eyes with me, I note the fierce expression on her face.

What did I do?

Lauren storms over, her heels clopping against the tiled floor. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

I see Tanya bristle and round the counter. Both her thin eyebrows are hiked and her nose is scrunched like she smelled something foul. “Excuse me?”

“Stop.” I hold my hand out to my best friend before she starts a fight in front of our customers. “It’s fine.”

“Logan, you know this girl?” Tanya demands.

“I do.” I grab Lauren’s hand and say in a low voice, “Let’s talk somewhere private.”

She yanks her hand from mine but nods. “Fine.”

I lead her to the office and lock the door behind me. Lauren picks her way through the boxes on the floor like they’re explosives. She leans against my desk and pins me with a hard stare. “You know, you have a lot of nerve, Logan.”

I brush my hands against the back of my jeans. “What are you talking about?”

“How did you do it?” She laughs humorlessly. “How did you convince Ben to stay in this backwater, third world country?”

I stiffen. “Look, Lauren. I’m trying to be patient because it’s clear you’re upset, but don’t insult my country or my people.”

She sneers. “Are you sleeping with him?”

My jaw drops. “What?”

“Ben’s always been a sucker for a big pair of tits.” Lauren’s pointed gaze at my chest makes me wrap my arms over them. She scoffs. “Since that can’t be the case with you, I’m assuming you tried your best to make yourself available in other ways.”

“How dare you.” I stalk toward her. She visibly shrinks, but I don’t care. “I did not have sex with Ben. I have no interest in influencing his decision about Belize at all. Ben chose to stay. Maybe it’s hard for you to accept since your husband is so used to controlling him, but that’s the truth.”

“So he never discussed it with you?”

“I was prepared to say goodbye to them both. When Ben told me what he wanted, I was shocked. Just like you.”

Lauren shakes her head. “No, it doesn’t make sense. He has no reason to stay. Everything he could ever need, ever want is with us.”

“Have you thought that maybe he wants to do it on his own? Without his dad breathing down his neck?”

“You don’t understand.” Lauren huffs. “Ben is the most immature man I’ve ever met. He has no sense of responsibility. No conviction. No purpose.”

“Or maybe he wasn’t given an opportunity to find his purpose.”

“No.” She points a crooked finger. “It had to be you.”

“So what? If it was because of me, you would have threatened me until I changed Ben’s mind? Or maybe you would have offered to pay my store’s mortgage off again?”

Lauren licks red-stained lips. “This isn’t a game to me, Logan. Reece is an innocent child. Harry’s child. I can’t afford to leave her with someone I don’t trust.”

“Are you referring to me or to Ben?”

She looks away, saying nothing.

“Lauren, I know you care about Reece. And it’s clear your husband’s fallen in love with her too. But Belize is only a short flight from the States. We’re not going to take her and run. We’re—Ben’s going to do his best to raise and provide for her, and we have a host of friends who’ll help him out if he needs it.”

She shifts her weight from one leg to the other. “So… nothing really happened between you two?”

“Me and Ben? No. And it won’t either.” The words are bitter as they fly out of my mouth. Quickly, I add. “I mean… never say never, but—”

“Not Ben. Harry.”

I study her face. She ducks her head so I can’t see her eyes, but I can tell her very being is hanging on my answer.

Should I lie to her? Exact my revenge and paint a picture of a relationship that never existed? Or tell her the truth and let her heart rest easy?

“Harry and I were soul mates.”

Her breath hitches audibly. “W-what does that mean?”

“It means… he completed me. And I comforted him. We filled in each other’s cracks in a way that no one else could. Whatever he was made of in here—” I point to my heart—“I was made of the same.”

Her eyebrows scrunch in confusion. “Does that mean you dated?”

“Nope.”

“Slept together?”

“Nope.”

“Kissed? Not even once?”

“Not even once.”

Her countenance brightens. “Okay!” she says jubilantly. “I guess I can go home now.”

“Just a minute.” I pull her back and then ease the door open, glancing down the hallway. “You better take the back door. And never come back.”

“Why?” Lauren asks, fluffing her hair.

My voice is flat. “Because if my best friend sees you again, she’s going to kill you.”

Lauren’s eyes widen.

“With a pair of cutting scissors.”

She trembles and says nervously, “Where’s that back door?”

I see Lauren out and then return to the salon. Tanya spots me and sprints over, yanking my arm and hauling me to a quiet corner. “Who was that? And where is she?”

“She’s gone.” I pry Tanya’s fingers off my arm. “You don’t have to worry about her coming back.”

“What did she want?”

“Harry.”

Realization dawns in Tanya’s dark eyes. “That was Harry’s ex?”

I shrug.

“No wonder you were so upset. Damn, that girl is gorgeous!” Tanya catches my expression and dutifully amends. “Not as pretty as you though.”

I push her away. “Ben must have told his dad that he’s staying in Belize. From the look of things, I’m guessing he didn’t take it well.”

“You should call him. Better yet, why don’t you take off now?”

“Really?” I study her face.

“Yeah.” She grins, her braids bouncing. “Girl, that’s the least I can do for you and your new family.” Tanya nudges me in the side. “Go. Be free.”

I grab her face and give her a big kiss on the cheek. “Thanks.”

“Whatever.” Tanya wipes her cheek with a palm.

I grin over my shoulder as I fly through the front door and sail into the bright Caribbean sunshine. It’s after five so the traffic is bumper to bumper. It’ll take forever to get home at this rate.

I frown and turn to go back inside when I spot Tanya’s bicycle resting against the side of the building. A few minutes later, I take off, blowing past the cars stuck in a gridlock.

I pedal the bicycle like a maniac. Some kid even points and laughs at my short legs pumping like a machine. I ignore him and lean forward, letting the wind pummel my face and blow my hair back.

The sky explodes with color as dusk settles on Belize City. Coconut trees arch toward the sky. The Caribbean Sea rushes in the distance, the waves singing their own songs and filling the air with the scent of salt and seaweed.

It’s almost nightfall when I spot Harry’s house up ahead. I pedal faster and toss the bicycle into the yard.

Ben’s rental is parked on the side of the road. That means he’s here. So why are there no lights on in the living room or the porch? He normally leaves the lights on for me.

Panic starts in my stomach and winds its way up to my head. I pull my keys out of my pocket, struggling to fit it into the keyhole. My hands are trembling too violently. It takes me three tries before I’m successful.

I blow the door open and storm through. Ben’s on the couch. His eyes are closed. He’s still. Unmoving. I sprint to his side and drop on my knees. Why is his face so pale? Why isn’t he waking up?

“Ben? Ben!”

He doesn’t respond. Doesn’t even flutter an eyelash. Tears form in my eyes. I hover over the couch and shake his shoulders, desperate to wake him. “Ben! You can’t go like this! Reece needs you! I need you! Ben! Ben! Wake up!”

Suddenly, the living room light flips on. Reece steps into the room, feet bare. She rubs her eyes and studies me. “Logan? What’s going on?”

I feel Ben shifting beneath my hands and glance down to find his gaze on me. I yelp and fall back, landing hard on my rear. He sits up slowly.

I blink, struggling to make sense of his seemingly miraculous recovery. Adrenaline is still pounding through my veins. My chest heaves. “Ben?”

He pulls earphones out of his ears. I hadn’t seen them because it was so dark in here. He smirks. “I was resting my eyes for a bit. Did you think I’d killed myself or something?”

I slap him on the arm, tears streaming down my face even though I’m relieved. “You scared me.”

He nurses the spot where I hit him. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Clearly.”

“Why would you jump to the conclusion that I hurt myself?”

I glance up and find Reece listening intently. I force a smile. “Reece, do you mind getting me a cup of water?”

She drags her feet, but obediently saunters into the kitchen.

When she’s gone, I lean in. “Lauren stopped by the store earlier. She was angry. Demanded to know what I’d done to convince you to stay in Belize. I figured your father must have exploded too and came straight over to find you unresponsive. What was I supposed to think?”

Ben chuckles and swipes my cheek to wipe my tears. “You have a very active imagination.”

Reece returns to the living room and hands me a glass of water. “Here you go.”

“Thanks, honey.” I smile at her and hold the cup, making no moves to drink it.

“Grandpa says he’s leaving the country tomorrow. He wants us to take him to the airport. Will you have time to come?”

I shake my head. “Sorry. I have to work.”

She nods. “When school starts, can I get my old job back?”

“What job?” Ben asks.

“She comes in once a week to help us clean and reorganize.” I squeeze Reece’s shoulder and take a sip of my water. “She’s very good. Our salon wouldn’t function without her.”

Reece beams proudly.

Ben pinches her cheek. “Are you sad that my dad is leaving?”

“I am.” Reece nods. “Having Dada around was fun.”

“Would you have,” Ben glances at his hand and casually asks, “wanted to go with them?”

“Where?” Reece scrunches her nose.

“To the US?”

I hold my breath. If Reece says ‘yes’ will that change Ben’s mind?

Reece thinks long and hard. Finally she shakes her head. “Dad’s stuff is here. So is Logan and Miss Lydia and all my friends. I would like to visit him sometime though.”

I grin. “That can be arranged.”

Reece jumps to her feet. “Logan, can we make garnaches for dinner?”

“Spanish food?” Ben rubs his stomach. “Sounds delicious.”

When Reece scampers off to her bedroom, I climb to my feet. Ben joins me, his smirk still firmly in place.

I arch an eyebrow. “What?”

“You need me, huh?” He rubs his chin, looking pleased.

I turn on my heels and head to the kitchen. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I heard it with my own ears. You were bawling and begging me not to leave you.”

I wince. “You’re imagining things.”

Ben follows me to the kitchen where he proceeds to tease me all night.