He’d signed it. Edward no longer had any rights to Aria. I nearly collapsed the second the door slammed in my face. I just hoped the saying about when one door closes another one opens was true. Did Logan really believe I didn’t want to be with him? When he asked the driver to let him out of the car last night, I’d completely lost it. I’d pretended I was asleep when he finally came home, and he’d left early this morning when he’d thought I was still sleeping. Between being up to care for Aria and being worried about things with Logan, I had hardly slept a wink. I knew what I had to do before he’d called out Edward’s name in his sleep. Our life was one of those games with the building blocks, where you pull the blocks out one at a time, stacking them higher and higher. Everything was about to tumble over. What scared me most was not knowing if he would want to rebuild our blocks once everything came crashing down. I’d meant what I declared in the car about not having anything “worth any value,“ but not in the context he took it. I mean look at me. I was a single mother. When I got here, I didn’t have two nickels to rub together, shit I still didn’t. I paid Logan rent he insisted he didn’t want every month. Why? Because I promised my baby girl the moment, I found out I was pregnant that I would do right by her. Mooching off your boyfriend wasn’t exactly a shining example of superb parenting. Was it? So no, I didn’t have money, but I was richer than Jeff Bezos in all the ways that mattered. I had a happy and healthy child, a family that loved and supported me, friends who I could count on for anything, my dream job, and a man who loved my daughter and me. Did we have a lot on our plates? Absolutely. Would I change anything? Not anymore.
“Whoa,” One of the brothers caught me before I landed. I knew we were busted when they showed up, but I was glad to have them here as back-up. I didn’t even remember getting to the car. I didn’t remember anything until the bed dipped and I opened my eyes. Logan looked as tired as I felt. When did he get here? Where was here? Aria was in his arms, and both her cry and the tingles in my boobs told me she needed to eat. How long had I been out? I sat up on the bed and held my hands out to take her. When he kissed her before handing her to me, it was as if one of our blocks were put back in place. The room was homey, I assumed we were at Mike and Mark’s house. Once I got Aria settled, Logan handed me a glass of water.
“When was the last time you ate Libby? You scared the shit out of me?” Another block. He still cared.
“I couldn’t.” My appetite had left with Logan when he’d snuck out of his own apartment that morning.
“Why?” He asked after offering me a grape.
“Because I hurt your feelings, Logan.” He placed another grape to my lips before I could continue. I ate it, not just because I was hungry, but Logan taking care of our daughter and me fed both my body and my soul. It gave me hope that together we could face anything. If we worked together on building a strong foundation, we could withstand anything that came our way. He shook his head and began to speak. “No, let me finish. I need to say this.” I pleaded, and he waited for me to continue. Where should I begin? Aria grunted, and we both laughed. It was amazing how she could ground us both with just one little noise.
“That’s my girl.” Logan smiled and held out a finger. She wrapped her tiny fingers around his giant one, and I swooned, letting out an audible sigh of happiness at seeing the way he looked at her.
“You need to stop doing that Libby.” He wanted me to stop being happy? To not love the way he loved her? Us?
“Doing what?” I needed Logan to clarify what he meant.
“Acting like I’ve done something miraculous every time I call Aria mine or even you for that matter. Nothing will ever change that.”
“I know it’s just that sometimes I don’t believe it. It takes my breath away to know you love Aria like a father.”
“Not like a father, Libby.” Logan was her father in every single way that mattered. No matter what happened between us, I knew he always would be.
“How?” My voice trembled as I asked.
“Was that why you came here today?” I knew he wasn’t happy about me coming there without him. “Did you think a piece of paper would make her more mine?” In my heart, I knew it couldn’t, but my brain and my heart weren’t exactly on the same page which was silly because even a piece of paper between Logan and me would make me love him any more than I already did. And I knew it was the same with him and Aria.
“No,” It was the truth. I hoped Logan heard it in my voice. Aria was now asleep in my arms. I slipped her onto the bed beside me and took both his hands in mine. “I came here today because I didn’t want him to have any power over us. He has no right to either Aria or me Logan. We both belong to you.” I never wanted to belong to anyone before. I think it was why I always ended up with guys like Edward. There had never been a chance of my ever falling for him or the others before him.
“And I belong to you Lib, but it doesn’t change the fact I’m mad as hell at you for pulling this stunt.” Not that I could blame him. I would be pissed too.
“I’m sorry Daddy,” I crooned as seductively as possible.
“Don’t ever call me that babe.” He groaned as he squirmed a little. It was nice to know I still had an effect on him.
“Yes, sir.” What could I say? I liked living dangerously. I might have been a mother now, but I was not dead. If my lady bits still weren’t a hot mess, I’d let him have his way with me right then.
“Fuck, I need a cold shower.” I kind of like being a MILF.
“Where are we going?” Logan hadn’t arrived in Syracuse alone. Gabe and Eric had joined him to collect their errant wives. We ended up with Aria and all her stuff in one car while Nat, Suzie, Gabe, and Eric were in the other.
“You’ll see.” Logan hadn’t asked about my meeting with Edward. I’m sure Mike and Mark told him all about it while I was passed out. I was kind of glad he didn’t. While I was relieved Edward no longer had any rights when it came to Aria, I didn’t want Logan to feel like I expected anything from him. He was already more than I ever expected. Logan stopped the car in front of an apartment building in the NoMad area, not far from my sister and the restaurant. Logan handed the car keys to the valet and gave him an apartment number before he showed us inside the building. He held Aria in her carrier in one hand and my hand in his other as we rode up to the fourteenth floor.
“Do you know someone who lives here?” Other than the friends Logan shared with my sister and Declan and his staff, he didn’t ever mention anybody else. Other than his niece, Clara, Chris was his only family, and he was in jail.
“You could say that.” He grinned when he stopped in front of 14C and put a key in the lock. “Welcome home.” He gestured for me to go inside. What the hell? When had he done this?
“I, I, I, …” The view was incredible. To our left was a kitchen. I could see Logan making us breakfast while we sat at the bar watching him cook. Past the open kitchen was the living space. French doors opened onto a private patio. “We don’t need all of this Logan.” The apartment was gorgeous, but I couldn’t help but think about the price tag that came with a building with a valet and doorman. I couldn’t afford it.
“Don’t Lib.” He must have seen me running the numbers in my head. “I can afford it. Plus, I know a guy.” Declan, of course. “He happens to want what’s best for his future niece and sister in law.” I might have had a girly moment when I squealed. I knew he was going to ask my sister to marry him. “Don’t say anything yet. I don’t know if he’s popped the question yet. Plus, if you’re alright with it we’ll need more room for Clara.” I motioned zipping my lips and tossed the key over my shoulder before I launched myself into his arms. I knew this amazing man would do right by his niece, even when he didn’t. Just like he had for Aria.
“Have I told you that I love you, Daddy?” My lips crashed down on his before he could caution me.
“You’re pushing it Lib.” He warned once we finally came up for air.
“God, I hope so.”
Was it bad that I had one of those countdown clocks on my phone for when we could make love again? Don’t get me wrong, I loved the blowjob that Libby just gave me in our new apartment,
But nothing in the world beats being completely connected with my woman. Things were starting to look up for us. We had a new place to call home. Edward was no longer a black cloud hanging over us, and Declan assured me he would “handle” the Grant Barnes situation. Not that I needed Declan to take care of my shit, but he did disappear for six months. He owed me this one.