Chapter 6
Logan waited patiently outside. It had been over an hour since Brice left, and Maddy and Bree both wanted to redo their makeup and hair. Sighing, he thought about the parole meeting with Brice. He laughed, thinking of the word ‘meeting’. It was damn near a date with the young blond cop asking personal questions and Logan his own. That look Brice gave him, a look of longing to be held, the same thing Logan wanted. At first he thought it was in his mind, that perhaps he was just fantasizing. But he could feel Brice's emotions as if they were his own. And there was an attraction there, no doubt. When Logan had made it clear he knew what Harry was probably asking Brice to do, it was a hunch, and he was shocked when Brice did not deny it. In his smile and that simple nod of his head, Logan trusted him.
But was he trusting the wrong person? Was Brice doing this to set him up down the road? Maybe earn a promotion from Harry? It was possible, but Brice’s soft brown eyes told him otherwise. There was a sense of honor in them, a trait Logan's parents had instilled in him.
“Alright, we are ready. Sorry for running late,” Maddy said as she and Bree stepped out onto the porch. Logan smiled. Both had applied more makeup than necessary, and with Bree's tight tank top and low riding jeans, she was bound to get the attention she was craving.
Maddy on the other hand, though not as much makeup, wore a baggy shirt with her jeans to conceal her own body. Another thing that bastard Tommy did to her.
“Let’s go.”
“You drive, stud,” Bree said, tossing him her keys. He smiled, and getting into the SUV, fired it up. The temperature outside was rising fast and he was glad for the cold AC already blowing.
Looking to his side, he laughed as he watched Bree get in the passenger seat.
“What? Do you think after not seeing you for three years I’m going to sit in the back?”
“I guess not,” Logan said.
A moment later they were off, heading toward town and from there onto the highway and into the city. Ten minutes later, they were coming up to the park right before the turnoff to the highway, and Bree had not stopped talking. Looking into the review mirror, Maddy gave him a wink.
“So, I'm staying single for life. I have my best friend and that’s all I need, ain't that right, babe?”
“You know it’s true,” Maddy said, and they both laughed.
Logan smiled, then slowing down, his eyes went wide. On the sidewalk, he saw Brice standing facing a woman. She leaned over and kissed him on his cheek, or lips, he could not tell. But then they were hugging. His hands gripped the steering wheel, causing them to go white.
A city slicker had fooled him, giving him the vibes and making him think he was interested. He had seen a few guys pull that shit before, thinking it was funny to flirt and then later admitting it was all a joke. Apparently Brice had a woman, and Logan was just something he was amused at.
Turning onto the highway, Logan felt his temper rise even more for being duped. He was attracted to the cop, and somehow Brice had the better of him. It was his own fault, a reminder of when you let your guard down, you ended up with being trampled on.
“Well, he can kiss my ass, the stupid punk,” he mumbled.
“What did you say?” Bree asked, snapping Logan from his thoughts.
“Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Bree smiled. “All joking aside, I'm glad you’re back home, Logan. I missed you.”
Logan glanced over. She was a bit over the top at times, but she had a great heart. And they shared a secret. She would come down to the prison every few months to visit him and let him know what was going on at home. Plus, it gave him the time to talk with someone that he needed on the outside. They didn't tell Maddy for fear of hurting her, and Maddy more than likely would not have understood why Logan wanted her kept away.
“Missed you too, Bree. Love you,” he said.
“Love you too,” she said, giving him a warm smile.
“I’m glad you’re gay because there is no way I would ever let you two get together,” Maddy pipped up, and they all joined in laughter, the anger gone away again.
For now.
***
“So, I’m thinking the baby blue one,” Bree said, holding up the bra in front of Logan.
He smiled, a shake to his head. “I told you a million times, it’s not like the movies. I don't like shopping for women’s clothes.”
“Yeah, right. Come on, what do you think?”
“Well, I think the cups are big enough to cover my head,” he said, and Bree punched his arm playfully. “But honestly, get the light blue one and the black.”
Two women were watching them, both of them whispering.
“Has me working a pole at night and doesn't have the decency to pick out my outfits,” Bree said to them, making the women’s eyes going wide before they hurried off.
Laughing, Logan felt better, the anger over earlier now gone completely.
“Hey, I just wanted to let you know, I appreciate you keeping an eye on Maddy,” Logan said as Bree grabbed a black bra off the rack.
“Of course. She’s my sister, and you always been my big brother.”
“Bree,” Logan said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
“Yeah?”
“She won’t talk about it with me. Does she with you?”
Bree sighed.
Logan looked over at the changing rooms where Maddy was still inside. The department store they were in wasn't that crowded, and he had been dying to talk to Bree alone.
“Not really, just a little here and there. I tried talking her into going to a support group in Bozeman but she won’t have it. But opening that store was the best thing for her.”
Logan nodded. For the first two years he was gone, Bree had let him know Maddy never left the house at all at first, rarely even going outside. But Bree had worked with her, taking small walks around the property until two years later she was well enough to start her own store.
“It has been. Thank you again for seeing me down in prison and taking care of her. It means a lot, and I'm glad we are family.”
“Me too,” Bree said, giving him a hug.
Logan knew that family was beyond blood. It was people who stood by you through thick and thin. He had some friends in town that disappeared once he was arrested, others still refusing to talk to him. But Bree had been a lifesaver, from helping keep Logan calm the night Maddy's life was shattered to being there for her everyday. She was selfless, and Logan would never see any harm come to her either.
“Seriously you two, I'm starting to wonder,” Maddy said, breaking his thoughts and the hug. He turned and saw his sister with a handful of purchases in her hand.
“What did you get?” Logan asked.
“Let’s see…new jeans,” Maddy said, holding a pair of black denims up, “some new shirts,” showing off the different colored shirts and blouses, “and some other stuff.”
Logan smiled, throwing his thumb toward Bree. “Nice. Boobzilla over here bought some restraining cups for her chest.”
Maddy laughed as she walked up and handed him the pile of clothes. “Watch that for me. I need to pick out some underwear.” Logan nodded, then looked over as Maddy turned back and stared at him.
“What?”
“I don't want you seeing them. Go to the guy’s section.”
Logan laughed. “Fine. Meet me there.”
Heading over to the men’s section, he browsed through their shirts, not seeing anything he liked. It was only three in the afternoon and they would be hitting up a lot more stores. His mind went back to Brice for a few moments, but rather than getting upset again, he thought about what they were going to do for dinner.
***
The three of them sat on the wicker bench on the porch, looking out across the night sky. The stars were out and all of them were tired from the long day at the mall. Later in the week he would be joining Maddy at work to start his new job. But for now he was just enjoying the time with his sisters. Both had been drinking wine for the last two hours and had been giggling nonstop, carrying on like they did when they were sixteen.
“I tell you what, Logan, when you’re off your parole, we are going to drink like crazy,” Maddy said. Logan sat in the middle of the two, his arm around her.
“Is that right?”
She smiled. “Yep. Put all this shit behind us, a new start in life.” Her voice was a bit slurred, her face in a constant smile.
“I like that idea.”
He turned his head as Bree poked his side. “And you know, just because you’re back doesn't mean I’m going to stop coming over. I might just start hanging around a lot more.”
Logan lifted his arm, allowing her to lean her head into his chest. “You know you are always welcomes here.”
“I do.”
They were all quiet for a few minutes, then Bree snickered. “Hey, Maddy.”
“Hey, Bree,” Maddy giggled.
“Remember Mr. Johnson, the science teacher?”
Maddy giggled. “The one you had a crush on? How could I forget?”
“I saw him last week, I forgot to tell you. He’s back in town again visiting, and still looks good. So, I'm talking to him, and then I saw something rise in his pants, if you know what I mean.”
Both of them laughed, and Logan stood up. This was his cue. “Alright, girls. See you tomorrow.”
Giving Maddy a hug and then Bree, he headed back into the house. When he looked out the window, both had turned to face each other, and what he saw brought a smile to his face and a tear to his eye. Not only was Maddy laughing, she was smiling. A huge smile from ear to ear. And seeing that smile and hearing that laugh made him happy for her.
Heading back to his room, and closing the door, he quickly stripped down to his boxers and lay on the bed, his hands folded behind his head. His mind wandered for a while and then turned to thoughts of Brice.
“I wonder what his laugh is like.”