Logan
“I think we should have a party,” Chloe said. She was currently curled up on my lap as we were spending the afternoon lounging on the sofa at my house. I loved having her here as my girlfriend and I loved that it was totally normal, even to my family.
“Where is this coming from?”
“Suck it up, you’re having a party to celebrate your birthday.”
“You didn’t have one.” It was a child’s argument but an argument nonetheless.
“I had a night out.”
“Hmm, that’s right, you had a girls’ night out. I might have a boys’ night.” I didn’t really want a night out now we were getting down to it at every opportunity, I’d rather spend my birthday naked and nasty but a piss up with Ollie could be a laugh, too. We’d not really spent much time together since he was working long hours as a lorry driver while he tried to think of a business he wanted to start up himself.
“Absolutely. Your birthday is on a Tuesday this year so have a boys’ night then. The party will be the Saturday before.” She smiled triumphantly. I was a little surprised, and slightly overjoyed, that she knew what day my birthday was on. I didn’t know what day it was on.
I wasn’t really opposed to a party, it made no difference to me, but I really liked the banter when she disagreed or tried to get me to do something.
“Fine, I’ll have a party,” I replied, pulling her closer. Little things like chilling on the sofa with her were the things that I looked forward to the most. That and getting her naked at every opportunity.
It was easier now we were out in the open, I could be with her properly at her house and mine. We still hadn’t done the tell the world thing yet but that didn’t matter. One step at a time.
She laid her head on my shoulder. “Good. Who do you want to invite?”
“You and Ollie.”
“Really, Logan!” she said.
“What’re you two doing?” Mum asked, walking in the front door, dropping her bag down and slipping off her shoes. I wanted to frown. Chloe being off uni for the summer and early shifts this week meant we got the house to ourselves for a couple hours before everyone got home. I preferred having her to myself.
“Planning Logan’s birthday party,” Chloe replied. She went to sit up but I held her in place, keeping her body flush against mine. She often pulled back that little bit and I knew she was only trying to be respectful but Mum pretty much had a huge smile on her face every time she saw us together, as did Dad and Cass.
“Oh, you’re having a party?” Mum asked, her eyes lighting up. I didn’t really have parties so she would be all over this.
“Apparently.”
Chloe nudged me. “We’re working on the guest list.”
“Family will be there, right?” Mum asked.
“Sure.” I shrugged. “Ask whoever you want.”
Mum sat down, grabbing a note pad and pen from the side. “When were you thinking, Chloe?”
“The Saturday before his birthday.”
“Good idea.”
So I wasn’t even needed anymore. Maybe they wouldn’t need me to be there either.
It was decided – not by me – that all my family, Chloe’s parents, Ollie and Nell were invited. We were having it at home and Dad would do a barbecue.
I sat there quietly as Cassie came home and got involved, too, volunteering herself to bake me a cake and make vodka jelly. When Dad, my saviour, got home, I kissed the top of Chloe’s head and followed him into the kitchen.
“What’re those three cooking up?” he asked.
“My birthday party. You’re doing a barbecue by the way.”
He opened the fridge, grabbing two beers. “Right.” He opened the bottles and handed me one. “You want a party?”
“Nope. Clearly doesn’t mean I’m not getting one, though.”
“Ah, just go along with it. Much easier that way.”
That was Dad’s motto. He liked the quiet life so he said at least a hundred times a day yes, Julia.
“How is everything going? We’ve not had a chance to talk in a while.”
He meant since he found out, when Mum went dancing upstairs to tell him, that I was with Chlo now.
“Going good. She does tend to step back when people are around, though.”
“Give it time, it’s a change for everyone.”
“Yeah, I know.” I took a swig of beer. “Good change or…?”
“My son is happy. As a parent that’s all you want.”
“That simple?”
“Yes,” he replied. “It was more of a shock to me than your mum and apparently, that’s because I’m a clueless man but the bottom line is, you could love a girl that used to be with your brother, love a man, or even a goat and as long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
Alright, I wasn’t great with father/son moments but that meant a fucking lot to me. “Thanks,” I replied. “If I fall for a goat though, I’d like you to try talking me out of it.”
“Okay, I came into this conversation at the wrong time,” Chloe said, standing at the door, raising her eyebrow. “Something I should know?”
I held my arm out and she hesitated for less than a second before curling her body into mine. I loved the way she always put her hand on my chest whenever we stood like that, there was no reason for that arm to do anything, the other one was around my back, but that one always had to touch me.
“I was just telling Logan that if he wanted to have sex with a goat I wouldn’t think any less of him,” Dad said, smiling around the top of the bottle.
She looked up at me, eyebrow rising higher. “Well, your dad might not…”
“Don’t worry, you’re better looking than a goat.” It was impossible to keep a straight face.
“Wow, thanks.” She took the beer out of my hand and stared up at me, smiling.
“So, Logan’s having a party, hey?” Dad said.
“Yes, we’ve organised everything.”
“Why a party?”
Good question, Dad.
She bit her lip before replying, “Because everything’s good now. We’ve made it through losing Jace. Me and Logan are back to normal… Well, I use the term normal pretty loosely but you get what I mean.”
I raised my eyebrow, she didn’t look at me but she did fight a smile.
“Logan hasn’t celebrated a birthday in years and even before Jace died he never really did much.”
I got it, this year I was happy so why not go all out?
Dad nodded. “I think it’s a great idea. My son turning twenty-three is definitely something to celebrate and you’re right, Chloe, we could all do with a good ol’ celebration.”
Chloe beamed. “See, this is a good idea.”
I kissed the top of her head. For once, having a party for me didn’t seem like the most terrible idea in the world.