Tempting.
“Ready!” Oliver shouted, holding the handles on each side of his sled and beaming.
“Three, two, ONE!” I bellowed, and Logan released his hold on Oliver’s sled, giving him a head start before sending us shooting down.
Logan’s lips were on my neck, his hands on my thighs as his thumbs traced lines back and forth over my jeans. Mixed with the adrenaline of the lightning speed, his touch had me bustling with life.
“This is perfect,” he said, kissing up my ear when I leaned into him.
I caught sight of Oliver sliding off to the side, hearing his animated laughter upon beating us to the bottom.
“I won! I won!” he cheered, bouncing up and down just as we came to a stop a few feet away.
“Congratulations, baby.”
My stomach dropped at the sound of her voice, my body going painfully rigid. I wanted the day to include just me and my boys—she was the last person I wanted on our date. Still, I shook it off.
“Mommy!” Oliver ran past us as Logan stood, brushing the snow from his jeans.
I couldn’t look up at him or even blink; my entire body screamed at me not to turn around. My movements to stand were deliberately slow as Logan held out his hand to me. Why is she here? Will she tell Oliver what happened?
It was obvious Logan could see it written all over my face.
Taking my time, I wiped the snow from my legs, coat, and gloves—anything to stall the moment.
“That’s what you call a sled?”
My head shot back at the sound of Caleb’s voice. So it wasn’t only Natasha high-jacking my date—she was with Caleb and Hilary.
My day was crashing fast. There was far too much drama wrapped in that group for me to have a fun sledding day.
Caleb bent down and was laughing with Oliver. Hilary stared at the hill, pretending to watch the other sledders.
Logan stepped into me when I finally stood, ran his hands up and down my arms to warm me, then leaned into my ear.
“I invited Caleb last night, since it’s obvious you and Hilary have something to work out. But I swear I have no idea why Natasha is here.”
My gaze met his, and I knew instantly that he spoke the truth.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’ll tell her to leave.”
Yes, please! my internal bitch screamed. However, as I watched Natasha climb the hill hand in hand with Oliver—with an awkward gait, no doubt from the accident, slowing her steps—my shoulders deflated with a sigh.
“It’s all right.” I pulled on a wide, albeit thin smile. “Oliver’s happy, and that’s what matters.”
I began to walk away, ready to climb the hill with heavy legs and a troubled conscience. I wanted Oliver to have his mother, but it still stung—though I’d never admit it aloud.
Logan slipped his hand in mine and brought it to his lips, kissing the pads of my fingers one at a time.
“Thank you.” His voice was so sincere, yet filled with nerves. “Now, do you plan on saying hello to Hilary or continuing to ignore her? It’s quite uncomfortable.”
“Sure is!” Caleb said, standing closer now to eavesdrop.
Glancing his way, I noticed Hilary was halfway across the field, heading to the restroom.
“We’re fine, just—”
“Just not speaking?” Caleb finished.
What could I say? I stood there with two gorgeous yet irritated men in front of me, looking for answers.
“Look, whatever you two are fighting about, go make up. My girl has been crying every night and she won’t say why, but I know it has to be about you. Hell, standing in that damn foyer to pick Oliver up last night made that clear.”
“We just had a disagreement; it’s nothing serious. We’re fine, really.”
“Bullshit!” Caleb took a step toward me, but Logan’s hand shot out to make sure he kept his distance. Caleb ignored it, his eyes hard on mine. “She’s hurting, Cassie, so whatever is going on, fix it!”
Without another word or allowing me to speak, he turned on his heel and headed up the mountain. I hadn’t seen Caleb’s temper since I was younger, and even then it was only on display when he fought with bullies at school.
I glanced back at the restroom Hilary was now entering. Her crying every night wasn’t about me, but it was time for us to talk.
“I’ll be back,” I said to Logan, my nerves frayed.
His lip curled up and I leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth.
“Take your time, sweetheart.”
Chapter Sixteen
Downhill
If I knew one thing about Hilary, it was that she didn’t do well with confrontation. She’d always been one to jump into defensive mode before hearing someone out. But as many times as I’d witnessed it, I somehow forgot that little fact when I creaked opened the door to the small brick building. An unpleasant stench of sewage assaulted my senses as I entered.
It was dark and dreary, and likely housed a few critters from the looks of it. My steps were cautious as I surveyed the small sink and three stalls. All the doors were open except one.
“Hilary?” I moved toward the back stall quickly.
“G-go away.” Her stutter broke into unmistakable grunts of vomiting.
I waited for her to finish. “Hilary, are you—”
The retching started again almost the same second it’d ceased, cutting off my words. A few seconds later, a loud, disgusted gasp of breath filtered through the door.
I stood on the other side, uneasy at the fact that there was little I could do for her.
“You want me to see if I can find you a bottle of water? There was a vendor—”
The stall door flew open and I leapt back, nearly catching it in the face. Hilary ambled out, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
“No, I’ll be okay.”
“You sure?” I asked, unconvinced. Her face was pale, and beads of sweat glistened above her brow.
“Positive. There isn’t anything left in me, so unless the dry heaves hit I should be good to go for a few more hours.” She stood at the sink, splashing water on her face.
“Morning sickness?” My lips twisted up in a sympathetic smile.
The faucet handle squeaked as she turned it off. She peered up at me, glaring. “Wow, you must be a genius considering its 9 a.m. and I’m knocked up!”
A scowl scrunched my face. This was my date time with Logan, and there was no way I was going to sit there and take her attitude—especially when I had Natasha waiting on that hill.
“You know what? I came in here to check on my best friend, not a mean bitch! So now you’re either gonna hear me out,” I stepped into her, “or I’ll march back outside and up that damn hill to let Caleb know exactly why you’ve been crying every night!”
“You wouldn’t!” she sneered.
“I would.” Those two simple words rolled out with an unyielding strength. I was done trying to be nice to everyone. Regardless of whether she wanted to hear it, I wasn’t holding back this time. “Now let me ask you: Do you really think he’ll never find out—that you can disappear for a few months and come back like everything is fine, knowing that you stole his child?”
“It’s my choice!”
“Really? All yours, huh?” I shook my head, dropping my gaze. “He’ll never forgive you.”