Page 46 of Bittersweet

“The vandals are the ones to blame here. You shouldn’t have to worry about a storage lot being safe.”

He let out an exasperated sigh and took another bite of his sandwich.

“Did they find who did it?”

He shook his head as he wiped some mayonnaise from his lip with the back of his hand. “I filed a report, but they probably won’t find them.”

“That sucks.”

“I know.”

Harper swallowed a bite of sandwich and looked over at Logan. “You weren’t serious before, right? You’ll get it fixed, won’t you? You can’t give up on your dream.”

“It wasn’t only my dream.” He looked at her then. “It was ours.”

Their eyes locked for several long moments. Birds chirped. Leaves rustled in the breeze. Sparks crackled between them.

“You know why I came back here, don’t you?”

Her head moved slowly from side to side.

“I could’ve stayed in Detroit. There’s a huge food truck industry going on there. But I came here, even before I had a truck, knowing the scene here was just starting to grow. I knew the risks. I knew I might fail. But I came back anyway, hoping my path would cross yours. I knew you might not ever forgive me, but I was hoping for a chance to make things right.

“When I started searching for a bakery to partner with, I saw an article about your shop online. It felt like fate, Harper. Like I was meant to find you.”

The whole time he was speaking, tears burned behind her eyes.

“You know why I left, and I know I screwed up for not telling you the truth until now, but I’m here to ask … to beg you to forgive me.” He quieted then and watched for her reaction.

Harper’s tears slid down her cheeks, and she brushed them away. “I understand why you had to go. I do. I can’t say that it doesn’t still hurt, but I do forgive you, Logan.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, bringing her against his side. “Thank you, Harper. Thank you.”

She wiped another tear and took a bite of her sandwich, because if she didn’t, she knew she would break down in front of him and not be able to stop crying.

“And about us staying with you …” He smirked.

She went still.

“You can take back what you said.”

“I don’t want to take it back. I want to help you.”

“That’s sweet, but I may end up having to go back to Detroit for a while anyway.”

“Don’t go.” Her throat tightened as tears threatened again. “Stay with me.”

He leaned closer. “I don’t think living in the same space would be a good idea for us.”

“But it will be worth it if you can get the truck fixed, and we can get you out of that neighborhood. I worry about you … both of you.”

He brushed his fingertips against her cheek. “Being that close to you every day and not being able to kiss you would make me crazy.”

Harper swallowed hard.

“Anyway, I’m sure your boyfriend wouldn’t appreciate me staying there.” He lowered his hand. “I’ll figure something else out.”

“I don’t know if he’s my boyfriend anymore.”

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