Page 98 of Single Mom's Guide to Love

Maeve turns to Vivian, now looking like she’s trying to be nice. I know that’s a lie. I don’t think Vivian does by the way she perks up in her seat. “And Vivian. I know you have aspirations of fame. What happens when the night comes? You know the one…the one that every singer in Nashville hopes for. The one where you’re singing at the bar and the producer comes in and notices you? Remembers you from your reality days and offers you the contract of a lifetime? You’d be traveling. You’d be constantly on the move. What then?”

The way that Maeve is playing this woman like a fiddle makes me want to bring her into the next board meeting when my directors are being daft.

“That’s behind me now,” Vivian says. “I’m just ready to be home and be a mom to Jayce-y.”

I don’t have to look at Maeve to know that her eyes just rolled in the back of her head. Which is how Josh is able to reenter the conversation.

“Maeve, you can spew all of the scenarios you want. We’re married. We’re a family. And whatever this is between you two? It’s a sham. Everyone knows it is. And a judge is going to see right through that.”

And that’s enough. I know Maeve asked me to not be Logan Matthews, but I’m not going to sit idle and let him bulldoze her.

Plus, what good is it to be a billionaire and not let assholes know about it?

“I’m sorry Josh, it just occurred to me that our introduction got cut short outside,” I stand up and extend my hand to him, which he doesn’t return immediately. “I’m Logan Matthews, CEO of GameTech and the developer of SpaceCraft. I hear you’re a fan. Thank you so much for playing.”

“Oh!” Vivian squeals. “You used to date Candace Kross! She and I are mutuals on Insta. And you’re like…super rich.”

All three of us look over to Vivian, who really thinks she just contributed to the conversation. I also don’t miss the way she just eyed me up and down.

“As I was saying,” I continue. “You’re correct that yes, Maeve and I did just get married. But so did you both, so I feel that point is null and void. But what isn’t to be ignored is that if you choose to take this to court—and you’re choosing to disrupt Jayce’s life because you feel that my wife is somehow a bad mother for doing her job that used to supportyoubefore you stumbled into fortune by kissing the right ass—I’ll be there every day next to her. As will her lawyers. I’m sorry.Ourlawyers. They’ll bury you in paperwork. We’ll drag this out until you have to sell your precious bar just to pay your lawyers for the senseless paperwork our lawyers are making them do. I might be new here, but I happen to have a lot of disposable income and have discovered I really enjoy spending it on the people I love. And Maeve and Jayce? They’re my people. We’re a family. So if a fight is what you want, then a fight is what you’re going to get.”

I look down at Maeve, who’s eyes are huge as I hold out my hand for her. “Let’s go home.”

Josh and Vivian are speechless as we call for Jayce and leave their home without another word. It’s not until we’re a few minutes down the road when I realize Maeve still hasn’t said anything.

“You okay?”

I feel her eyes on me, and when I glance quickly to her, they’re big, and blue, and wide and maybe in shock.

“What is it?”

“You just said you loved us.”

Did I? I think back to my monologue—eat your heart out Shakespeare!—and…oh wow, I did. And by the looks of it, I just scared the piss out of my wife.

“Maeve…I…”

She shakes her head. “Don’t take it back. I…I don’t know if I’m there yet, but I know you had a head start. So, if you truly feel like it, don’t take it back. Just…wait for me to get there?”

I nod and grab her hand, bringing it up to my lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re not going anywhere?” Jayce says, apparently having overheard our conversation. “I thought we were going to Applebee’s! I want tenders!”

Maeve and I can’t keep in our laughter as I turn toward the restaurant. “You’re right, mate. We are going somewhere. And that place is Applebee’s.”

“Yes!” he exclaims from the backseat as I pull in. The car is barely in park before Jayce has his seatbelt off and is opening the door. Maeve hurriedly gets out, trying to make sure Jayce doesn’t run into traffic in his excitement.

But me? I sit back and take a second to watch. On the outside, this scene is probably hilarious: the billionaire and his successful business owner wife dining at Applebee’s, because the six-year-old truly runs the house.

But in reality? It’s perfect. And exactly where I’m supposed to be.

And like hell I’m going to let Josh, or anyone else for that matter, take this away.

28

logan

“Well, don’t you look dapper?”Kat exclaims as she walks into my bedroom.

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