Page 61 of Needing Happily Ever After

She didn’t hear the rest of her sister’s question because a second later, Logan Langdon, looking angrier than she’d ever seen him, flung open her kitchen door and crashed his way into her kitchen. “I’m going to fucking kill him!”

The rain was just starting to come down as Damon made his way down Main Street. Talking to his father had been a good start, but he still had more to do. But before he could do anything, he needed to think. And he couldn’t do that at ElkView. So he’d made his way down to town and had started walking. He’d lingered outside Sweetie Pies but couldn’t make himself go in. A honey bun would only remind him of Katie and the mess they were in. So he’d kept walking.

But it was no use, because every single thing in town reminded him of Katie. All of his memories were wrapped up in her. He walked past the Big Rock Inn where, only a few days ago, they’d had their first fight. She’d told him then that there was nothing going on with her and Jeremy. Had she been lying? In his heart, if he could see past his jealousy, Damon knew she hadn’t been lying to him. Katie never lied to him.

He’d overreacted.

He’d ruined everything.

And he knew it.

What he didn’t know was how to make it right. She hadn’t answered any of his phone calls or texts all morning, and although he knew he could drive over to her ranch and demand that she talk to him, he also knew that approach would probably not go over well with her. Or her family.

“Hey, Banks!”

Damon’s head shot up to see his buddy Nick walking out the front door of the Big Rock Inn. He instantly felt a flash of guilt. He’d forgotten about Nick, and that was a shitty thing to do considering Nick had come to Glacier Falls for him.

“Where the hell did you go last night?” Nick joined him on the sidewalk. “Don’t tell me that dude was—”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“No way.” Nick shook his head. “Shit, Damon. I was kidding. I didn’t think that your new bride really would—”

“She didn’t!” His temper flared, but he caught himself. “Sorry, Nick. I didn’t mean to take it out on you. And I’m sorry for leaving without saying anything last night. I just…”

Nick slapped his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, man. Really. I found your friends and introduced myself.”

Damon couldn’t help but smile. Of course Nick would have made himself at home.

“You didn’t tell me about the blonde hottie.”

Damon looked at his friend in confusion. “The blonde…”

“Yay tall…” Nick held out his hand. “Curvy, sexy, blue eyes, and…hey, she looks a lot like that woman.”

Damon turned to see Logan’s truck, with Faith in the passenger seat, screech to a halt in front of them. He registered the look on Logan’s face, only seconds before the man flung the truck door open and ran toward him.

“What the fuck, Banks?” He lunged for him, but somehow Damon managed to dodge him. Nick, who’d initially only had eyes for Faith, jumped into action, and put himself between the hulking angry man and his buddy. “Move,” Logan growled. “Or I’ll go through you.”

“Whoa.” Nick held his hands up. “I think we should all calm down.”

Damon’s mind raced, but he didn't have to think too hard to know exactly what Logan was mad about. Katie. He just didn’t know what about Katie Logan was mad about. “You need to talk to me, Logan. What’s going on?”

“Logan, stop it!” Faith joined Nick standing between Logan and the source of his anger. “You need to calm down. I’m sorry, Damon.” She turned her head to look at him. “I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“I’m going to kill you!”

“You aren’t going to kill anyone.” Faith turned back to him and to Damon’s surprise, Logan’s face actually softened a little when he looked at her. But not enough, because he still looked as though he did, in fact, intend to kill him.

“I don’t know what you think I—”

“You fucking lied, Damon. About all of it.”

Ahh. So the truth was totally out. Damon nodded once but didn’t have time to speak.

“You used her.” Logan wasn’t done. “You hurt my little sister and that means you need to hurt.”

“Enough!” Faith grabbed Logan by both arms and pushed him back a step to give them some distance.

Instead of using that distance, Damon stepped around Nick and toward Logan. “You’re right,” he said. “I did hurt her. But it wasn’t my intention,” he added quickly. “The last thing I would ever want is to hurt her, Logan.”

Logan wasn’t buying it. He shook his head and clenched his fists.

“It’s true.” Damon wouldn’t have blamed the man if he punched him. Hell, he almost wanted Logan to punch him. He deserved it. But more than that, what he really wanted was to make things okay again. Better than okay. He needed everyone to know how he really felt and more than that, he needed Katie to know how he really felt. “I love her, Logan.” The moment the words were out of his mouth, he smiled. And then despite himself and the situation he was in, he laughed and said it again. Louder this time. “I love her. I love Katie Langdon.”

But then, just like that, the laughter was gone, and the smile dropped off his face as reality crashed back in. Damon stared at Logan, Faith, and Nick, who all looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. He scrubbed a hand over his face and tugged at his hair before speaking again. “I screwed up,” he said as honestly as he could. “I know that.” Logan snorted and shook his head, but Damon kept talking. “I need to fix things,” he said. “And I think I’m going to need your help.”

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