Page 79 of Every Sunset
“I second that,” I agreed as I sent a grateful smile to my son, then looked to Logan and covered his trembling hand with mine. “I love you too Logan. I want to move on from this and find our future again too.”
“Max?” Logan looked to my son.
“I agree that we should move on. Yesterday was a shit show and I get why you were so messed up, but if you ever hurt my mom like that again…”
“I won’t!” Logan cut in. “I swear I won’t, Max. I learned my lesson. I almost lost everything. I won’t let that happen again, ever.”
“Then we’re good,” Max nodded.
“Thank you. I won’t let you down again, Max. I’ll keep my promise to be there for you too son, always. I know I need to prove that to you again after yesterday, but I swear I will.”
“Can we go and see Maddox now?” Max asked instead of replying to Logan’s words, but I didn’t miss the way he glanced to Logan with hope. Logan had hurt him too yesterday and I knew it would take time for Max to let his guard down with him again, but he would, eventually. I had faith in Logan that he would earn Max’s trust again.
“You go on ahead if you want, honey. We’ll be right behind you,” I suggested, knowing Max may want a little breather after the heavy conversation. I also wanted some time with Logan too.
Max nodded and practically fled from the table and the café. As I suspected, he obviously needed to get away to process.
“Is he okay?” Logan asked.
“It’ll take time. He trusted you, Logan. He never thought you’d turn your back on him like you did yesterday,” I told him. This needed to be said.
“I’m sorry, Anna. I never meant…”
“I know,” I cut him off. “I know you were hurting and scared and you reacted badly and I get that. I’m an adult who can forgiveand forget and trust that you won’t do that to me again, but Max – he’s just a kid. It will take him longer to forgive and he may never forget. It will take him time to trust you again too.”
“I’ll gain his trust back, Anna.”
“I know that too,” I nodded. “But this is your one chance, Logan. You hurt me again, I can handle it. I’ll deal with the situation at the time and we’ll go from there, but if you ever hurt my son, or give him cause to distrust you ever again, it’s over. He’s been through enough. I can’t allow people to hurt him anymore. Do you understand? I love you and Maddox so much, but Max will always come first for me. He has to.”
“Of course he does. We know that, Anna. I won’t let him down again, ever. I swear to you I’ll care for him and treat him like he’s my own if he gives me the chance to.” Logan pledged.
“He will. Just make sure you don’t squander it,” I warned.
“I won’t. I love you so much. Thank you for giving me another chance. I swear I won’t fuck it up again. I can’t lose you Anna. I was nothing before you came along and if you leave me now, I’ll be less than nothing.”
“Enough now,” I told him. “Let’s just start over, okay? I love you too,” I told him as I leaned in and pecked his lips. He lifted his hands and cupped my face between them as I tried to pull away. He leaned closer and pressed his lips to mine again. The kiss turned heated, but we kept it short, mindful that we were sat in a café with children close by. “We’ll be okay, Logan. Its all in the past now. I want us to enjoy the present, and look to the future, all four of us together.”
“I want that too, sweetheart. The four of us together,” he agreed and a smile finally filled his tired face. “Let’s go and find the restof our family, shall we?” he asked as he rose to his feet and held his hand out to me.
“Our family. I like the sound of that,” I told him happily as I set my hand in his.
Family. That was all I ever wanted for myself and my son. I had tried to make the two of us a family, and we’d done okay for a long time, but there with Maddox and Logan in our lives, I finally felt like we were a part of a real family – one where my son could be as loved and protected as he deserved to be. One where more than just me would be there to take care of and guide him as he continued to grow into a man. And when he found his own life and moved away from me, as I once feared most, I wouldn’t be alone any more. I’d be left with two men who I loved more than words could say, and a future we were yet to write together.
Maddox and Max were laughing together when we walked in. They both looked to Logan and I as we entered hand in hand and I was relieved when Maddox smiled even wider.
“You forgave the asshole then, baby?” he asked me. He looked so much better than he had just the night before. There was color in his cheeks and he was sat up on the bed, dressed in lounge shorts and a t-shirt. Most of the wires and tubes were gone and he seemed to be only hooked up to a couple of monitors now.
“We’re moving forward,” I told Madd as I released Logan’s hand and went to him. He reached for me and I instantly pushed against his side, cuddling into him as he encircled me in his hold. “You look so much better,” I told him.
“I’m gonna be just fine. We all are. The threat’s over and gone. The FBI got their bad guy and are packing up. You forgave Loganfor being a complete douche, and now here we all are. We can start planning our future now, right?”
“Right,” I agreed happily.
“Starting with our dog,” Max spoke up.
“Our dog?” I questioned.
“Yep. I asked Max what he had always wanted and he told me a dog, so we’re getting one. As soon as I get out of here we’re gonna start looking for our new family pet,” Madd explained.
