Page 138 of Everything Has Changed
Mom rubs her hand along my back in a soothing pattern. “You will. If my suspicions are correct, you two will be just fine. It’ll be hard, because no relationship is always happy-go-lucky, but you’ll be okay.”
“How long have you known about us?”
Her lips purse in an attempt to hold back a giggle. “Oh, honey, I knew you were done for from the moment she stepped into that conference room. You were smitten with her as kids. I was always having to keep you from sneaking over there to see her at all hours of the day. She’s a wonderful woman. There was no way my son wasn’t going to fall head over heels in love with her.”
I jerk my head up so fast, I spill some of my coffee over the rim of the mug.
She points at me accusingly. “Don’t even try to lie to me, Logan. A mother knows these things. And I am beyond happy for you two.”
Mom taps her hands on the counter top as she glances at the clock on the stove. “You should get going. Your father should be at the office by now. A little birdie might have mentioned there was some damning news being released this morning. He rushed out of here like his ass was on fire.”
“Were you the little birdie?”
“Damn right, I was.”
Wrapping my mother in a tight hug, I whisper in her ear, “We will figure this out.”
“I know we will. Now, go take care of your town.”
***
In the time it takes me to get to Town Hall, the news must break with the day. People are milling about on the steps, with news vans lining the streets. Nothing really out of the norm this week after everyone found out about Triton coming in, but this felt different. The reporters practically vibrated with excitement as they talked into their microphones animatedly, wide smile almost splitting their faces. When they catch sight of me walking quickly toward the side entrance, shouting out my name to grab my attention, I pick up the pace and duck in right before they reach me.
I don’t bother looking back when someone comes down the hall also calling for me to stop. No, I have my sights set on one person right now, and I make it to his closed office door without even remembering taking the elevator up.
Stopping outside the door, I take a cleansing breath to calm my nerves as much as possible. I wanted to be fully focused when I faced him. I wanted to remember everything that’s said between us, so I can carry it with me for the rest of my life. When someone asks me how I got to where I was, I could recount this day from memory perfectly.
I give a courtesy knock, ignoring him when he shouts “not now” through the wood. Pushing the door open, I slip inside and slam it shut hard enough that both occupants of the room jump from where they are standing in front of the window.
“Convenient finding both of you here,” I say to them smugly.
“What the hell do you want, Logan?” My father sneers.
“This.” It takes three wide steps for me to get in front of him. Planting my left foot, I swing my entire body with my right fist, connecting with his jaw and laying him out with one hit.
“Oh my god!” Camila screeches as she rushes to his side. “Richard, are you okay?” She glares up at me. “You’re ridiculous, Logan. Can you not be happy for him?”
“And you’re insane. Both of you.” I sniff, rubbing my already throbbing knuckles against my slacks, Watching as my father blinks in a daze up at us. “That’s for cheating on my mother, you asshole. Stand back up so I can get a few more hits in. It might make up for all the shit you did to me over the years.”
“I’m calling the cops!” Camila pulls my father to a seated position, leaning against a nearby chair while she rummages in her purse for her phone.
“To tell them what exactly? That the old man’s son decked him? They might actually let me have at him again when they hear about what he’s been doing. I bet it doesn’t stop with the affair or stealing money.”
Camila’s eyes are wide. “I don’t—what are you—” she sputters.
“You can cut the act, Cami,” my father grunts as he slowly gets to his feet. “He knows. They all know.”
“You told them?”
He rolls his eyes. “Of course not. Margot found out. When, I don’t know, but she ran her big mouth and now the news is out. That’s why I called you in. I’m leaving.”
“What?”We both shout at the same time, but he only addresses me as he swipes at his jaw. A bruise already blooms along the edge.
“You got what you wanted, didn’t you, boy? Tearing me down with the help of that little girl.” He spits on the floor. “How I failed with you, I’ll wonder forever. You don’t know loyalty.”
“Says the man sleeping with his best friend’s daughter.”
He releases a humorless chuckle. “Well, you didn’t want her. It was a shame to let her go to waste.”
