Page 39 of Everything Has Changed
We say our final good nights, Ophelia placing the iPad on the coffee table in front of us then tucking the blanket on her lap around mine.
“Alright, kiddo. It’s your turn. Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours. Let’s see if we can ease that anxiety a bit.”
“I don’t have anxiety.”
Ophelia leans slightly to her left, looking at the sky beyond the porch. “It’s not raining, but I bet lightning could still reach you.” Righting herself again, she leans her shoulder into mine, prompting me to lay my head on her. “I’ve got you, kiddo.”
“I know.” I take a deep sigh to collect my thoughts, unsure where to start first. She stays silent, knowing I’ll talk when I’m ready.
And because this is my safe space, I let her into my thoughts.
“I thought this was my chance to show I’m more than just the youngest Prescott, you know?”
“Honey, no one sees you that way.”
“If you say so,” I mutter, picking at the blanket on my lap. “I hear the way they talk about me.”
“You’re a successful businesswoman doing so much more for this community on a regular basis than most could even fathom in their lifetime.”
“Then why doesn’t Mrs. Spencer trust me enough to do it on my own? Why did she have to dump Logan into it?”
“I don’t think that’s it at all, Gwen.” I can feel Ophelia shaking her head, so I lift my head to look over at her. “She knows you are more than capable. If you ask me, I think this says a lot more about her feelings toward her own son than you.” She frowns at her words.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to speculate on the way other people live their lives, but something tells me that boy has more pressure on his shoulders than meets the eye. I hate to see parents thrust their dreams onto their children, especially when they obviously don’t want them.”
We stare off into the front yard, a silence coming over us as we sit in her thoughts.
“Do me a favor, kiddo?” Ophelia puts an arm around my shoulders and squeezes me close to her.
“Of course.”
“Be a good friend to that boy. I think he could use some real ones to ease that pressure a little.”
I nod, agreeing with her wholeheartedly.
Friend. The word feels lackluster when I think of Logan.
“That kind heart you carry every day will take care of him, I just know it. I also know this isn’t what you envisioned, my little planner.”Another squeeze of love pulls me to her. “But remember, everything happens for a reason. And life is all about how you handle those things.”
14
Logan
“How does my hair look?”
Stunning, Gorgeous. Would look even better wrapped around my fist.
Jesus, I need to get my head in the game. But it’s so hard when all I want in my head is her.
“Good,” I clear my throat as quietly as possible. “Looks good.”
Gwen continues to comb her fingers through her long hair, which has a little extra wave to it today, and I have to wonder how it doesn’t fall flat with all the fussing she’s doing to it.
She readjusts the amount of hair over her shoulders again, making me notice the slight tremble in her hands. Reaching out, I take hers in my own, squeezing a couple of times to get her eyes to meet mine.
I could get lost in the intense green of them that remind me of an overgrown forest. Wide and just waiting for me to fall in and happily get lost.
