Page 142 of Everything Has Changed
The cheer that erupts through the square could probably be heard from the other side of the mountain. The ground beneath us vibrates as feet stomp and people jump around with excitement.
I’m jostled a bit while everyone celebrates around me, but my sight stays locked on Logan’s and his on me. My heart pounds in my chest and I can’t stop the smile that unfurls across my face. A mirror image of his own. When he hits me with a wink, I nearly melt into the ground.
I want nothing more than to run into his arms, to celebrate the good news with the one person I am realizing I want to celebrate all of life’s wins with. Before I can bring myself to move from the trance his eyes have me under, the mass of people start to calm down. Another hand raises into the air. Logan blinks from the stare down we were in and gives them his attention.
“Who will be taking his place?”
“At this time, I will step in as interim Mayor. I still plan to follow through with my plan to give you all a fair choice to vote for who you want to lead Willow Grove into a better future, one not tainted by what has been transpiring lately.” He places a hand over his chest and scans the crowd. “I promise to take care of this town and the people within it for the rest of my days. There might have been a time when I thought I needed more outside of Willow Grove. I quickly realized everything I could possibly need was right in my backyard the whole time.”
With his final words, he had located me again and I know those words meant more than anyone around us realized. Well, everyone except Piper who elbowed me in the side a few times with a low squeal.
“And if we want you to stay Mayor?”
Logan chuckles softly. “Then I guess you better get out and vote when the time comes. For now, I’ll let everyone get back to their night. On behalf of my family, I am truly sorry for the way my father treated this beautiful corner of the world. And I promise to never let this happen again.”
Everyone disperses as he sheepishly waves at them. It was endearing to see him still be unsure after he just gave the second speech in a week that had the whole town talking about the incredible man he was.
A nudge into my side has me turning toward Piper. Reluctantly, I might add, as Logan was still in the gazebo and he wasn’t looking anywhere but me.
“Go get your man,” she nods her head in his direction. “This is some RomCom movie shit, Gwen. Get that happy ending you deserve.”
Looking back toward where Logan stands, his hands in his pockets as he stares back. Hope is clear on his face while he waits to see what I’m going to do.
When I take the first step in his direction, his lips tip up and he responds with one of his own toward me. We keep at it, matching each other step for step, until we meet in the middle.
“That was quite the speech, Mr. Mayor.” I smirk.
“Interim Mayor,” he corrects.
“I think you won over some hearts this week, so don’t be shocked when you inevitably win the election next year.”
“What about you?”
I point to myself with wide eyes. “I’m not running for mayor. That sounds like a nightmare.”
Logan chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief. “I meant what about your heart. Did I win it over?”
“You can’t win something that already belongs to you.”
The way his breath catches at my admission has me feeling bold. So I close the final gap between us. The toes of my boots nestle against his loafers. I lift my hands to his chest, placing them softly against his shirt before sliding them up to wrap around his neck.
The mix of colors in his hazel eyes dance. The yellow burning bright beneath the setting sun as they bore into mine. I open my mouth to say the words that are ready on the tip of my tongue.
“Wait,” he says before I can speak.
My brow furrows and I worry that I read too far into the moment.
“I just need to say something first.” He takes a heavy breath. “I am so sorry. For everything. Hurting you will haunt me for the rest of my life. I know words can’t fix anything, but I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. If you’ll let me, that is. Which I hope you will because, damn, if you haven’t turned my life upside down in the best way possible, Gwen. And I know I haven’t been back long, but if the time we spent together and the time we spent apart taught me anything, it’s that I don’t want to do any of this without you by my side.”
Tears prickle at the back of my eyes as I will them to hold on so I can respond. It takes me longer than I anticipated to get my voice back, though, because as the silence stretches between us I can see the strain in his eyes grow.
“You did hurt me, Logan. I felt so betrayed that you would keep so much from me. That you wouldn’t come to me so we could combat whatever is against us, together. I understand why you did it on some level, though. I don’t like it, but I understand. And being together means we have to trust each other. We can’t keep secrets, no matter how much we think they might hurt the other. The only way to have a healthy relationship is with communication.”
“You want to be together?”
I roll my eyes with a laugh. “Have you not been listening, Logan?”
“Yeah, but I want to hear you say it again.”
