Page 133 of The Lost and the Found

Hayden

Since we gotthe bulk of the snow back in January, our (hopefully) last snow fall of the season was more wet than anything. I was wrong in my prediction of a blanket of the white stuff covering everything, because by morning, the streets were covered in puddles of dirty white slush.

Logan left to go to the office early Saturday, something about an important case coming up that he, Mason, and Gage were working on around the clock. I thought it might have to do with the money laundering case they kept talking about. I found a file in his home office a couple of weeks back on a girl named Kiera Hastings. I mentioned the name to Olivia through text message a few times, but she didn’t know who Kiera Hastings was, or why our men were so interested in her.

I spent most of my morning catching up on schoolwork, and by the time noon hit, my stomach was growling from hunger. I was just about to fix myself some lunch when my phone chimed with a text. I smiled when I saw Olivia’s name.

Olivia: Lunch?

Me: Sure. Where to?

* * *

Logan calledme just as I started the car. My hands were shaking, but I couldn’t decide if that was from the nerves or the cold.

I picked up and put him on speaker. “Hey.”

There was a pause on his end, and I was almost convinced the call didn’t go through until he said, “Hey. Why do you sound funny?”

“I sound funny?”

“Yeah. What are you doing right now?”

“Well, I’m actually in the car, about to go meet Olivia for lunch.”

“Ah, I see. Are you alright, baby?”

“It doesn’t look that bad outside, right?”

I could hear a smile in his voice when he said, “Right. You’ll be fine, don’t worry. Just drive safe, and if anything happens, remember I’m only a phone call away.”

Knowing he was right there helped lessen my nerves. And with the heater on high, my shaking was abating. I smiled. “Right. I’m going to hang up now.”

“Okay. Text me when you get there?”

“I will, I promise.”

“I love you, Hayden.”

My heart melted from the gruffness in his voice. I didn’t think I would ever get tired hearing him say that. “I love you, too.”

I hung up and put the phone away. Then I pulled out of the parking garage and drove to a nearby café. Traffic wasn’t so bad at this time in the day, which was good because there was a smaller chance of me crashing into someone.

I pulled into the parking lot of the café, and let out a loud cheer to myself when I successfully parked between a black Jeep and a red Mini Cooper.

Driving was fun.

I texted Logan as I walked in, immediately seeing a heavily pregnant woman with kind eyes and wide smile. I saw her sipping tea at a table near the window, and when she caught my eye, she waved excitedly.

I smiled back, motioning with my hands that I was going to order something.

Five minutes later, I was seated across from her with an Americano and two blueberry muffins. I handed one to her and she smiled, taking a huge bite. “Thanks. I was debating whether to get up and get another one, but…” she patted her belly and shrugged.

“How are you?” I asked.

“Tired, mostly. I can’t seem to find a comfortable sleeping position.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

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