Page 94 of The Lost and the Found

I didn’t want to know the answer to either of those questions.

Fifteen minutes later, a sharp knock came at the door. I jumped from the sound, and the security man was there. “It’s okay,” he said kindly. “I’m sure it’s just her father. I’ll go open the door for him.”

He didn’t wait for my acknowledgement and, sure enough, a man small in stature and in his mid-fifties, strode in.

He was the spitting image of Clarissa, save for his dark eyes, his sharp gaze moving about, not missing anything.

He took in his daughter first. I saw a father’s heartbreak in those brown eyes then, and I looked away. I didn’t want to feel sorry for him, but I did.

He loved his daughter very much, even when she messed up.

Clarissa was lucky in almost every way. Having a father around, especially one who cared, was a blessing.

Eric then looked around the room. He met Logan’s eyes briefly before looking away in shame—I knew from the way his shoulders drooped. I didn’t say anything when he finally took me in, and he didn’t either.

“I’m sorry,” he said to Logan. “For all the trouble she caused tonight.”

Logan nodded, his eyes softening in sympathy. “Please, take your daughter. And can I suggest you find someone for her to talk to?”

Eric nodded in agreement, moving forward and taking Clarissa in his arms. She wrapped herself around her father and buried her face in his neck right away. Without uttering a word, Eric strode out of there, the security guard following close behind. He nodded to Logan and, once again, offered me a gentle smile.

The click echoed loudly in Logan’s apartment when the door finally closed behind them. I stared at the unlit fireplace.

Logan was quiet for a moment, before he stood up and walked over to me. He stood in front of me, and I knew he wanted to say something, but he was probably at loss for words. I knew I was.

I glanced up and saw the hesitation in his eyes, while he chewed on his bottom lip.

“Can you take me home?” I asked.

“Hayden.”

I didn’t know what he wanted to say, and I didn’t want to know. I shook my head and stood up. “Please. I just want to be alone right now.”

And I needed to be home, in a place where I felt secure about my position. Not here, in Logan’s apartment, without any of my personal belongings.

“Hayden, please don’t go. Let’s talk about this. I know you’re pissed, but I need to make things right between us.”

I shook my head. Was I angry? I didn’t know. Maybe. But I was more confused than angry. “If you don’t drive me home, then I’ll walk and find the bus stop. I’m sure they still run at this time.”

I wasn’t sure if they still ran at this time. Worst case scenario, I had to walk home. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t done before.

“Baby, at least just stay in the guest bedroom tonight, and in the morning, if you still want to go home, I’ll take you myself.”

Stay here another night? Could I do it without going back to Logan? What if I went to his room in the middle of the night because the temptation was too much? I was scared that as lost as I was feeling right now, I would always be weak when it came to him. That I was just like Clarissa. The only difference was that Logan wanted me—now.

He wanted me now, but what would happen when he no longer wanted me?

I should go home, yet a huge part of me didn’t want to. I didn’t want to leave him.

I could cry over how weak I was when it came to him.

Logan must have sensed my resolve waning, because with another word, he held my shoulders and steered me into the guest bathroom.

“Stay here,” he said softly, then walked away.

It didn’t take him long to come back. I thought it was because he was afraid I might leave if he left me alone for too long.

He handed me my toothbrush. “Just get ready for bed, baby. We’ll talk in the morning.”

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