My steps were lighter as I continued to the bar.
“What would you like?” Katherine asked, stepping behind it.
The thing was fully stocked, which was great considering a drink would calm my few buzzing nerves. Though it wasn’t exactly the best first impression to make—especially when Jax shouted across the room to declare I was a tequila girl.
“I could go for a glass of wine. Nothing too strong for me.” I shot Jax a sharp sneer, who brushed it off with a snicker.
“Smart woman.” She laughed and filled two glasses with chardonnay, then handed me one.
“So, Katherine—”
“Katie,” she clarified. “Logan can be overly formal.”
I smiled, taking a sip. Delicious. “Yes, I’ve noticed. So, Katie, how did you and Lawrence meet?” I sat on a stool as she walked around to sit beside me.
“Through Natasha. I’ve been told you’ve met her.”
I nodded and took a larger sip, scanning the room but coming up blank of the witch. She was there somewhere, though—probably just not allowed to fly the broom in the house.
“She and I were best friends in high school. One day, she met Logan, fell hard, and convinced me to go on a double date with his brother. Swore he was gorgeous.”
She practically drawled the last part, and I caught her eyes dance over to her husband. The West men had some good genes, that was for sure.
“I didn’t believe it, of course, and she practically had to bribe me to go down to the restaurant. And then he walked in, looking anything but thrilled to be there until our eyes met and he smiled the sexiest smile I’d ever seen. I was smitten. We’ve been together ever since.”
“That’s sweet.” The hopeful romantic in me was swooning.
“Sweet and boring. That’s always been Lawrence and Katie.”
Natasha appeared behind us. Exchanging a look of disdain, we both turned to face her.
“I would hardly call us boring,” Katie defended, her smile melting into a scowl. “But then again, you wouldn’t know anymore, would you?”
“You were nothing like Logan and me. We were young, wild, and in love—couldn’t keep our hands off each other.” She slipped between us, leaning over the bar. “Sex, sex, and more sex while you and Lawrence barely kissed till, what, the third date?” She blew out an ugly laugh.
Katie stood, ready to throw back, when Natasha pinned me with her stare, reeking of alcohol. “Did he ever tell you about his twenty-first birthday, Cassandra? You should ask him. I’m sure he’s dying to replay that memory.”
“Leave her alone,” Katie threatened, “or we’ll replay for everyone here exactly how many old geezers you had to screw to keep your rent paid the last five years.”
Natasha swung her glare to Katie. “Maybe I’ll see if Lawrence is looking for some real fun.”
“Who’s ready to eat?”
Blythe stood across the room, her eyes on us. It was Oliver’s day, and I wouldn’t let Natasha rattle me. Katie seemed to brush her off, as well.
“Let’s go find our men,” Katie spouted, a broad grin in place as she looped her arm through mine.
Logan held out a seat directly beside him. Oliver was down a few spots, sitting beside a younger version of himself except for the blonde curls—Charlie had short, caramel locks. They sat closer to the end beside Blythe, who fawned over them both.
I missed my grandmother. Watching them together reminded me of how wonderful mine had been.
“Everything all right? I saw you with Natasha,” Logan whispered.
Resting my hand below the table over his thigh, I smiled. “Everything’s perfect. She may be miserable and bitter, but I couldn’t be happier.”
His lips brushed over my neck, and he placed a soft kiss on the tender skin behind my ear. “I love you,” Logan murmured.
A throat cleared behind us. “Hate to interrupt, but perhaps you can kiss your girl later and introduce her to your father now.”
I looked up to meet a pair of deep blue eyes that were identical to Logan’s, just on an older face. So this was the man who’d broken Blythe’s heart. He was handsome now—I could only imagine how much more so he’d been twenty years ago. He was also charming, which was obvious in the way he held himself and stared down at me.
“Cassandra, this is my father, Edward,” Logan said.
“Hello. It’s nice to finally meet you,” I said, smiling.
“A pleasure, darling. I hope you’re feeling better after the accident.”
“Yes, thank you.” I sneaked a peek at Logan. It was strange that so many people I’d never met knew so much about me.
“Wonderful. You’ll need some energy to keep up this afternoon. Oliver and Charlie are set on going to the aquarium.”
“Sounds like fun. I’ve never been to one.”
“Never?” Logan and Edward asked in unison.
I shook my head, smiling.
“Well, Logan’s been going since he was little. One of his favorite places,” Edward explained.
“Yes, it’s where he proposed to me,” Natasha cut in, and then leaned in to give Edward an awkward hug. “How have you been, Dad?”
My eyes dropped, as did my stomach. I turned back to face my plate that Logan had piled high with food while I was speaking with his father.
“Natasha. It’s been a long time. Maybe not long enough.” With that, Edward pulled away from Natasha, placed his hand on my shoulder, and threw me a wink when I peeked up before he walked away to his seat next to Blythe.
Natasha sat on the other side of Oliver, but it was still too close. Logan had proposed at the aquarium, where we were going in a couple hours.
“I’m sorry. We don’t have to go,” Logan whispered. “I can ask Oliver to pick somewhere else.”
“Don’t be silly. It obviously means a lot to you, so I’d love to go.”
He gave a nervous smile and turned back to his plate, picking at his food. Katie turned out to be quite the conversationalist. She filled the next hour with a multitude of questions for Logan and some for me, even telling stories about Logan and how much of a hands-on father he was. It was nice to hear, even though I didn’t need to. I’d seen it firsthand multiple times. I was in love with Logan, and she didn’t need to try and convince me he was a good guy. I could’ve used her a couple months before, though.
Through it all, I didn’t miss the way Natasha glared at Jax, who didn’t speak a word to her. I’d be talking to him before the weekend was up.
As everyone finished and stood to go upstairs, Logan was checking his phone beside me when I asked the unthinkable. It was stupid that I allowed Natasha’s words to eat at me, and why it chose that moment to pop out, I wasn’t sure.
“What did you do for your twenty-first birthday?” I asked in a hushed voice.
Judging by the blood draining from his face as he lifted his head and his inability to look me in the eyes, I knew it was best left in the past.
I suddenly realized I didn’t want to know. I groaned, withdrawing my words instantly. “Never mind. Forget I asked.”
He turned in his seat and stared back down at his phone, where he typed something. “We can talk later. Caleb just messaged.”