Page 124 of Logan
I glance at my girl and she mouths, ‘I love you, too.”
“Well,” Graham, Payden’s dad says, his smile a little stiff. “We just both want Payden to be happy, and we’re more than grateful for what you did for her. You saved her life, in my book that’s more than we could ever ask for.”
“I’ll protect her with my life,” I reiterate. “Over and over again.”
Graham nods, an understanding passing between us. He knows I’ll never let anything happen to his little girl, but she’s my princess now. Mine to protect. Her mom? Well, she might take a little getting used to.
“I know you would,” Graham says. “And we’re both happy to hear that news, congratulations.”
Margaret nods her head, but I’m not convinced. She’ll come around, and if she doesn’t, well, that’s too bad. Nobody is keeping me away from Payden.
“That’s great news!” My mom, however, looks as pleased as punch. Of course, she was ecstatic when we got together and adores Payden. Now all of her boys are settled, she’s happy. Brew and Erica’s new baby will distract her for a while. “Have you picked out a place yet?”
Olive is holding Iris at the table while Erica gets a bite to it. She looks down at her baby sister adoringly. I smile to myself. Seeing my brothers both happy is all I’ve ever wanted for them. I’ve been tough on them over the years, but never like my father. I’d never lay a hand on them, aside from a slap upside the head when they mouthed off. Not saying we haven’t had our moments, but we’re there for each other.
“Ma? I only just asked her half an hour ago,” I say, rolling my eyes. “So no, we haven’t picked out a place yet.”
“But we’ll let you know when we do,” Payden pipes up, squeezing my hand.
“I could help house hunting, what with the two of you being so busy with the bar,” Mom goes on. She’s always happy to helpwhere she can, and I don’t deny her. She gave us life, everything. Sacrificed her hopes and dreams so we could have a better life. Of course, she always reminds me that it was because of me standing up to Dad that day she finally got the courage to end it for good. And none of us have looked back.
“We’d love that.” Payden says, nodding enthusiastically.
“Maybe Mom could just pick the house out for you?” Brew smirks, taking the baby from Olive when she starts to cry. If you’d have told me I’d ever see my brother soothing a baby, I’d have laughed in your face. But she immediately stops crying as he soothes her while still managing to snark at me at the same time.
“That kid has some lungs on her,” Haze says, ringing out one of his ears.
“Just like her daddy,” Erica laughs.
“Oh, I could tell you some stories,” Mom, ever the storyteller from hell, joins in. “You see all this gray hair here? Because of these two.” She points between Brew and Haze. “Never Logan.”
“Awww, isn’t he just the golden boy,” Haze mimics a girl's voice, then flicks a pea at me.
I glare at him.
Olive points at Haze and says, “Mom, Haze is throwing food.”
“Austin,” Willow chastises, refusing to call him by his biker name at the table. “Behave yourself or you’ll go to the naughty corner.”
He waggles his eyebrows. “Promise?”
“Ew, gross.” Olive screws up her nose.
“Were you a golden boy?” Payden asks in a low voice once the others move onto another topic.
“Never.”
She nudges me. “Not even a little?”
I shrug. “Maybe a little.” I lean down and kiss her chastely. I can’t help it. Everything is just as it should be.
The past is staying in the past. All that shit is behind us now. Everyone got what was coming to them. Payden deserves some peace. She’s decided to have a career break, and I’m a hundred percent behind her. The after effects of the trauma she suffered have been irrevocable, but she gets stronger every single day.
“I think we should have a toast,” Amber says, holding up her glass. “To the new baby, new relationships and awesome apartments that are yet to be found.”
“Here, here!” Bronco chimes and everyone clinks glasses.
“Not so loud,” Brew grumbles. “Just got the baby to sleep.”
