I stole another kiss, going for the corner of her mouth. “It’s this high-end hotel resort place. Of course, it makes a killing in the football season. I own a part of this. Felt right to bring you here today.”

  “It’s completely empty.”

  I snorted. “Christmas. It’s closed for the holidays.” I pointed across the pond to a larger building over there. “Except the hotel part. That’s open. Everything else is closed.”

  “Oh.”

  I moved up, pulling her to rest against my chest, and she leaned back, her entire body melting into mine. She murmured, “It’s beautiful.”

  It was.

  Cobblestone walkways. Lighted pathways and lighted trees.

  There was a waterfall—a wooden board walkway.

  People could kayak, float in a simulated wave river.

  There was a concert podium on another corner of the lot where they held concerts. An email floated around, talking about hosting a new music festival. They were in talks to have Sustain headline here.

  But the roller coaster was the best part.

  “Come on.” I finished dressing and opened the door, sliding out and pocketing my keys.

  “What?”

  I motioned with my head. “I want to show you something.”

  Her eyebrows drew together, but she followed.

  I took her down the walkway that went to the roller coaster, and as soon as we turned the last corner, she saw it. “Oh! Wow.”

  I shot her a grin because it was so similar to her first reaction when she saw it.

  It wasn’t decrepit anymore. It was brand spanking new, with added safety measures put in place because I had hoped to get Mason to ride on it one day.

  Seeing us coming, a worker came out from a back warming shelter. Edgar. He rubbed his hands together, smiling at us. “Welcome. I’m glad you made it.”

  Edgar made it sound like this was a typical run-of-the-mill day for him and ignored that I had texted him once I realized where I was going. He agreed to warm it up for us, just for one ride.

  “Hey, man.”

  He gave another nod before opening the latch for us to proceed toward the ride.

  Taylor stopped, and I moved up behind her. “Uh, Logan?”

  I laughed, pressing her to go forward. “It’s safe. Come on.”

  “Uh…” Her hand went to her stomach. “I told you I was pregnant, right? So I didn’t imagine the last few hours? ’Cause if I didn’t,” a shaky laugh left her, “surprise. I’m pregnant.”

  I chuckled but pressed her forehead. I was walking with her by now. “I know. One ride.” I lowered my head, nipping her shoulder. “Please.”

  Her laugh started, turning into a half-growl, but she moved forward in jerking steps. Her head turned as we passed Edgar. “I’m pregnant,” she hissed. “Pregnant. As in that a child is inside of me. Got that?”

  He was stifling his laughter, trying to keep a calm composure. “I got it, ma’am.”

  “Ma’am.” She snorted. “Change that to Mother.”

  A laugh broke out from him. “Of course, Mother.”

  “That sounds about right.”

  I was swallowing my laughter, almost pushing Taylor the whole way into the bucket seat. She got in, another jerking step, and she turned, giving me a pleading look. “Logan, please.”

  I ignored that, backing her up, going to her shoulders, and pushing her to sit down—a gentle push.

  She buckled, her knees folding, and she sat.

  I moved next to her.

  Edgar stepped up, clicking in the seatbelt and stepping back, bringing the bar down over us. He double-checked it, making sure it was set in place. He stepped back, going to the controllers, and I called out, “Make it go slow.”

  He gave me a nod.

  “Yes!” Taylor called out. “Really super slow.”

  He cracked another grin before hitting a button, and off we went.

  An inch.

  Another inch.

  And again.

  Realizing how extremely slow we were going, Taylor expelled a sudden breath. “Oh. Okay. That’s better.”

  It’d take us ten minutes to get to the top at this rate, but the slowest mode that I asked them to put in is what we’d do for her.

  She watched around us. I watched her.

  And when we got to the top, when Edgar stopped us, she gasped again. “Logan.” Her hand found mine, squeezing it.

  I knew what she was seeing.

  “It’s the same view from back then.”

  She tore her gaze away from it, turning to me. “Yes, it is.” She gave me a loving smile.

  I leaned in, my forehead going to hers, and I brushed a strand of her hair back. “It’s the same view I was looking at when Mason told me to go and get my girl.”

  I heard her breath hitch.

  I dropped my voice, whispering, “Just in case you need to hear the words, I am ecstatic that we’re having a child. I’m scared. I’m nervous, but I’m happy. And I have loved you since our first year at Cain University, and I will always love you. Forever.”

  New tears glistened from her eyes as she whispered back, “Thank you. I love you right back.”

  I knew she did. That’s something she always gave me.

  It was when we were leaving that she saw the sign.

  “Logan!”

  I laughed and started taking off.

  “You named this roller coaster The Taco Taylor Coaster? Are you SERIOUS?”

  23

  Forever Present

  Taylor

  We drove back that night, but Logan must’ve sent out a request or something. We went to the house, and we were left alone for that night, the next day, and a second night. No calls. No texts. Nothing. Total and complete silence.

  But six a.m. on our second morning, the small respite was done.

  Malinda was knocking on the door, and thirty minutes later, Mason called. The rest of the morning consisted of phone and video calls.

  Mason gave us shit. And congratulations.

  Samantha gave us shit. And congratulations. She was a little weepy.

  Nate. Same as the others. Also weepy. Quincey was with him, but she wasn’t crying. She was all smiles.

  Matteo. Same. One tear.

  Heather came to the house with Channing. He gave us congratulations, but Heather gave Logan the most shit. “It’s about time.” “What took you so long?” “Honestly, what did take you so long?” “You’re the marriage dinosaur.” And so forth.

  Logan didn’t have the quick retorts as he typically did. He held me on his lap and smiled and laughed and kept holding onto me. I could feel him resting his cheek to the back of my shoulders at intervals, his hands under my shirt and firmly resting over my stomach.

  Heather noticed the location, her eyes darting back to mine, but she didn’t comment.

  Malinda was alternating between huffing about not being invited to our wedding, being irate at Helen, and still wanting to twist ‘the weasel’s balls off.’

  It was that evening when the doorbell rang, and the door opened. “Logan?”

  It was Nate.

  He came in, holding hands with Quincey. He paused, seeing us in the dining room.

  Malinda was there. Heather too. Channing left because someone skipped bail, and he needed to go ‘hunting.’ His words, not mine.

  “If I knew you were doing company, we would’ve come earlier.” Nate gave the rest of us nods in greeting.

  I moved to the chair next to Logan, but he kept his hand on my leg, dragging my chair to touch his. Heather had started inspecting our closeness with more speculation in the last couple of hours, but she was also watching Malinda with the same look.

  Heather did not seem surprised at Nate and Quincey’s arrival, and when both dropped into two chairs around the table, all gazes went to Malinda, then to Logan, and everyone sat back. They were waiting.

  I frowned.

  Logan sighed, removing his hand and leaning forward. “I don’t want to deal with Tate.”

  Ooooh. That’s what this was about.

  Nate’s eyes widened, and he shot Heather a quick look, which she matched, but she didn’t seem so shocked before he turned back to Logan. “Uh. Okay.” He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “Gonna put my cards on the table here. James isn’t my dad. He’s not Heather’s. He’s not Quincey’s. He’s yours and Mason’s, and he’s getting scammed by Tate.” He glanced to Malinda. “Did you tell him what Mark said?”

  Malinda’s mouth tightened. “Not yet.”

  I felt another entire body sigh from Logan, one that wasn’t audible, but he asked her, his voice resigned, “What’s this about Mark?”

  Her eyes darted from Nate to Logan. “It’s not really what Mark is saying. It’s what Cassandra is saying.”

  “You still don’t like her?”

  If it was possible, her mouth got even tighter. She jerked her chin up. “She’s grown on me, been through some stuff with her family, but she came forward yesterday. Mark got an earful from me on the phone about your dad. I was in a venting mood, and well, Cassandra asked around. You know they’re related?”

  Logan shook his head. “I didn’t, no.”

  “Distant cousins, I think, but she was told by someone credible that Tate was having an affair with some banking CEO. Not James Kade. She knew someone at the hospital who switched paternity tests, got the results she wanted. It’s a scam. That’s what Cass is saying.”

  Normal Logan would’ve erupted or spewed some vow to take his ex-girlfriend down.

  That didn’t happen.

  He was quiet, giving a slight nod before turning and locking eyes with me.

  I saw it then. He was tired. I saw the plea too. He needed me.

  I nodded, standing up and taking his hand. “If you all will excuse us?”

  Crickets could’ve been heard. No one said a thing, not one thing.

  All eyes tracked us, and I could feel the stunned silence as I led Logan up to his old room. It was a small trek, this house was so huge, but I didn’t need to say anything once we were in.

  Logan grabbed me in for a hug, almost crushing me, his head buried tight into my neck.

  “Loga—” I started.

  He dropped to his knees, his hands raising my shirt, and I took it, holding it for him. He stared at my stomach, his hands catching my hips and pulling me closer to him. Finally, he spoke, staring straight ahead, “I don’t care.”

  God. My heart split open. He sounded so agonized.

  “I only care about this one and you. I care about my family, I do, but I’m done. I’m tired of being the fighter. I—Mason has his family. Nate has his, and I’ve been waiting. Not anymore.” He turned his head up, his eyes fierce.

  Oh, man.

  I sank to my knees, cradling his face. “Baby.”

  His eyes shuddered closed.

  I leaned forward, my forehead touching his, my hands falling to catch his, and I held onto him. “You can handle your dad’s stuff. I’m not going anywhere. Our baby isn’t either. I don’t know where this is coming from, but we’re here. I’m not leaving you.” I moved our hands, going to his chest. I could feel his heartbeat going so hard, so fast.

  I didn’t understand what was going on here.

  “We’re married.”

  He laughed, his heart slowing a tiny bit. “I don’t know what’s going on with… I, just, I just want to hold you. I don’t want to deal with real life. I want someone else to do it.”

  Okay.

  I knew what I needed to do.

  “Do you trust me?”

  He lifted his head, his eyes finding mine. They were clouded over, just a bit. “Yeah…”

  I cupped his face. “Let me handle this. You stay here. I’ll do what I need to do, and I’ll come back to you. How about that?”

  He frowned. “You serious?”

  I nodded in one quick clipping motion. “Let me do the work right now. I can handle shit and come back to you. But you need to give me a bit of time. Okay?” I hesitated, then asked, “I will need to tell one person about the baby. Is that okay?”

  “Who—” He shook his head. “It’s fine. I trust you.”

  I pressed my lips to his before standing, and as he shifted, still frowning, watching me the whole time, I walked out into the hallway. Then I took a minute.

  Okay.

  He wanted his family, not to handle someone else’s family issues. Totally understood that. So okay then.

  I could make that happen.

  Nate was waiting halfway up the stairs, standing to one side. He saw me coming and raised his chin. “What’s going on?”

  His tone was no-nonsense, straight to the point.

  I stopped, knowing I was wearing a slight frown. “He—real talk?”

  Another quick nod. “Nothing else right now.”

  “Logan needs someone else to handle this fight for him. He needs a time-out.”

  Nate’s nostrils flared. “A time-out?”

  “Yeah.”

  He cursed. “Why?”

  I was getting this. I understood. I mean, my God. I’d been front row to see so many years of friendship and family love between him and Logan, but Logan wanted time with his family. This was coming from concern because Logan had never shown this side before.

  Because of that, I kept my tone calm and held out my phone. “I need to make a call, and then we can go from there.”

  I got one step back before he said, his tone grinding out, “I want to know what the fuck’s going on with my brother.”

  I held my phone up higher. “One call.”

  I hit the button, and the phone was ringing by the time I hit the hallway again.

  Mason answered, “Taylor?”

  24

  Logan

  I didn’t know how or what Taylor did, but ten minutes later, she was back.

  Coming to stand by the bed, she held my gaze a moment before she came to some decision.

  She reached up, taking her shirt off. Her pants. Her bra.

  I was in a race now, yanking my clothes off, and by the time she was naked and sliding under the covers, I was ready for her. I sank in and paused at the feel of her, being inside of her, knowing our child was growing inside of her too.

  I used to use sex not to feel anything. Now I felt everything.

  I leaned up, looked down at Taylor, saw her watching me right back, and began to move.

  Her. Me. Our baby.

  Perfect.

  25

  Mason

  The call ended, and I had to sit there for a moment.

  Holy shit.

  Holy shit!

  I got on the phone.

  To Sam, “Book our flights. For everyone. We’re going to Fallen Crest.”

  Her, “What?”

  To my coach, who was sitting across from me, “I need a day.”

  Him, “You just had a day.”

  “It’s family.”

  “You just had family issues.”

  “I need another day.”

  “No, Kade.”

  “I’m taking a day. Maybe two.”

  “Goddammit. I said no!”

  “It’s my brother.”

  “Logan?”

  “Yeah.”

  Silence.

  Him, “Well, fuck. I love that asshole. Fine. Take a day. Watch your tapes there! And do your workout. You can train there.”

  I was up and moving. “Thanks, Coach.”

  He hollered after me, “One day, Kade! One. Day. Do your workouts. You got me?”

  I raised an arm. “I got you, Coach! Workouts. Tapes. One day.”

  I made another call once I got to the Escalade.

  “Mason Kade?” she answered.

  “You helped Nate sort some stuff out a few years ago. I’m wondering if you can help me too?”

  “I’m aware. It’s why I answered your call. Is Nate okay?”

  “He is.” Then I told her what I needed.

  “You’re in Boston?”

  “I am. Flying to Fallen Crest as soon as I can.”

  “I’ll have a file for you by the time you land.”

  Good. I was counting on it.

  I texted Nate next.

  Me: Coming to handle James. Leave Logan out of it.

  Nate: What. The. Fuck. Is. Going. On?

  Me: Find my dad. Find Tate. I’ll let you know when we’ve landed.

  Nate. WTF, Mase! He’s my brother too.

  Me: I know, but I’m the one who got the call. You know what that means, right?

  Nate: I’m sure you’re going to tell me.

  Me: Taylor likes me more.

  Nate: Dick.

  Me: Wrangle up the a-holes. I’m heading back. You’ll find out everything. Logan will want to tell you, that’s why.

  Nate: Fine. We’ll get tabs on Tate. I’m sending Channing and his team to your dad.

  I laughed out loud and called him, “You better make sure he tapes that. I want to see his face.”

  He laughed. “I will.” His voice dropped low. “Is he okay? Just tell me that much.”

  He was referring to Logan.

  “He’s fine. He’s good.”

  Nate sighed. “I gotta go handle this bitch now.”

  I smirked. “See you when we land.”

  26

  Taylor

  Morning sickness was a thing, and it was coming in fast.

  When we got to see a doctor, Logan wanted to know everything.

  Would my boobs get too sensitive?

  How long could we have sex?

  Any position that was unhealthy or healthy for the baby?

  And then the obvious ones:

  When was the baby due?

  When could we find out if it was a mini-Logan or a mini-Taylor?

  And then he pulled out his phone and went down what he had googled:

  Symptoms as the baby grew? Was it one baby? Not two? He was adamant about that.

  Specific symptoms we should look for? Tell the doctor?