Logan

187. You Have My Word

*Jack's POV*

What the fuck was I thinking going to her house? I fucking hate small towns, everyone wants to be your friend.

I hear Natalie relax beside me, "I am so full from that pie," she huffs.

I think back to the conversation I had with her father when he pulled me aside, his face full with worry.

"Please don't bullshit me, just listen. If what happened to me is part of something larger, which I know it has to be. Too many weird emergency phone calls, abandoned buildings with victims with multiple contusions, we've had an uptick in arsons, I need something from you." He looks at me. "I want to make sure you protect my daughter. I think she trusts you and that's hard to earn once you've messed up," he sighs, "She's been through so much, life has not been kind to her."

"Yes sir." I nod.

"She's," he stops and looks over his shoulder, his voice shaky, "She's the only child I have, my baby. I need her to be safe while I'm like this, I can't protect her right now. Whatever's happening out there is bound to affect more than just me."

"You have my word," I say, holding out my hand for him to shake. He nods and starts talking about Natalie's art piece when he sees Natalie coming up to us.

I look over and Natalie's looking at me, concern on her face.

"Wherever you just went, it doesn't look good. Is everything okay?" She asks.

"I have a question for you, do you really think you're a glorified coffee girl?"

Natalie looks away and then back at me, "I mean, I am just a secretary."

I shake my head, "No, you're an assistant, but I give you administrative tasks that will bolster your resume should you decide to employ anywhere else. You're very smart, and I do really like the tabs you use."

Natalie smiles, "Thank you for coming tonight. I know it must be overwhelming, being somewhere new and dealing with," she gestures between us, "whatever's going on between us, I just thought, it would be nice to have home cooking."

I nod, "Yes, it was. I would've had to go out again."

I pull into her driveway and get out to open her door. She smiles at me and I resist the intense urge to kiss her.

"Goodnight," she whispers once we're at her door.

"Goodnight." I say. I watch her walk into the garage entrance, and she closes the door behind her. I drive just a little down the road and park in the Grey driveway.

I'd been planning on leaving, making up some excuse, until her dad talked to me tonight.