Forbidden Serenade

Chapter Eleven

I didn't feel like cooking, so Millie, Sam, and I went to Logan's restaurant. We sat at a table eating burgers and listening to the local country band on the worn stage. The place was only half full. It was a discouraging sight for a Friday night. It should have been packed.

Millie had been talking all evening about school, friends, and a show she was watching. Sam sat quietly, only answering questions when he had to. I was worried about him, but wasn't sure how to help. I knew James thought sports was the answer, but I wasn't so sure. Sports didn't guarantee friends and happiness.

"How's the food?" Logan asked as he sat down next to Sam across from me.

Millie looked up, her eyes wide with excitement. "It's so good, Uncle Logan. They even gave me cheese for my fries!"

Logan smirked as he stole a fry and dipped it in the cheese she was so excited about.

"Hey!" Millie protested as Logan popped the fry into his mouth. "That was mine!"

Logan shrugged. "Taxes, kid."

Millie scrunched her nose. "I don't like taxes."

Logan laughed before turning his attention to me. "What do you think of the band?"

I glanced over at the country singer with his guitarist and drummer. "They're good."

Sighing, Logan stole another fry to Millie's protest. "No, they aren't. They are sub-par, but it's the best I can get in here. It's Friday night." He waved his arms around the establishment. "This place should be swarming with customers. Remember those days?"

"It's just a phase," I said, trying to give him some reassurance. "Things will get better."

His lips tugged down. He reached for another fry, but Millie slapped his hand. "You're a mean little thing, aren't you?"

Millie stuck her tongue out. "Buy your own, Uncle Logan."

I laughed, but stopped short when Logan spoke again.

"Who was the kid last week?"

My blood drained to my toes. I glanced at Millie and Sam, making sure they weren't listening, before turning nervously to my brother. "It was no one. Just an old friend."

Logan quirked an eyebrow. "He didn't look old. Did you check his ID before serving him?"

I took a long sip of my soda, trying to delay my answer that he waited for. "He's just a friend."

Logan leaned toward me, his voice lowering. "You're divorced, sis. You can date. Is this some kid you're going out with?"

"No!" My face heated with embarrassment. "No. Of course not. He was just a friend that was in town visiting, so we hung out. That's it." I laughed lightly, trying my best to hide my discomfort. "He's totally not my type and, like you said, he's young. He was just a friend."

I could tell by Logan's expression he didn't believe a word I was spewing. He was my brother, after all. He knew me better than most anyone else. His lips twitched up. "My sister is a cougar."

Leaning toward him, I hissed my words out, hoping my kids weren't paying attention. "Stop! I'm not a cougar! He was a friend."

Logan sat back in his seat, sneaking a fry from Millie as he did. "Sure sis. Whatever you say."

As I glared at him, he made a hand motion like a cat clawing. When I was certain my kids were watching the band on stage, I flipped him off. He broke out into laughter.

We ate together, eating and enjoying the music. Logan continued stealing fries from Millie until I broke down and ordered him a basket of fries. With a side of cheese, of course. When it arrived, Logan and Millie gleefully shared it, fighting over who had the biggest fry.