Unlikely Hearts - Logan Huntzberger

Chapter Thirteen

Thanksgiving break had arrived, and the familiar warmth of home enveloped Alouette as she and Atlas stepped through the front door of their family home in San Francisco. The rich aroma of roasted turkey and savory stuffing wafted through the air, instantly invoking feelings of nostalgia and comfort.

"Smells amazing!" Alouette exclaimed, a smile breaking across her face as she took in the festive decorations that adorned their home. The dining room was decked out with autumnal hues—golden leaves, flickering candles, and an impressive centerpiece that boasted an array of seasonal fruits. It was a tradition their parents cherished, and tonight's dinner promised to be extravagant, as always.

"Just wait until you see what Izzy's got planned for dessert," Atlas teased, nudging her as they walked through the foyer. "I think she's made a whole bakery's worth."

Alouette chuckled, picturing her step mother fussing over pies and pastries. "I'll definitely need to make some room after the main course, then."

As the evening unfolded, the dining room buzzed with the chatter of family and friends, the clinking of silverware harmonizing with laughter and cheerful conversations. Alouette and Atlas settled in, surrounded by the warmth of familiar faces and the lively atmosphere their parents had cultivated over the years.

"Alouette! Atlas! Come help me set the table!" Izzy called, her voice bright with excitement. They moved to assist her, arranging plates and utensils, while their father poured sparkling cider into crystal flutes, ready to toast to the evening ahead.

The dinner itself was a feast—a golden-brown turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, and a mountain of stuffing that made Alouette's mouth water. The conversation flowed freely, laughter punctuating the air as everyone shared stories and caught up on life. Alouette was thankful for the joy of being home, but a small part of her felt the absence of Logan, which lingered like a shadow.

Later that night, after the plates had been cleared and dessert devoured, the family congregated in the living room, where a fire crackled in the fireplace. Alouette settled onto the plush couch, her mind drifting between the warmth of home and the reality of her complicated feelings for Logan.

Just as she started to lose herself in thought, her phone buzzed, snapping her back to the moment. A message flashed across the screen, but as she picked it up, she realized it was a call from Logan. Her heart raced—he was supposed to be in New York, celebrating Thanksgiving with his family. She stepped away quietly, before pressing the button to answer his call.

"Logan?" she answered, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Lou, baby," he slurred, the sound of laughter and muffled voices echoing in the background. 

Her heart ached at the sound of his voice, slightly unsteady but filled with sincerity. "Logan, are you okay?"

"I'm fine... just a little drunk," he admitted with a laugh, but the heaviness in his tone revealed the deeper emotions he was grappling with. "I keep messing up, Lou. I just... I miss you, you know?"

Alouette took a breath, trying to suppress the rush of feelings that his words stirred within her. "You're drunk, Logan."

"I mean it, Lou," he replied, his voice earnest despite the slurring. "You're important to me, and I can't help but think about how things went down. I wish I could go back and change things."

"You can't change the past," she comforted, knowing she was speaking to someone vulnerable in this moment. "But you can learn from it. We can figure things out."

"Yeah? You really think that?" he asked, the vulnerability creeping into his voice, and she could picture him leaning back against a wall, looking at the ceiling with that familiar frown etched across his face.

"I do. But you need to be sober when we talk about it, Logan," she said, her heart racing at the thought of having a real conversation. "I want to understand what you're feeling, but not like this."

"Right, of course," he sighed, and she could almost see the frustration in his expression. "I just... I don't know how to do this without you."

Alouette's heart fluttered at his confession, the warmth of affection washing over her despite the confusion. "You don't have to do anything alone, Logan. You can talk to me. I'm here, okay?"

"Yeah, okay," he mumbled, a hint of relief threading through his voice. "I just wish I could be there with you right now. I'm tired of pretending everything's fine."

"Then stop pretending," she urged gently. "You can be honest with me. We're friends first, remember?"

"Friends... right," he said, a hint of bitterness creeping in. "I don't want to be just friends, Lou."

The admission hung in the air, the weight of his words settling around them like an unspoken promise. Alouette felt a flutter of hope mixed with trepidation. "Logan... it's complicated."

"I know it is. But I'm willing to try. I don't want to lose you again," he said, his voice earnest and raw.

The moment stretched, the vulnerability between them palpable. Alouette closed her eyes, focusing on the connection they shared, a bond that felt unbreakable despite the distance and misunderstandings.

"Okay," she whispered, her heart racing. "We can talk about this when you're sober. Promise me you'll call me tomorrow."

"I promise," he said, a hint of a smile evident in his tone. "Happy Thanksgiving, Lou."

"Happy Thanksgiving, Logan," she replied, her heart aching with unresolved emotions as she hung up the call.

As she walked back into the living room, Atlas glanced over, concern etched across his face. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just... talking to an old friend," she replied, her mind swirling with possibilities.

"Old friend, huh?" he raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying her vague response.

"More like complicated friend," she muttered, leaning back against the couch, lost in thought.

Atlas narrowed his eyes at her, knowing all too well the complexities of her relationship with Logan. "You two still have a lot to work through, don't you?"

"Maybe," she admitted quietly, staring into the flickering flames of the fireplace. "But I think we're finally on the right path."

As the night wore on, Alouette found herself both anxious and hopeful. The distance between her and Logan felt narrower, their connection reigniting like the flames that warmed the room. She closed her eyes, imagining the conversations to come, the possibilities of what lay ahead, and the feelings she dared not fully acknowledge. Thanksgiving had always been about family and gratitude, but this year, it had taken on a new significance—a chance for reconciliation and understanding, not just with her family but with the one person she had always found difficult to let go of.