Unlikely Hearts - Logan Huntzberger

Chapter Thirty Two

Alouette stood in front of her bedroom mirror, staring at the dress hanging loosely in her hands. One of the ones she'd worn to countless Huntzberger/Davenport dinners over the years. Normally, she didn't mind the formalities, but tonight, the very idea of sitting across from Logan, pretending everything was normal, felt unbearable.

She hadn't heard from him since their conversation. No follow-up, no apologies, no explanations. And though she had been trying to move on, the thought of seeing him with their families made her stomach twist in knots.

Her phone buzzed on the bed, and she glanced over to see a text from her dad.

Dinner starts at 7. It's been too long.

Alouette bit her lip. She had already told herself that she wasn't going to go, but her dad's excitement made it harder. She hadn't mentioned anything about Logan, of course. That was something her parents didn't know about—how tangled things had gotten between them.

With a sigh, Alouette typed out a reply.

I'm not feeling great tonight. Rain check?

A few moments passed before her dad replied with a simple, Fine.

The guilt still lingered, but it was easier to breathe knowing she wouldn't have to face Logan tonight. She tossed the dress back into her closet, pulling on a comfortable hoodie instead. She'd order takeout and spend the evening wrapped up in a blanket, far away from any awkward confrontations.

*

Hours passed quietly. Alouette was curled up on her couch with a movie playing in the background, though she wasn't really watching it. Her mind kept drifting back to the dinner—wondering how it was going, what Logan's reaction had been when he realized she wasn't there.

She was halfway through a carton of Thai food when a knock at the door startled her. Her heart skipped, and she frowned, not expecting anyone at this hour. Maybe it was one of her friends dropping by unannounced.

But when she opened the door, her breath caught.

Logan stood in the hallway, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. He wasn't dressed in his usual casual attire; he still wore the button-down and dark slacks from the family dinner. His hair was slightly tousled, and there was something different about him—he wasn't wearing his usual cocky smile, wasn't smirking or teasing like he always did.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice lacking the usual edge.

Alouette blinked, stunned to see him there. "Logan... what are you doing here?"

He leaned against the doorframe, his gaze shifting toward the floor for a moment before meeting her eyes. "I stopped by to check on you. You weren't at dinner, and... I don't know, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

It wasn't like Logan to check up on people. At least, not in the way he was doing now. He was always good at brushing things off, at keeping things light. But this felt different.

Alouette swallowed hard, stepping aside to let him in. "I'm fine. Just didn't feel like going."

Logan stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room briefly before settling back on her. "Didn't feel like going, or didn't feel like seeing me?"

She didn't answer right away, instead crossing her arms defensively. "Does it matter?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he sank onto the arm of her couch. "Look, I get that things are weird right now. But I didn't come here to fight or make things more awkward. I just—" He paused, as if searching for the right words, "I just wanted to talk."

The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. This wasn't the usual Logan who flirted his way out of every difficult conversation. This was a side of him she rarely saw—a side that didn't hide behind the charm.

Alouette hesitated before sitting on the opposite end of the couch, keeping a safe distance between them. "I don't really know what there is to talk about, Logan. You made it pretty clear where you stand."

"I know," he said, his voice soft, almost apologetic. "And I'm sorry if I hurt you. That wasn't what I wanted."

She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "What did you want, then? Because all I ever got from you was mixed signals. One minute we're fucking and you're telling me I'm your favorite girl, the next you're reminding me that we're just casual. You can't have it both ways, Logan."

He looked at her, his eyes unusually serious. "I wasn't trying to have it both ways. I was just... I don't know, trying to protect myself."

Alouette frowned, caught off guard by his honesty. "Protect yourself from what?"

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and for a moment, he looked vulnerable. "From screwing things up. From... feeling too much, too fast."

She wasn't sure what to say to that. The Logan Huntzberger she knew didn't talk about feelings—he avoided them at all costs. But here he was, sitting in her apartment, confessing something she hadn't expected.

"Logan," she began, her voice soft, "I wasn't asking for more than you could give. But I needed you to be honest with me. I needed to know where we stood."

"I know," he said quietly, looking at her with something close to regret. "And I should've been. But I've never been good at this—at any of it."

Alouette studied him, her heart aching at how genuine he seemed. This wasn't the cocky, carefree guy she had been tangled up with for months. This was someone who was finally letting his guard down.

She took a deep breath, her voice steady as she spoke. "I get that you're scared of commitment. But that doesn't mean you can keep pushing people away when they start to matter."

Logan looked down, his jaw clenched. "I didn't mean to push you away."

"Maybe not," she replied softly, "but that's what happened."

The silence between them stretched, heavy with everything unsaid. Alouette wasn't sure where this conversation was leading—whether it would change anything or just solidify the distance between them. But it felt important, necessary.

Logan finally looked up at her, his expression raw and unguarded. "I don't know how to do this, Lou. I don't know how to be what you need."

Her heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice, but she knew that this was the truth she had been waiting for. Logan wasn't the kind of guy who could give her what she wanted—not now, maybe not ever.

"I don't need you to be perfect," she said quietly, her eyes soft as they met his. "I just needed you to try."

He didn't say anything for a long moment, his gaze locked with hers, and she could see the conflict in his eyes. He cared for her—she could see that now. But caring wasn't the same as being ready to give more.

Logan stood up slowly, his eyes lingering on her as he moved toward the door. "I'm sorry, Lou."

And with that, he was gone, leaving behind an empty space where their words had once filled the room.