Beautiful Chaos

Chapter Fourteen

I hugged Logan tightly and rested my chin on his shoulder as paparazzi cameras snapped rapidly around us. “I’m going to miss you so much.” He whispered and pulled away slightly, kissing my forehead.

“I’ll miss you too.” I answered with a distant smile. He kissed me hard on the lips one final time, which I assumed was mostly for the cameras and waved goodbye as he walked away. Logan was headed back to New York and I was on my way home to Miami. Gina allowed us a week’s break to visit family and friends until we met up again in California. The five of us piled into the car they had waiting and headed back to my house.

“I can’t believe we are headed home!” Camila whispered to me.

“I know it feels like ages since I’ve seen everyone.” I replied. I stared out the window the rest of the ride, imaging how this week was going to go.

~

I unlocked the front door as my family ran up to greet us almost immediately.

“My baby!” I watched as my dad quickly made his way over to me and enveloped me in a tight embrace.

“Dad!” I responded, dropping my bags and hugging him back. It felt good to be back in familiar arms again. Traveling for so long really puts a toll on things and being home felt so good. The girls’ and I have been on the road for three months of our world tour.

“You girls arrived just in time. Dinner is ready!” My step-mom said a little too cheerfully. “Hi Lauren,” She says with a plastered smile, hugging me for what felt like half of a second.

“Hi Megan.” I replied through my teeth. We made our way over to the table and sat down, serving the food amongst ourselves.

“So…Lauren,” my dad began after everyone was settled. “What’s the story with this Logan character?” He questioned. I nearly choked on my food, forgetting the fact I hadn’t mentioned anything about my new found relationship to anyone sitting at the table. 

“We hardly know anything about him either!” Ally chimes in. I shoot her a look, forgetting she doesn’t know how Logan and I even came to be. My dad gives me a suspicious glance, realizing that it’s odd I wouldn’t tell the girls about Logan saying they are practically my family at this point.

“Uh…he’s a boy.” I say quickly, shoving more food in my mouth so I don’t have to continue speaking.

“And…” My sister presses me to continue.

“We’ve been dating pretty much since the tour started and he’s really great.” I say looking around at the perplexed faces at the table.

“Is that all we get?” Megan asks while everybody laughs along. “How old is he? Where did he go to school? What does he do? How did you guys meet?” She questions.

God, could this woman ask me anymore questions?

“He’s 21 and he went to the University of Denver in Colorado. That’s main campus ya know?” I say as I sip my water. “He majored in journalism and moved to New York City recently and stays in an apartment.” I add, not mentioning the fact he stays with his parents half the time. “He has a paid internship at the New York Times right now and is gradually making his way up but he also works part-time at a diner.” I explain, purposefully not answering her question of how we met. I watch as the heads around me nod in approval and mentally sigh in relief that I truly knew all these things about Logan.

“Sounds like quite the guy.” My father says.

“Yes he surely does,” Megan agrees. “But not half the man you are.” She says to my father, kissing him on the lips. My siblings and I gag while they continue in their awkward snogging at the dinner table. I am silently thankful that the spotlight is off of the topic of Logan and I at the moment.