Secrets & Lies

6| Saying No

"Keep that up and you're going to put a hole in the floor."

I stopped pacing and turned around to find my mom standing behind me.

"What's up, mom?" I asked impatiently.

When she arched her left brow, I knew I was in trouble. "Don't take that tone with me, Logan Thorne."

I ran my hands over my face and fell onto the plush sofa. "Sorry, mom," I groaned. "Just a lot on my mind."

"I would like to think so. Today is Amelia's birthday and we haven't planned it out yet."

She wasn't wrong, but that's not what had me pacing the living room floor. What happened between Grant and I last night behind Jack's Bar wouldn't stop replaying in my mind.

Grant was right when he said he was the one that usually lost control. I remembered many nights where he pushed me up against the wall or pulled me into a dark corner of a restaurant because he had to kiss me right then and there.

I guess I got a little taste of what he felt in those situations last night. When I looked up and saw Grant in the bar, I didn't know what to do. Considering who I was at the bar with, I'm surprised that I went after him.

Thankfully when I told Amelia I was going to the restroom, she didn't question it. But she or Wyatt could have easily come looking for me. In that moment, however, I didn't care. I saw the hurt in Grant's eyes and I couldn't let him walk away without doing something.

Even before he suggested going back to the city, I knew that if I didn't follow after him, there was a good chance he would have left without even saying goodbye.

I needed him here. I wasn't ready for him to read yet. I couldn't explain it—and I refused to acknowledge the reason why, but for now...I needed him. Just like I told him last night. It was that simple. I. Needed. Him.

I looked to my mother who was waiting patiently. "You're right, mom. We should plan something." I got up from the couch and walked over to her. "I suggested dinner here when I was out with her last night. She seemed okay with it."

I saw Amelia early this morning when I wished her a happy birthday. I told her that I was going to spend most of the day time with my mom to plan her birthday dinner. She seemed a little nervous when I said that, but she said she was looking forward to it.

"I think it's sweet of you to do that for her, Logan. Is it just the family or a surprise party?"

"Logan...shit. Don't stop. Don't fucking stop."

Grant's voice whispered through my mind and I've never felt guiltier.

"Let's do a surprise party," I said to my mother.

"A surprise party? Uh, okay. Who should we invite?"

Fuck. I had no idea. "I don't know."

My mom tapped her chin as she thought of a solution. "I know!" she exclaimed. "We can do an engagement party/birthday party. I can invite some family and friends from the city!"

I frowned at her suggestion. "Are you sure? I mean, it seems like short notice."

She waved her hand at me. "Nonsense! Most of them are here already, anyway."

Okay, now I was even more confused. "Wait, why?"

She huffed at me like my question was of ridiculous. "We were going to have an engagement party anyway, so I went ahead and started calling some of our closest family and friends after you proposed"