Chapter 12

MAGGIE

I won’t cry, and it would be a shame if Logan made me cry again, because he has done it a dozen times before, and he had no problem feigning innocence later.

He’s as cold as fucking Antarctica, and I already knew that, and yet married him, thinking I would make this work.

Part of the problem lies within me. I’m not strong enough to say no to my son. I don’t even recall the last time I ever guided his behavior. That’s bad parenting right there.

I feel guilty that he doesn’t have a father. I feel bad when he talks about his friends and their dads and wishes he had one too.

Tears cloud my vision, but I won’t shed a single tear in front of Logan.

Your son carved a gingerbread man out of his expensive shirts. What else did you expect, Maggie?

Well, I expected Logan to be a little more understanding. Motherhood is difficult, especially for me. I struggle with raising Chase every single day.

I don’t have answers to some of his innocent questions, so it would have been nice if Logan had suggested taking some of the load off me and tried to at least become a father figure, if not his dad.

I don’t know where to go. Zoe would welcome me with open arms in her apartment, but I can’t be a third wheel. The couple just moved in together a few months ago, so they are still in their honeymoon phase.

Zoe can also see through my bullshit, so chances were that she would find out that things weren’t great between Logan and me, and then she’d throw a pity party.

Chase sits on his bed, giving me a confused look. “Why are we going back to Grandpa’s? You said this was our home now.”

On second thought, going home seems like a bad idea, considering I’d have to answer my dad’s list of questions of when, who, why, and I’d rather board a sinking ship than endure that.

I also don’t want to risk driving late at night when the crime rate is on the rise, but staying here isn’t an option either.

I have a cousin living forty-five minutes from here. I could go to his place tomorrow morning.

LOGAN

Maggie was avoiding me. And not just that. She was also doing a good job of keeping Chase away from me.

Okay, I know I fucked up. I could have handled it in a much better way, but instead, I let my temper get the better of me.

When I woke up in the morning, there was no sign of her in our bedroom. I assumed she went into the kitchen to offer her help.

Maggie had the house staff wrapped around her finger. They aren’t just happy. They are ecstatic about having her as a part of this family.

“Can I help you with anything, sir?” Paris, my secretary, asks, distracting me from my thoughts.

Paris is used to poking his nose where it doesn’t belong and right now, his eyes are glued to my computer screen. It’s like he can read my mind, because he says, “Are you looking for a gift for your wife?”

I nod. “We argued last night, and I don’t know what can make her happy.” I pull out my black card. “Buy her the most expensive necklace you can find.”

Paris smiles, but I think the bastard is smiling with pity. “Do you really think diamonds can solve the problem, sir?”

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. What else can make a woman happy?”

He gives me a strange look. “I think you should take some flowers. Being a little sincere with your apology would do the trick, too.”

“Flowers and an apology?”

“That’s right, sir.”

I return home that evening with a bouquet and a box of chocolates. There is also a toy car I bought on a whim gift-wrapped for Chase.

My dad was waiting for me in the sitting area, a grim expression plastered over his face.

It’s time for the Malory Melodrama Show, take one.

He stood up from the couch when he saw me. “Where’s Maggie?”

“She’s not home?”

John’s gaze turns murderous. “Tell me, son, you don’t know where your wife is?”

I look at the housekeeper. “Steve, do you know where Maggie is?”

“After you left for work, she took Chase and left the house. Although Remy offered to drive her, she insisted on taking an Uber.”

“You bring her back this instant!” John bellows. “I promised my friend that I would take care of his daughter like she’s my own, and now you’re creating this mess because of how stubborn you are.”

I try not to grind my molars to dust. I fish out my cell phone from my pocket and call her.

MAGGIE

“Mommy, when can we go back to our house?”

This is probably the millionth time Chase has asked me this question. He’s not a fan of Xavier’s apartment, and he made it known as soon as we stepped into the space.

He told my cousin how his bedroom was bigger than his entire apartment.

Xavier, being the cocky asshole he is, said, “Really, buddy? Why don’t you tell your daddy to buy me a new apartment that’s bigger than your bedroom?”

That’s all Chase needed because he said, “My dad’s got tons of money. He can buy you three.”

Since Xav is a game developer, he’s hardly at home. The project is still in its early stages of launch, so he’s usually busy with his work. I feel like I’m intruding, but he’s my only option right now.

My phone vibrates on the coffee table. It’s Logan. He has called me almost a dozen times since the afternoon.

I decide to answer the call.

Before I have a chance to say anything, he speaks, heavy on the venom, “Where the fuck are you, Maggie?”

He’s frustrated and tired and close to crying because of relief. I can hear it in his voice. These are the games we used to play before, too, but now the only difference is that I’m not so immature anymore.

“I’m safe. You don’t need to worry.”

He lets out a sigh of relief and I can hear him say, “She’s fine,” in the background.

“Where are you right now?” he tries again. “I’ll pick you up.”

“I’m not coming home.”

“Why not?”

“You don’t want Chase to be around you, and I won’t live in a house where I’m asked to put him away like he’s some kind of misbehaved pet.”

Logan goes silent on the other end. A beat later he says, “I’m sorry about what I said last night. I didn’t mean any of it.”

Anyone who has known Logan long enough can see through his bullshit. He always speaks the truth when he’s angry, and last night was no mistake.

“Maggie, let’s sit down and talk about this.”

I press End Call and switch off my phone, and Xavier chooses exactly that time to enter the apartment.

“Hey, sorry I’m late.”

Xav and I are almost the same age. He’s only a year older than I am, and we’re more like friends than cousins. I’m a lot more comfortable with him than I am with some of my other female cousins.

He’s also the cousin that most of my female classmates used to crush on. He has the golden-boy look going for him, with wavy blond hair and serious brown eyes, kind of like a cuter version of Alex Pettyfer.

“It’s okay.”

“What’s wrong? Did Logan call you?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“It’s all over your face.” He laughs, and it’s as if he notices that I’m not in the mood to talk about my arrogant husband, so he changes the subject. “Where’s the little monkey?”

“He’s in bed.”

He does a double-take around the place. “Did a cleaning fairy just visit this apartment or something?”

“Nope. Just me.”

“You didn’t need to clean up my apartment, Mags.”

“I had nothing better to do, so I thought I’d be a little useful.” I wasn’t lying.

“Well, I appreciate it, but don’t do it again, or else I’ll have to kick you out.” When he sees the look on my face, he quickly says, “I’m kidding.”

“I even cooked food.”

“No wonder the place smells like heaven.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s just spaghetti and meatballs.”

“Either way, for a guy like me who’s too lazy to cook and usually eats instant Ramen and frozen food, you’re a lifesaver.” He walks into his bedroom and a minute later, he comes back dressed in only pajama pants.

“Should I put on a movie?” I scroll through the list of Netflix movies.

“Sure. Choose whatever you want, except for movies like ~Me Before You~ or ~The Notebook~.” He builds a gigantic tower of spaghetti on his plate and walks back to sit in front of the screen with me.

I smile. “You don’t like those movies?”

“That’s some unrealistic, sappy shit.”

“I like those movies, so I’m offended.”

He chews his food, swallows, and then says, “If your life was anything like those movies, do you think you would be sitting here in my apartment moping over your husband? I don’t think so.

“You would probably soak in the rain, staring into each other’s eyes and confessing eternal love.”

I double over with laughter. “That’s actually true, but I’m not looking for love.”

He smirks. “I’m going to have to call you a liar. Almost every woman says that, but at the end of the day, they are still searching for love.”

“It would have been nice to have someone to love me, but I’m not that naïve anymore. All I need is for Chase to have a good life and—

The words get lodged in my throat.

It’s not just about Chase. I want someone to look at me like they can’t live without me, and I know I’m never going to get something like that.

“Aw, don’t cry,” Xavier puts his plate aside and puts his arms around me to give me an awkward hug. “It’s okay to be a little selfish, Maggie. Everything doesn’t always have to be about Chase.”

I give him a nod. These aren’t sad tears. They are tears of frustration, because no one understands me, least of all Logan, and that’s ironic because he used to be the person I confided in when I was younger.

The doorbell rings. Xavier pulls away. “That must be my neighbor. I’ll check what he wants.”

He walks to the door while I try my best to wipe my tears, but I’m a nasty crybaby who usually ends up with red eyes.

When the door opens, it’s not Xavier’s neighbor standing on the doorstep.

It’s Logan. He takes one look at me sitting in the background and punches Xavier in the face.