Chapter 35

MAGGIE

I’m rendered speechless as I stare at my past.

Carter stands before me dressed in a dark shirt that’s tucked into acid-washed denim jeans.

He flashes me the same friendly smile he used to when we were younger and has more muscle than he used to back in high school. Those emerald eyes assess me curiously.

Why do we have to bump into each other here? I thought he was living somewhere overseas.

We are both speechless, and I’m not sure if he recognizes me. I feel like someone’s choking me. The air in my lungs feels heavy as anxiety swirls inside my body.

“Maggie?” He smiles.

Before I can say anything, he continues, “God, you look so different. I almost didn’t recognize you for a second.”

“How are you doing, Carter?” I try to mimic his smile.

“I’m doing good,” he says and then steps closer. “What about you?”

His eyes do a subtle once-over. There’s the deceiving lady-killer smile and the confident way in which he carries himself like he’s some kind of god that people should worship.

He hasn’t changed at all. He’s the same.

“I’m great,” I say, and hope that he leaves me alone.

Which is the truth. Without him, I’m doing much better, and I don’t need him to be here to complicate things.

“Mommy, look what Carter gave me.”

And when Chase calls me Mommy, Carter’s expression changes. He’s not smiling anymore. He looks taken aback. I’m hoping he doesn’t put two and two together and find out the truth.

“Chase, it’s not nice to take things that don’t belong to you.”

Chase pouts. “But Carter gave it to me! He’s my new best friend.”

He shows me a superhero keychain. He has that sparkle in his eyes, which usually happens when he sees something he loves.

“Chase!”

“Oh, it’s all right, he can keep it,” Carter says, laughing.

“Yay!” Chase doesn’t stop to listen to me and runs off toward a group of other kids.

“He’s a sweet kid.”

“Wait until you see him at home.”

“You’re married now?” He sounds almost disappointed.

“I am.” I show off my ring finger. “You?”

“Nope.” He goes silent for a beat before saying, “I spent a lot of time searching for the person whose heart I’d broken years ago, and turns out I was too late, and she already found somebody else.”

His smile falters as his gaze turns serious. My heart beats so fast, it’s going to leap out of my chest. I know he’s talking about ~me.~

How dare he say that he was searching for me with the way we’d ended things?

“How’s your career?”

“It’s good.” He smiles. “Have you heard of Pearson & Howard? Recently, I was hired by that law firm, and that’s the reason I was transferred here.”

Everyone knew that Pearson & Howard was one of the best law firms in the state. Most people only dreamed of working there, but Carter had made one of his dreams come true.

“That’s amazing! I remember how much you wanted to work there.”

“I did and never realized that I was paying a huge price to make a career.”

“It wasn’t your fault. You made your choice, and I made mine.”

“You’re right.”

“There you are!” It’s Logan. He walks to where we’re standing and wraps an arm around my shoulder. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you, baby. Did you find Chase?”

“Yeah, he was right here.”

I think Logan realizes how stiff I’ve become. His touch on my back is comforting. I just want to bury myself in his warmth so that I don’t have to face the world.

This right here is my worst nightmare. To face my past with my present standing beside me.

“If it isn’t Logan Malory.”

That has Logan’s attention. His attention is diverted toward my former friend-slash-lover. Logan has mastered the art of a stoic face, so his expression remains neutral. It’s what he does when he’s out in public.

“Carter?”

Carter grins. “Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Malory.”

I can hear the sarcasm in Carter’s voice loud and clear.

Logan’s grasp on my waist tightens as he hands me a glass of wine. “I see that you’ve met my beautiful wife.”

Carter’s eyes widen and then he notices the possessive way in which Logan touches me, and realization dawns on him.

He quickly recovers before saying, “Can’t say I’m surprised that the two of you are married. You two were joined at the hip.”

Let me make a few things clear. Carter has passive-aggressive behavior. He pretends to be really nice, but hides his thoughts until he finds a chance to unleash his true colors. I learned this the hard way.

Logan’s jaw hardens, and I know he’s trying so hard not to say what he really wants to. “Maggie is the best thing that ever happened to me, so it’s obvious that I wouldn’t miss the chance to make her mine.”

He raises my hand to his lips and kisses it, and I’m equal measures mortified and happy.

“I’m glad you got what you wanted, Maggie,” Carter says.

When Carter leaves, I interlock my fingers through Logan’s. He realizes that my encounter with Carter has upset me.

He leads me a little farther away from the party. There are tears threatening to burst out, but I have to control my emotions. I can’t break down like this in front of all these people.

Logan tips my head to face him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

He wraps both his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. His blue eyes pierce through mine. “Let’s go home.”