The Pathway To Us (15 page)

Logan had been right to make sure nothing else was on his calendar for the remainder of the day because it would have been impossible to make any sound decisions. He wasn’t even sure if the one he’d just made was sound.

Feeling suffocated, he grabbed his coat. He needed to have several drinks before informing his bride-to-be that he was ready to spend the rest of his life with her.

*****

Lily was numb as she dragged her feet in the snow to the bus station. So, this was it. This was how it all ended. Logan made his choice, and it hadn’t been her.
God, please just let me make it home before I break down,
was all she could think
.
The last thing she needed was for the paparazzi to take a picture of her when her feelings were so raw, and the pain in her heart was probably all over her face.

The bus pulled up, and Lily stepped on it. It was strange how people seemed to be going on about their day when her entire world seemed to have crashed and burned. Lily didn’t have much time to wallow in her sorrow because in about seven months she was going to be a mother.

How was she going to tell Logan, or should she? Of course, he had a right to know that he was going to be a father. Lily pressed her fingers to her forehead to relieve some of the pressure that had started to build.

Her thoughts still ran rampant. Had Logan known, Lily knew for certain that he would have chosen her, and it would have been for all the wrong reasons. Still, this child was conceived in so much love. She would do her best to give this baby everything. While Logan had a right to know that he was going to be a father, when to tell him was the question. Now certainly wasn’t the time. Should she tell him before or after his wedding? Merely thinking those words caused an ache in her chest so painful that she thought she’d been hit with a bat. Lily inhaled slowly trying to get control of her feelings. She would figure this out, but it wasn’t going to happen on this bus.

*****

Logan stood outside of his apartment door. He hadn’t used his key in over a month. He knew Bree was inside because her car was in the garage. After another moment, Logan put the key into the door and turned. The door slowly crept open. The apartment was quiet.

He called out to her. “Bree? Are you home?”

She came out of her office. Her voice was somewhat breathless. “Logan, what are you doing here?”

He shrugged as his eyes captured hers. “Last time I checked I still lived here unless you’d prefer . . .”

Bree stood in the middle of the floor stunned. She’d been expecting Logan to make a different decision.

He crossed the room and stood directly in front of her. “If you’re willing, I think it’s time we moved forward with our lives. Don’t you?”

Bree stared at him for a long moment. “What about Lily?”

Logan couldn’t maintain eye contact as he looked around the room before responding. He couldn’t face her questioning eyes. “It’s just us, Bree.”

She took him by the hands and led him over to the couch. Bree sat and pulled him down with her. “Why?”

He looked confused. “Why what?”

“Why did you choose me?”

“Bree, you know why.”

“No. I don’t. Please tell me.”

Logan ran his hand across his face. “Bree, when I put that ring on your finger, I was already completely committed to you. You’ve stood by me through the unimaginable and have loved me through everything. That means something.”

Bree pressed her lips together. Then caressed his cheek. “We’ve known each other a long time, and right now I hate that I know you so well.” She paused. “Logan, do I make your heart speed up when we’re in the same room?”

He knew what she was trying to say. “Bree, don’t do this.”

“I love you too much not too.” She stared deeply into his eyes. “If you can tell me that our love is all consuming, and you’re not here out of some sense of loyalty and duty then I’ll marry you tomorrow.”

Silence.

Her eyes teared up. “I think I’ve known even before everything happened with Lily. I can see that you love her the way a husband is supposed to love a wife.” Bree took off her engagement ring and placed it in the palm of his hand. “I just hope that one day, I’ll find a love who looks at me the way you look at her.”

Logan pulled Bree close and rested his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry.”

She sniffled trying to keep herself together. “No need to be sorry. The heart wants what the heart wants. We’ve all suffered loss, and Lily probably more than most. I hate that your heart chose her, but I’m not heartless. She’s lost her parents, and now she thinks she lost you. I have family that will see me through this, and my hope is we’ll always be friends.”

“Always. Wait? What do you mean she lost her parents? We never really talked about them.”

“Earlier this year, they were killed in a car accident.”

“How did you know that?”

“A reporter told me a while ago when she asked for my statement after the press conference.”

“Why wouldn’t . . . She didn’t tell me.”

“Because she loves you. She wanted your decision to be about what was in your heart. If it were me, I wouldn’t have wanted you to feel sorry for me either. Now, go. Go and tell her I said congratulations.”

Lily hoped a shower would give her a moment of peace from the pain in her chest. It didn’t. It only hid her tears behind the spray of water. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying off and on since she’d come home from Logan’s office.

After getting out of the shower, she sat in her fluffy white robe in front of the television. It was just on. Even if a gun had been pointed at her head, she wouldn’t have been able to tell anyone what was on.

Knock knock
.

Lily turned toward the door. If it was a reporter, she was going to snap. Granted, most of their inquiries had died down since they had done the press conference, but every now and again, someone would contact her for an interview.

Dragging herself off of the couch, she walked over to the door. Her body froze after looking through the peephole.
What on earth? Why is he here?

“I know you’re in there. Will you please let me come inside?”

She shook her head. “Logan,
please
go away. I can’t take much more of this.”

He leaned his head up against the door and closed his eyes. “Lily, I’ve made so many mistakes and have messed up so much that I understand if you never want to see me again. Please before you put me out of your heart, just give me five minutes.”

Logan wasn’t sure if Lily was going to open the door or not. When he thought she wasn’t going to the door opened.

He felt like shit. Her eyes and nose were red from crying. “Can I come inside?”

Her arms were folded tightly across her body. “I thought we said everything at your office.”

“No, not everything. I never told you how much…
I love you
.”

Lily’s eyes widened in surprise. “What?”

“I never wanted to say it out loud because you and I…we don’t make sense but we make perfect sense at the same time. I tried to do what was right. I wanted to honor my commitments but you…the thought of you is running through my veins.”

“But, you chose Bree.”

“She knew even though I wouldn’t admit it that we love each other. I’m not
in love
with her.”

Lily was in shock. Logan was actually saying that he loved her and that he wanted
her
. “I can’t believe this. Are you sure?”

He pulled her into his arms. “It’s always been you. I only want you. I want to grow old with you, have a family and have lots and lots of babies with you.”

Logan pressed his lips against Lily’s and took her mouth in a hungry kiss. Her arms snaked around his neck as she kissed him back with everything within her.

When Lily had a chance to catch her breath she spoke. “I love you so much.”

Logan swept her up into his arms and smiled against her lips. “Show me how much?”

Lily put her hands to his chest. “Wait…before I do…I have to tell you something before I lose my nerve.”

“All right. Whatever it is, I don’t care. We’ll deal with it together.”

“Remember when you said you wouldn’t mind having lots and lots and babies with me?”

“I meant every word.”

Lily was terrified, and her voice shook. “Good because I’m pregnant.”

Logan blinked a few times. “What? A—Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“How long have you know? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I found out shortly after we returned, and I didn’t want to add any more pressure on you. If we were going to be together, I wanted it to be for no other reason than how we felt about each other.”

He touched his forehead to hers. “Lily Hutchinson, and very soon to be Tremont, I love you. This is a surprise, but I can’t say I’m not happy about it.” He held her even tighter in his arms and whispered. “We’re having a baby. Now, let me take you to bed so we can celebrate our new life and new family.”

Lily’s breath tickled inside the crook of his neck as she spoke. “The press is going to have a field day with this.”

“Probably. Everything will be in the media, and our children will have a bird’s-eye view to our love story chronicling the path to us.

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