Chapter 128
Alyssa
Later that night at the office, I took the note out of my pocket for the hundredth time and ran my fingers over the letters. I was disappointed that Logan wasn't there when I woke, but finding the note on the pillow told me that it wasn't over between us. I promised myself then that I would see it through to the, even if it ended in heartbreak. After finishing with my last client, I looked up at the clock. Five o'clock. Quitting time.
I gathered my things, slipped into my coat, and then headed out of my office, closing the door behind me.
"Leaving on time today?" Lynn asked, her eyebrows rising in surprise.
I nodded. "I don't have any more clients, and I need to rest."
She gave me a knowing smile. "Have a good time!"
I laughed as I waved over my shoulder. I took the elevator and walked outside, when I spotted Logan leaning against the side of the building.
I laughed as I walked toward him. "Were you waiting for me, or is this a coincidence?"
He smiled as he took my hand. "I wanted to make sure that you didn't forget our date tonight." He leaned in and kissed my cheek.
"Our date?" I teased.
"You know, 'dinner tonight'," he said as his lips curled into a smile.
I smiled. "Oh, that!" Then, I leaned closer and whispered, "You weren't there when I woke up this morning."
He smiled. "Oh, that. Well I had a press conference."
I smiled, enjoying his discomfort a bit too much. "Which I heard was cancelled." I stopped and looked into his eyes. "What was that all about?"
He forced a smile as he slipped an arm around my waist and took my briefcase. "Come on, and we'll talk about it."
I nodded, and then stopped short. "What about my car?"
He shrugged. "I'll make sure it's in the parking garage at our building tonight."
I smiled as I let him lead me to his car. "Resourceful, aren't you?"
He shrugged as he opened the door. "Upon occasion."
I laughed to myself, knowing full well how resourceful he could be, but not in the way that he meant.
"What?" he asked as I slid into the car.
I laughed as I shook my head. "Nothing."
He shut my door and slid into the driver's seat a moment later, after slipping my briefcase behind his seat. "So, where would you like to go?"
I shrugged. "Anywhere will be fine." As long as it's with you, I finished in my head. We had just spent one night together, after all. No reason to get clingy. But Logan had been the only guy that I had ever been with, and now that I found him again, I wanted him to be the last.
He leaned on the steering wheel and looked at me, giving me a heartbreaking smile that made my heart flutter. "Well, what are you in the mood for?"
I laughed. A loaded question. I couldn't believe that my thoughts were betraying me like this.
He laughed this time. "What?"
I just shook my head as I giggled. "Oh no you don't!" Then, I had an idea. "Why don't we get a pizza? Like what we used to do."
A broad smile spread across his face. "Yeah? Sounds good."
"And no five-star fancy place," I added.
"I know just the place," he said as he pulled the car away from the curb. He took a few turns, expertly maneuvering the Manhattan traffic. "So, how do you like living in New York?"
I shrugged. "I like it so far," I said. A lot more since I found you again. It was a good thing Logan couldn't read my mind. He'd probably think I had turned stalker and would run for the hills. "How do you like being back in New York?"
He smiled as he looked directly into my eyes. "I like it a lot more now."
I blushed as I turned my attention out the window, not wanting to get my hopes up about the future.
Within minutes, he pulled down Whitehall Street with a beautiful view of the New York Harbor. Logan turned off the engine and parked, suddenly excited. "Let's go."
I got out of the car and stared across the harbor. One of the Staten Island Ferries was approaching. "Logan, this is gorgeous."
A victorious smile spread across his face. "You haven't seen anything yet. Come on," he said as he reached for my hand, and my hand immediately felt warm in his. We boarded the ferry and, to my surprise, it was free. "You've never been on the ferry before?"
I shook my head as I curled my fingers around his and he led me to a spot on the railing as the sun began to set on the horizon, sending streaks of red, orange, and purple across the darkening sky. To my surprise, the ferry wasn't overcrowded when we pulled away from the dock. The view was spectacular as the bridge appeared on the bow. "Wow! This is gorgeous!"
A triumphant smile spread across Logan's face as he leaned against the railing and looked out over the New York Harbor. "I used to come here with my father when I was a kid," he said as a faraway look appeared in his eyes. "We would come here, just the two of us. It was great. He'd point out different things along the way important landmarks. It was one of the only times when we were alone." Logan broke his reverie to look in my eyes, and gave me a sad smile. "We'd go to Staten Island and spend the day, have pizza, and then go back home and face reality again." He looked back out over the harbor. "During those times when we were alone, he was a different person than when he was with my mother. I like to think it was his true self."
"What do you think happened to him? Why did he change?" I asked, but already knew the answer.
"My mother," he said as the faraway look reappeared in his eyes.
"Why do you think he never stood up to her?"
He shook his head. "Money, I guess." He looked into my eyes as a weak smile appeared on his lips. "It's funny what money can do to a person." He looked out over the harbor and pointed to the Statue of Liberty. "Isn't she beautiful?"
I nodded as I looked into her face. She was beautiful. Somehow, the pictures didn't quite do her justice. I tucked my arm in Logan's and leaned my head against his shoulder. "Thanks for sharing this with me."
He grinned and leaned his head against mine as we watched the majestic lady pass by the bow. "I'm glad you're here."
