Chapter 45

MAGGIE

Some women might fantasize about two men fighting for her love, but reality wasn’t like a movie. This was so much worse.

When Carter sees Logan making his way to our table, he pushes the ring back into his pocket, so it’s clear to me that Logan has no idea what Carter was planning all this time.

Logan looks between me and Carter. “Is there a problem?”

“It’s nothing for you to worry about, baby,” I assure him.

Logan passes a look filled with warning toward Carter. “Paris and I are going to sit at that table.”

He points at a vacant space on the opposite side. “You can carry on with your conversation. Don’t mind us. I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

The table isn’t too far. It’s close, and I’m sure he’s here because he’s worried about me and wants to eavesdrop on the conversation. I kiss his cheek, telling Logan how much it means to me.

Carter just stares at the exchange in annoyance. He continues to show his arrogance through his attitude.

Logan pulls me close to him to whisper in my ear. “Are you all right? The doctor said you’re not supposed to be stressed about anything.”

“I’m fine, Logan. Really.”

He doesn’t seem convinced but lets go of me. “I’ll be close if you need me.”

When Logan walks away, Carter sits back. His expression remains unreadable, but I know he isn’t happy about Logan being in the vicinity.

“What was all that about?” he asks, his tone curt.

“Nothing for you to worry about.”

I take a sip of my coffee. That’s the only saving grace of this meetup.

“Carter, I can’t marry you.”

“Maggie, we have a family together. You and I have a son that I want back in my life. How do you expect me to just forget all of it?”

“I don’t expect you to forget it, but there’s another way that you can continue to be in Chase’s life, but it’s not through marriage with me.”

He sighs like I’m a child that needs a lot of grilling.

“Maggie, if this is your revenge for everything that happened in the past, you got it. You’ve successfully hurt me, but all I’m asking is for a second chance. Everyone deserves that, right?”

When I decided to meet Carter, I’d been calm and knew what I had to say. I rehearsed my lines repeatedly.

I even felt bad for him about the whole situation, but listening to him now only proves that he’s the same entitled guy I once knew. He’s selfish and thinks he can have his way again.

Before I can say another word, he slides into the seat beside me and takes my hand in his. From the opposite side, I notice Logan boring holes into where my hand rests in Carter’s.

I try to wiggle free, but Carter doesn’t let go. “I made a big mistake. I know that.”

“Like I said, I forgive you, but expect nothing else from me.”

“Why are you doing this to us?”

“I’m in love with Logan.”

He goes silent for what feels like an eternity. “Logan’s in his forties, and in a few years, he’s not going to be young anymore. Do you seriously want to stay married to a man who probably has nothing in common with you?”

He reaches for my hand again. “You need someone in your life who can grow old with you and help raise that kid.

“By the time Chase goes off to college, Logan’s going to be almost sixty and you’re still going to be very young, Maggie. Have you wondered how Chase is going to feel when people ask him if his stepdad is his grandfather?”

~Wow. I have to hand it to him for thinking so far ahead.~

“Do not fucking talk about him like that ever again,” I grit out and pull my hands out of his grasp. “What is wrong with you, Carter?”

“You think I don’t know that you married him because your father was almost bankrupt. If it’s money that you need, Maggie, I have it too. You don’t need a sugar daddy for it.”

“You disgusting son of a—

“Mommy!” Chase comes running toward me and hugs my waist.

“Hey, sweetie.”

He looks at Carter shyly and rubs my belly. “Mommy’s going to have another baby! I’m so excited!”

Carter looks shocked by the revelation, and he’s speechless for a moment as he stares at Chase. He gives a nervous laugh. “That’s wonderful, buddy.”

He clears his throat. “Do you want to come live with me, Chase?”

Chase’s face blanches. He doesn’t seem so happy anymore. “I want to live with Mommy and Daddy.”

“I’m your dad,” Carter insists.

Chase’s hold on my waist tightens, averting his eyes from Carter. “Logan is my daddy.”

“Stepfather,” Carter corrects him, and tries to grab Chase. “Son…look here…”

“I think that’s enough, Carter.” That was Logan. He pulls Chase away from him. “You’ve done enough damage for one day.”

Carter looks straight at Logan, leveling him with an icy stare. It’s some kind of macho stare-down I’m not thrilled to witness.

“You promised to not interfere in my conversation with Maggie.”

“And I never did, not until your conversation has turned into harassment,” Logan says. It’s the calm before a storm.

“I’m telling you again right now, Carter. She’s my wife and not a toy that you can fucking play around with. You talk to her with the respect she deserves.”

Chase has tears in his eyes. Even though he doesn’t understand the details of what was going on, he’s old enough to know things are bad.

“Chase…” That was Paris. He passed me a weak smile. “Why don’t we go for a drive? We’ll get your favorite ice cream.”

When Paris takes Chase out of the restaurant, Carter turns to look at Logan. “You really think Maggie loves you?”

He’s not done yet.

“I know she does, and I don’t need anyone’s opinion on the matter, least of all yours,” Logan snaps.

“What Maggie loves is maintaining her wealthy status. She loves going on shopping sprees, and you were a good catch.”

“Seriously?” I’m contemplating picking up the knife on the table and stabbing him with it.

“You think I don’t fucking know?!” he whisper-yells in my face.

I’m glad there aren’t many people in the restaurant to witness this.

“You used me to get back to Logan.” His hands are balled into tight fists as he continues to glare at me. “You were never going to marry me anyway.”

“That’s not true, Carter. If you recall our conversation, I asked you about marriage, but it wasn’t something you wanted from me. You asked me to get rid of the baby, so how can you blame me for anything?”

“Did you fucking love me?” he asks.

I start to answer and then falter. “Of…of course, I did.”

He laughs humorlessly. “You lying little bitch.” He spits the words at me.

It happens in seconds. Logan gets up from his seat and takes a swing at Carter. The veins in his temple are throbbing. It’s a powerful punch that crashes into the cutlery. A few drops of blood drip on the floor.

If we didn’t have anyone’s attention before, well, now we do.

Everything else is a blur after that. Carter can’t stop throwing abuse at me, and Logan’s voice booms in the background.

They’re fighting because of me, the two men in my life, one from the past and the other from my present.

“I’m an attorney. I don’t care what power you have, Malory, but I’m going to make sure I get full custody of my son. Mark my words.”

“Well, you can try, Cruz. We’ll see you in court.” Logan didn’t even bat an eye at the threats.

I never expected things to go this far.

When we sit in the car, Logan turns in his seat to look at me. His expression has lost all the harsh lines and instead is filled with tenderness.

“Talk to me, Mags. What’s bothering you?”

Tears blurred my vision. This was a disaster waiting to happen. I don’t know why I thought it wasn’t going to get out of hand.

“I only wanted to pacify the situation. I thought it would be good to come to an understanding and let Carter see Chase occasionally. I didn’t mean for things to go this far,” I cried. “Do we have to get into a custody battle?”

Logan caressed my back slowly. “It won’t come to that. I’ll make sure of it.” He kissed my cheek. “Don’t get stressed, Maggie. It’s not good for you or the baby.”

I nodded, reaching for the Kleenex. “You’re right.”

He continues to look at me as if he can read my mind. “What’s wrong?”

I look up into his stormy blue eyes. “He wasn’t lying about it.”

Logan blinks. “About what?”

“I never loved him, Logan.” I have to tell someone. “I don’t even know what I was doing back then. You weren’t paying attention to me, and he was showering me with it. I thought…”

Logan stops touching me. “You thought what?”

“I’m sorry…,” I whisper. “Back then, I was a naive girl. I thought if I slept with Carter, if I dated him, you would notice me again.”