He reaches into his jacket and pulls out papers from his interior pocket. I take them from him and glance over the first page. It’s paperwork for a restraining order, and there is a police officer’s card attached to the front. “Fill this out and call Officer O’Donnell when you’re done. She will walk it right over to a judge to sign. She’s aware of everything, and I’ve even volunteered to be a witness, but she doesn’t think the judge will need one.”
I nod slowly. Denny puts his hand on mine and gives it a squeeze. “Chloe, I’m serious. This is the only way he’ll leave you alone completely. And you don’t need his bullshit anymore. You never did.”
“Okay,” I relent because in all honesty, I do want Paul to go away forever.
Denny leans forward and kisses my cheek. “Also, when you meet Officer O‘Donnell, tell her how awesome I am. I’ve asked her on a date, and she said yes, but she seemed reluctant. I need you to talk me up.”
I laugh. “Okay then. I’ll do my best.”
Denny winks and starts the car.
The ride home is easy because the traffic is light on a Monday afternoon. As Denny pulls onto my street, I see Logan’s Pathfinder is in my driveway.
He pulls to a stop beside it, and we both look up. Logan’s on my front porch. Denny looks at me. “Go. I can’t. I’m not ready, but go.”
I nod, give his shoulder a squeeze of thanks, and climb out of the car. As Denny drives away, Chewie comes bounding down the stairs and skitters to a halt at my feet. He whines in excitement, his tail swooshing furiously back and forth. I pull off my glove and scratch the top of his head and then behind his ears. “I’ve missed you too, gentle giant.”
He whines again, tail swinging even faster. Logan has made it down the stairs now, and he walks right up to me, pulls me to him, and buries his face in my neck. His breath is warm on my skin and sends heat through my veins. “Thank you so much for today.”
“I only told the truth,” I say back, my voice a fragile whisper as my arms wrap around his back, and I let my body melt into his, clinging to him like he’s a life preserver and I’m drowning in the sea.
“You believe in me,” he replies, and the feeling of his lips moving against the column of my neck is heavenly. “You’ve always been like that, from the moment I met you. You’ve trusted me. Blindly. Willingly. Completely.”
He starts to pull back, and I’m worried he’ll step away completely. But he stops, an arm still circling my waist, and he lifts the other and cups the back of my neck. “I don’t deserve that. Not from you.”
“You’ve earned my trust. You’ve never done a thing to break it,” I take a shuddering breath as the look on his face turns to angst. “I don’t know the Logan who was in that car. I don’t believe he exists anymore. The Logan who asked to rent my apartment and washed my hair and saved Mrs. Green and loves his son and his family…that’s the man I opened my heart to and the one I trust. The one who I don’t want to walk away from.”
His hand behind my neck gently tightens and he pulls me toward him. Our foreheads touch and his eyes close. He still looks pained, almost tortured. “And you.”
“What?”
“You said I love my friends and family,” his eyes open again and find mine. “And you. I love you, Chloe.”
Everything inside me suddenly stills as I finally allow myself to absorb his words. My mind stops racing, my heart stops galloping wildly, my world, which had felt like it was upside down since his confession, suddenly feels right side up again. His love does that to me. “I love you too.”
He kisses me. It feels like coming home again.
Epilogue
Logan
The festival is even more packedthan last year. The Saco Recreation Hall is lined end-to-end with booths. Hawkins Lobster Shack scored a prime location near the doors, so we’re the first booth everyone sees upon entering. Of course the giant blue inflatable lobster Jake insisted we glue to the top of the booth helps in that respect too—no one can miss us. Nova said Declan bribed someone to get the booth location and make sure Stan’s Seafood got the booth at the back near the emergency exit, but I don’t know that for sure because other than at the hearing, Declan and I haven’t really talked. I’m still pissed he tried to steal Chloe’s recipe, and he’s irate Chloe was hired to build a new website without his consent. He’s definitely not talking to any of us except Nova.
I glance over and see him standing next to the booth, arms crossed, scowl across his face. Nova is behind the booth with Ma handing out samples and chatting with locals. Finn and Jake are making the samples behind them. Dad has wandered off to scope out the competition, and Chloe and Aspen are following him like paparazzi, trying to sneak some candid shots.
I watch this bubbly, middle-aged woman turn to Declan after she takes a bite from her mini lobster roll and gush to Declan about how delicious it is. Declan gives her a curt nod and a forced smile and not much else. I walk over. “If you think that’s delicious, you have to try our chowder.”
I motion for Nova to hand me a tiny paper cup of it, and when she does, I hand it to the lady. I think I know who she is—the culture reporter for the Casco Bay Community Blog. She finishes the last of the roll and takes a sip from the paper cup. “My word, you guys know how to take seafood to the next level. I can’t wait to taste what you’ve come up with for the new dish contest. I’m a judge.”
“You won’t be disappointed,” I promise as she moves, grinning, onto the next booth, jotting down notes on her phone as she goes.
I turn to Declan. “I get it. You’re pissed, but that was the local writer covering the event. You should have known that and not grunted at her, Deck.”
He startles like he’s been woken from a trance and looks over at her and back at me. “Crap. I wasn’t paying close attention.”
I sigh. “Look, table your tantrum till later okay? Or leave. Because if you stay, we need you here and happy.”
He runs a hand through his hair, agitated. “You’re loving this aren’t you? Me being exiled by the family?”
