“Yeah, it’s pretty cool when someone can help you with your interest. That made Art really special to me. If there is anyone here who feels as sad about him passing away as you and your mom do, it’s me. When you’re feeling this bummed, it’s kind of nice to be around people who feel the same way. In fact, when I’m with you guys, I don’t miss him quite as hard.” Very true, even if it did make him feel bloody vulnerable to admit it. “And I feel like your grandpa would expect me to do my best to look after you and your mom, now that he can’t.”
“Dad said you won’t let him live with us even though he wants to.”
Logan’s mouth fell open. He clapped it shut, making himself take a calming breath and think this through before he answered. Sophie had warned him to never get between her and Biyen. She might think Nolan was king of the shitknots, but she never deliberately wedged distance between him and her son, only held her own firm boundaries.
This wasn’t about Sophie’s relationship with Nolan anyway. It was about what kind of relationship Logan wanted to form with Biyen.
“I did say something like that to your dad,” Logan admitted. “I shouldn’t have. It’s not my decision to make. We all get emotional when someone close to us dies. I felt cranky that day so I was rude to him. He’s your dad, though. I like you so I should show your father respect. I will in future.”
He was starting to think parenting was one long exercise in self-control and personal accountability with a side of humble pie. It kind of sucked, but as he watched Biyen kicking his feet and frowning thoughtfully, he honestly didn’t care what it cost him so long as he protected this kid from life’s worst knocks.
“Dad said Mom might move away from Raven’s Cove. He said I could live with him if she wants to go live with you.” Biyen’s eyes were huge now. Worried. His cookie was forgotten.
Logan was instantly livid, not that he showed it. He took another slow breath in and out, even though he could hardly see through a haze of red. What kind of asshole laid something that heavy on an eight-year-old?
“I can see why you wanted to come home and talk to her. That would be a huge decision, but you know what? I am very confident she would never make a decision like that without discussing it with you first. Your mom is the only one who can say for sure what she wants, but I do know she loves the heck out of you. She would never move anywhere without you.”
“That’s kind of what I thought.” Biyen relaxed a little and dipped the last piece of cookie into his cup.
Logan could have left it there, but he wanted to be as truthful as possible.
“Look. I want you to know that I care about your mom a lot. If she did want to be my girlfriend, I would like that, but it’s a complicated time for both of us. The important thing for you to know is that I’m not a dickhead. If she wanted to become a big part of my life, I would want and expect you to be a big part of my life, too.”
Biyen’s teeth flashed as he stuffed the final bite of cookie into his mouth. “I don’t think you should let Mom hear you say that word.”
“Which one?” Logan played dumb. “Girlfriend?”
Biyen tucked his chin, looking so much like Sophie at her sternest, Logan had to chuckle.
“Gramps let me swear sometimes.” Biyen’s chin came up with pride as he gathered his mug in two hands.
“Yeah?”
“Uh-huh.” He took several gulps to drain it, then swiped his wrist over his lips. “The d-word. The one like the beaver builds.”
“I know that one.” Logan nodded.
“The f-word. Fart,” he mouthed. “Not the other one.” His eyes widened.
Logan would have wondered what sort of fairyland they occupied if Biyen hadn’t at least heard the other one.
“And the s-word,” Biyen said. “The poop one. Except that was because I dropped my whole tub of LEGO.”
“What else do you say when that happens?”
“That’s what Gramps said!”
They shared a solid laugh of enjoyment over that one.
Chapter Seventeen
For a kid who’d only been away from her for one night, Biyen sure had a lot to say.
“Logan couldn’t decide if the pilot house should be a dining room or a reading lounge and I said why don’t you let it be a playroom for kids who want to pretend they’re steering the boat? He said that’s a great idea and tomorrow I can go inside with him so we can talk more about it if that’s okay with you.”
“Is this what your job is?” Sophie accused Logan playfully. He was walking alongside them as they made their way home. “You plagiarize other people’s great ideas and take all the credit?”
“And all the money.” He nodded. “In this case, I will not be compensated, so you’re welcome to fifty percent of a big, fat zero.”
“Sounds about right.”
Biyen started to break into a run, then halted.
“Oh.” His shoulders fell. “I was going to go tell Gramps. I forgot he’s not there.”
“Yeah.” A bolt of loss went through her chest, leaving an ache. She hugged him into her side and gave his hair a brief stroke and kissed his crown. “It’s okay to forget for a minute. It’s something we don’t really want to remember.”
He nodded. “I’ll go tell Dad.”
“Go for it.”
He ran head, veering toward the tent on the lawn.
“Hey, you should know he didn’t just come home because he missed you.” Logan lowered his voice and touched her arm, slowing her step. “He asked if I was your boyfriend. Nolan told him you were thinking of leaving and said Biyen could live with him if you decide to live with me.”
“Fuck me,” she said under her breath, halting in the middle of the driveway. “What did you say?”
“That we weren’t together, but if you wanted to be, I would expect he would be as much a part of my life as you are. I mean that, Soph. Take as much time as you need to figure things out, but know that I want you both in my life. I’m late to the party, but whatever this is?” He pointed between them. “It’s not going away. Not for me.”
