22
Logan
“Logan,” Taylor asked much later, on a laugh when I lifted my mouth finally from hers. We’d moved to the back of the Escalade, and well, I hadn’t totally changed. I was still me. She sat up, brushed her hair back, arranged her top, and looked around. “What is this place?”
I stole another kiss, going for the corner of her mouth. “It’s this high-end hotel resort place. Of course, it makes a killing in the football season. I own a part of this. Felt right to bring you here today.”
“It’s completely empty.”
I snorted. “Christmas. It’s closed for the holidays.” I pointed across the pond to a larger building over there. “Except the hotel part. That’s open. Everything else is closed.”
“Oh.”
I moved up, pulling her to rest against my chest, and she leaned back, her entire body melting into mine. She murmured, “It’s beautiful.”
It was.
Cobblestone walkways. Lighted pathways and lighted trees.
There was a waterfall—a wooden board walkway.
People could kayak, float in a simulated wave river.
There was a concert podium on another corner of the lot where they held concerts. An email floated around, talking about hosting a new music festival. They were in talks to have Sustain headline here.
But the roller coaster was the best part.
“Come on.” I finished dressing and opened the door, sliding out and pocketing my keys.
“What?”
I motioned with my head. “I want to show you something.”
Her eyebrows drew together, but she followed.
I took her down the walkway that went to the roller coaster, and as soon as we turned the last corner, she saw it. “Oh! Wow.”
I shot her a grin because it was so similar to her first reaction when she saw it.
It wasn’t decrepit anymore. It was brand spanking new, with added safety measures put in place because I had hoped to get Mason to ride on it one day.
Seeing us coming, a worker came out from a back warming shelter. Edgar. He rubbed his hands together, smiling at us. “Welcome. I’m glad you made it.”
Edgar made it sound like this was a typical run-of-the-mill day for him and ignored that I had texted him once I realized where I was going. He agreed to warm it up for us, just for one ride.
“Hey, man.”
He gave another nod before opening the latch for us to proceed toward the ride.
Taylor stopped, and I moved up behind her. “Uh, Logan?”
I laughed, pressing her to go forward. “It’s safe. Come on.”
“Uh…” Her hand went to her stomach. “I told you I was pregnant, right? So I didn’t imagine the last few hours? ’Cause if I didn’t,” a shaky laugh left her, “surprise. I’m pregnant.”
I chuckled but pressed her forehead. I was walking with her by now. “I know. One ride.” I lowered my head, nipping her shoulder. “Please.”
Her laugh started, turning into a half-growl, but she moved forward in jerking steps. Her head turned as we passed Edgar. “I’m pregnant,” she hissed. “Pregnant. As in that a child is inside of me. Got that?”
He was stifling his laughter, trying to keep a calm composure. “I got it, ma’am.”
“Ma’am.” She snorted. “Change that to Mother.”
A laugh broke out from him. “Of course, Mother.”
“That sounds about right.”
I was swallowing my laughter, almost pushing Taylor the whole way into the bucket seat. She got in, another jerking step, and she turned, giving me a pleading look. “Logan, please.”
I ignored that, backing her up, going to her shoulders, and pushing her to sit down—a gentle push.
She buckled, her knees folding, and she sat.
I moved next to her.
Edgar stepped up, clicking in the seatbelt and stepping back, bringing the bar down over us. He double-checked it, making sure it was set in place. He stepped back, going to the controllers, and I called out, “Make it go slow.”
He gave me a nod.
“Yes!” Taylor called out. “Really super slow.”
He cracked another grin before hitting a button, and off we went.
An inch.
Another inch.
And again.
Realizing how extremely slow we were going, Taylor expelled a sudden breath. “Oh. Okay. That’s better.”
It’d take us ten minutes to get to the top at this rate, but the slowest mode that I asked them to put in is what we’d do for her.
She watched around us. I watched her.
And when we got to the top, when Edgar stopped us, she gasped again. “Logan.” Her hand found mine, squeezing it.
I knew what she was seeing.
“It’s the same view from back then.”
She tore her gaze away from it, turning to me. “Yes, it is.” She gave me a loving smile.
I leaned in, my forehead going to hers, and I brushed a strand of her hair back. “It’s the same view I was looking at when Mason told me to go and get my girl.”
I heard her breath hitch.
I dropped my voice, whispering, “Just in case you need to hear the words, I am ecstatic that we’re having a child. I’m scared. I’m nervous, but I’m happy. And I have loved you since our first year at Cain University, and I will always love you. Forever.”