Chapter 305

Megan

The moment we sat down in the meeting, Logan treated it like he was in a business meeting, he was the boss, and I allowed him to take charge. A part of me wanted to see how he’d handle it, and the other part of me was too angry to think about this logically. How could the school not see a four-year-old getting bullied? I told them my fears of letting her into this class, and they told me she would be safe. That there would always be someone watching her. Maybe I’m irrational or overprotective, but she’s my everything. When she hurts, I hurt.

Logan had threatened that if the children weren’t dealt with, he’d speak to the people who funded the school, and it turned out he’s friends with a few of them. A little harsh, I know, but it sated my anger. The children’s parents sat angrily, glaring at us both, some refused to believe that their child could bully, but it turned out the school had pulled each of the children into the principal’s office and asked them all individually. They all ended up confessing to most of the things.

“Are you ok?” Logan asks me once we’re in the car. I nod and look down at my phone. “You can’t blame yourself for this,” he states.

“Maybe not, but I should have known,” I say and look out of the window. Logan could easily use this against me if he wanted to take Ella away from me.

“When did you get the tattoo?” he asks, changing the subject. I look at him and then move my shoulder to look over at it. He moves his fingers over my shoulder, sending tiny shocks through my body—damn hormones.

“About two years ago,” I reply. It’s only a small tattoo of a birdcage and a bird breaking free from the cage with a bolt of blue.

“It’s nice,” he says, stroking over the bird. I look at him and smile a little.

“Thanks,” I can feel my face flush, and it’s not just from his compliment.

“Do you have any more?” he asks. I move my hair showing music notes behind my ear. His fingers move up over them. “New piercings also,” he states, referring to the multiple piercings in my ear.

“Yeah, I decided to put holes in my ears when Carlton said I couldn’t,” I say and feel his fingers trail over the multiple piercings on my ear. “I have ‘Ella’ on the back of the other and a violin on my forearm,” I tell him as I turn to show him. The violin is classed as a minimalist line tattoo. It’s only small, but I love it, it’s for my mom. He nods and tilts his head a little.

“Any more piercings?” he asks.

“None that you’re going to see,” I tell him, and he chuckles at me. I look at the rearview mirror to see David smirking. I’m not sure how accurate my statement is when I can’t seem to stop myself from either flirting with him or wanting to kiss him.

“Funny,” he tells me, “so you hide them when you're working?” he asks.

“Yeah, harder for people to recognise me. I hide all but the music notes because they’re quite generic,” I explain.

“What about you? I noticed you had some ink on your shoulder at the club,”

“Nothing exciting,”

“No new piercings? You’ve got rid of your lip ones,” I state. He sticks his tongue out, showing me the silver ball on his tongue. How the hell did I miss that? I must have shown my shock on my face because he chuckles a little.

“I got this while on a six-month bender. I debated on getting rid of it when I got clean,”

“You didn’t get clean straight away?” I ask, a little surprised. I thought he would have.

“No, I had every intention of doing so, but I went on a six-month bender, woke up one day in a hotel room in some country with my tongue and nipple done, kind of glad it was just them two. They heal better than other places,” he explains.

“I see,” I say and cross my legs. I’d gotten changed into a pair of jeans and a cami after my photo session. It’s not that warm today. It’s days like these that I remember it’s still spring.

“Not the worst morning I’ve ever had,” he adds, “just a stupid one, like many,” he says.

“So, how long have you been clean?” I ask.

“Just over three years,”

“Do you still smoke?”

“Sometimes, but usually to help me sleep,”

“Same. What are you doing Sunday?” I ask. Ella keeps asking me to invite Logan and David for dinner, and Sunday is perfect as it’s more of a family one.

“Not much. I’m forced to have it off by Lorraine,” he says with a roll of his eyes.

“Well, we usually have a family dinner every other week, and I’m hosting this week. Ella has been asking me to invite both of you,” I state and look at David as I say it. “Lorraine too, my dad will be there with Sara. Tell Carl he’s invited too. I might make it a barbeque instead if the weather is nice,” I explain.

“Sure, what time?”

“Is four ok?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he says. I look at David, and he nods.

“Cool,” I say and notice David pulls up to my building. “Ella will be so happy,” I say with a small smile. “You should see her when she gets excited. She’s like an excitement bomb; she can’t sit still. It’s so damn cute,” I say, and he smiles.

“Naturally,” Logan says.

“I’ll see you Sunday,” I say and open the car door. I give them both a small wave and get out of the car.

Nothing wrong could happen with everyone there. With so many people, there'll be a nice buffer between us. I need to do something to squash these feelings I have. The butterflies need to be exterminated and any other fluttering feelings. He’s not a free man, and we’re not right for each other. I need to remember the heartbreak that comes with him. That he and I won’t be a good outcome, that love isn’t on the cards for me anymore.