Shelter You by Alice Montalvo-Tribue Read Free Book Online Page B

hiding the surprise in my voice.
    “No. I’m not kicking you out. Are eggs okay with you?”
    I nod. “Yes. Eggs are fine.”
    He gets up, grabs his keys off of the kitchen counter, and heads for the front door.”
    “Logan.” I call after him. He turns but says nothing, just stands there motionless, waiting for me to speak. “Thank you,” I say quickly and head upstairs to take care of Lily.
     

 
    It’s over an hour later by the time Logan makes it back. I don’t go downstairs right away—just lay on the spacious bed with Lily, relaxing and trying to wrap my mind around the events of the morning. Part of me is afraid to face him, to see the disappointment in his face because I still feel awful for having lied but when push comes to shove I still wouldn’t change it and that thought causes me to feel guilty.
    “Mia?” Logan calls out from the other side of my door. “Can I come in?”
    I sit up in bed and let out a sigh, not sure I’m ready to face him just yet but not wanting to be rude either. “Uh yeah.”
    He opens the door and leans on the frame. I can’t help but to look at his arms. The curves and lines that form his muscles protrude in just the right way. I tear my gaze away and look him in the eyes, which in this instant is worse than looking at his body. I feel like I get a tiny piece of him every single time I look at them. I’m drawn to them like a moth to a flame. I tear my eyes away and look back down at a cooing Lily.
    “I bought you an egg sandwich,” he says. “It’s getting cold.”
    “Thanks,” I murmur, tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “I’ll be right down.”
    “How’s she doing?” he asks, motioning toward Lily.
    “She’s great,” I say with a smile because I know it’s the truth. She is thriving and beautiful and strong and that has everything to do with me. Every single doubt, every single negative word that my parents spewed at me about not being ready to take care of a child was false and it gives me a surge of pride in knowing that I’ve proved them wrong, even if they’ll never know it.
    “Good. That’s really good.”
    The insecurity I’ve felt since we had our conversation this morning returns. I don’t want my staying here to be full of anger or animosity. I know that I lied to him but I keep hoping that he’ll see that lying was my only choice at the time. “Logan?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Are we okay?”
    He lets out a breath. “Yeah Mia, we’re okay. I get it, alright?” He states, crossing his arms over his chest. He looks guarded, defensive and I can’t help but to feel a little sad about it. “I understand why you did what you did. You’re a legal adult now so it doesn’t even matter. Nothing bad happened to you, you’ve done a great job with Lily, and you’re making it work. It’s over.”
    “But you don’t trust me, right?” I ask, biting my lower lip, clearly showing my nerves about his answer.
    “Do you need me to trust you? I’m not your boyfriend and I’m not your father.”
    “No, but you’re my friend.”
    “Friends, huh?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. “Do you trust me?”
    I avert my gaze, looking past him and out to the hallway rather than at him. He knows, gets enough about me to know that I don’t trust him. I don’t trust anyone, and I know that I’m a hypocrite for wanting him to trust me when I can’t give him the same thing. That I’m incapable of it because life has taught me that trusting people gets you nothing but heartbroken and hurt. I hate that I’m this jaded at eighteen, that I’ve felt enough pain to get me through a lifetime, but if I could choose to let myself trust somebody, I would choose to trust him.
    “Alright,” he says, putting me out of my misery. “I can live with friendship.” He pushes himself off the door frame and shoots me a smile before walking away.

    Logan watches Lily while I eat breakfast and take a shower; it’s strange not having to rush through these