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His smile reappeared and spirits lifted as he hooked his pinky with mine "I’ll wait for you"

"Tell Cassandra thank you, Oliver, then go finish your dinner"

I looked up and caught Logan’s gaze as he stood behind his son His jaw ticked and solanced to Julia who shifted on her feet, picking up on the tense air suddenly surrounding us

"We’ll see you there," Julia said taking thehian’s inquisitive stare Whatever he was thinking I kneasn’t humorous or flirty He didn’t look happy with my interaction with Oliver and I couldn’t understand why Walking down froaze on my back the entire time until I stepped down his driveway and heard hi out a deep breath I’d been holding, I felt lighter but completely confused As I stepped ontowhere I recognized that look froave the saht around when I was little I shook an was always surprising me by what he would do or say next, but this time it made sense I’d never seen his protective father side and to be honest, I worried he ht just be lanced over to Logan’s house wondering what he was really like behind the stone wall he carefully built around himself

Chapter Nine

One Step Forward

Five minutes till noon and I finally found a spot to parkthe crowded street It see down the sidewalks, surrounded by their children Pullingmy way to the massive fountain in the center of town square

That afternoon was a record-breaking scorcher for the area Even in cutoff faded jean shorts, a coral tank top, and crea down over ing it over the front shoulder

Approaching a row of caricaturists, sitting behind their easels, I grew captivated by the excitingme and, fully prepared for a day of carnival rides and cotton candy Fresh popcorn filled my nostrils I smiled to myself Mehto my breeziness

"Cassandra, you carinning ear to ear, but it was Logan that caught rey V-neck shirt were for once not drawing my attention, instead it was his apprehensive expression that noticeably relaxed when he saw ht stand up a four-year-old child? Insulted by the thought, I shook ht me a bracelet to ride any ride I want, all day" He held up his wrist "And here," Oliver pulled ayellow plastic bracelet from his pocket, "this one’s for you!"

He put the bracelet inbeside his son, his face unreadable I s out the small coin purse I stuffed cash and, Cassandra I owe you for helpingto convince you to spend the rest of the day here with us," Logan said, his eyes soft,the last shred of reluctance I had built up

I nodded,the wallet back into an took the bracelet fro it in place I pulled hto see her appear Spending the day with just Oliver and Logan leftcaan explained His eyebroered and he looked away, then back atsecretive lately Any idea why? She seee frat boy frohtly e "Would it be so bad if she were dating soan lips pulled into a faint smile but didn’t answer

"Co at his enthusiash the sware of tohere the rides awaited us

Up first was the Ferris wheel, which ca Oliver climbed up in the seat first so he had the best view to look out the side and I followed Without realizing what that an followed and sat down beside h for all three of us, which pressed ainst the one man that sent my body into overdrive

Breathe Slow breaths in and out His left arm went out behind the seat and rested on his son’s shoulder A protective an looked around me to smile at his son