“She doesn’t do anything.”
And now I had to reap the consequences.
“That’s okay,” Lucy had a tight smile on her face as she looked at Maria. “Me either. I stay at home and wait on this cute monster, and I’m not talking about my son.”
“Hey,” Godrick protested and strolled forward while rocking my nephew, trying to divert the situation that Maria was trying to cause. “I resent that. You’ll hear about it later.”
Lucy blushed. “Godrick.”
“I’m going to go lay him down. He is exhau
sted.”
“Okay.” Lucy grinned, kissing the nose of her son. My sister was such a good mom. Lucy watched Godrick walk away, staring at him like he was her entire world. He was, they both were. I kept my arm tight around Abigail’s waist and knew in my heart of hearts that she was my world. I’d never let anything hurt her, not ever again.
“Back to you—”
“—How about you tell them Abigail?” Maria said, strolling toward us from the living room. Maria was pretty, but now that I had Abigail, there wasn’t even a contest. I knew I was with who was meant for me.
Abigail went rigid against me, and I squeezed her hip, telling her that I was here, that I had her back.
“Maria! I told you that in confidence,” Cortez hissed in her ear and then rubbed his face, looking exhausted. I would be too if I had to deal with Maria’s mood swings. Cortez grabbed Maria’s arm, but she yanked it free and took another step forward.
She looked like a woman on a mission to destroy, and my girl was in her line of sight. “Why don’t you tell everyone that you’re only with Logan to use him? That you’re nothing but a homeless piece of trash, and Logan took you in out of the kindness of his heart?” Maria spit.
“Maria!” Lucy gasped. “How rude. This isn’t like you!”
“I’m trying to protect Logan, which none of you seem to want to do. This girl is up to no good! She doesn’t love Logan. She is using him.”
“No, she isn’t. If you’d let me finish before you go trying to bust everyone’s balls, you’d know better!” Cortez said. “I’m sorry. She asked me to run a background check on her, and I agreed because yeah, I wanted everyone to be safe.”
“You ran a background check on her?” I seethed, pushing Abigail behind me. I was ready to fucking kill someone. “How dare you, and you need to stay the fuck out of my life! Stop calling me, stop texting me. Leave me the fuck alone and leave Abigail alone!” I roared at Maria, and where a normal person would break, Maria only stood strong.
“Abigail is not a threat,” Cortez said through clenched teeth. “You have no idea what she has been through.”
“I don’t care,” Maria said. “She’s no good. Logan deserves better.”
“Like you?” Cortez interrupted me before I could say anything.
“What? No. He deserves someone that will love him, not use him.”
“Why are you calling him? Texting him? What the fuck, Maria? I thought you said you loved me.” Cortez stared at her, waiting for her to answer, but Maria’s jaw was set.
“I do,” she huffed. “I’m just saying—”
“Don’t say it. I don’t love you,” I yelled at her, I was done. The patience I had fled, and all I cared about was protecting Abigail. “I don’t fucking love you. Get that through your fucking head. I tried to tell you nicely, but you pushed me and pushed me, and now you are going to insult her when you know nothing about her? Fuck you, Maria. I want nothing to do with you.”
“Logan,” she said, her voice broken and a slight whisper.
“You crossed a line. You had no right to ask Cortez about my girl. None. You are intruding in business that isn’t yours, and honestly, you need to focus on your relationship rather than the relationship you don’t have with me. From this moment on, I am not your friend. I am nothing to you. Do you understand that? I’m nothing to you. We have never been anything. Let go of whatever idea you have of me because it will never happen. I hate to be harsh but being nice doesn’t cut it with you. Stop being scared of the real thing you have with Cortez and leave me alone. I’m not your safety net any longer. Leave. Me. Fucking. Be.”
Maria sprinted toward the door in tears, and I expected Cortez to go after her, but he didn’t. No one did. Lucy leaned against the counter, drinking from the bottle of wine and held out the glass she poured for Abigail. “This is for you. Jesus, I need a drink after that catastrophe.”
I turned around to gather Abigail in my arms, but she chugged that glass of wine down like a champ and then wiped her mouth on the back of her hand.
“I need to talk to the both of you,” Cortez said, pinching the bridge of his nose. He looked exhausted. “I’m sorry about that.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I truly had no idea that it would matter if I dated.”