Page 153 of With a Cherry On Top

I turn to him. “Yeah?”

He rolls his sleeves up. “I wanted to...I guess I have to find a—” He cuts himself off with a groan. “The wedding is in three days, and?—”

“You want me to be your best man?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Me?Really?Maybe he’s doing it for Mom. Or to maintain appearances. But whatever is his reason, I’d do it anyway. “You got it.”

For a moment, he just stares at me, like he doesn’t quite believe it’s that simple. Then, awkwardly, he nods and looks away. “All right. Cool.”

I round the car, but his voice halts me once again. “Will you take it? The job?”

Oh, I don’t think that matters. Once I come clean about Charlotte, Amelie will take her offer back, possibly smack me, and I won’t work for hernorher husband. It’s either that or losing Charlotte.

There’s no winning either way—it’s just about deciding what I want to lose. What will break a smaller piece of me.

“Wow, that’s a record pause.”

“I’m still thinking about it, I guess.”

“Well, you take your time.” He scratches the side of his neck. “I’m sure whatever you choose will be the right thing. I, uh...trust you.”

I tilt my head. “You do?”

“Yes.”

“Since when?”

“Sincenow.” He glares, but I’m going to need a little more information about his sudden change of heart. “You’re right. You’ve done everything you can to prove yourself. You’re the best father Sadie could ask for, you’re there for Mom, for me. For everyone.”

“But you still can’t forgive me,” I conclude in his place.

He kicks some dirt with his boot. “I realized I won’t be able to forgive you until I actually try.”

I swallow. “And what does trying look like?”

“I don’t know yet.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “But I know that just pretending nothing happened...it’s not working. For me. For us. And for our kids.”

Something sharp twists in my chest.

“They deserve better,” he continues. “They deserve what we had. A big family, Sunday lunches. They should get the best version of us. I don’t want my daughters growing up thinking their dad and uncle barely tolerate each other. That’s not the kind of family I want for any of us.”

“Me neither.”

Eyes on the ground, he continues. “So, I guess this is me saying...I don’t want to keep doing this.Beingthis.” His hand gestures between us. “It’s not me forgiving you overnight. It’s not us being best friends again, because I don’t know if we’ll ever get there.” A pause, heavy and raw. “But I want to try. You’ve been trying for years, and it’s my turn to trust you now. With your job, with Cherry, with...everything. You know what’s best for you.”

My heart hammers against my ribs. “That’s all I’ve wanted since day one.”

Logan scoffs lightly, shaking his head. “Well, I’m not the best at handling emotions.”

“Youweren’tthe best. You’ve improved quite a bit.”

He lifts his chin. “Thank you. So have you.”

My shoulders relax as if I lost the hundred-pound weight pressing on them.

“So . . . dinner next week?”