“If you must know, I was a Boy Scout. Only for a short period, but—” He stops speaking.
“You’re holding back on me,” I say.
He shrugs. “It’s embarrassing.”
My stomach goes berserk with the shy smile that forms on his face over the flames. “Now you have to tell me.”
He sits back on his ankles, adjusting the fire so it won’t go out. “Then let’s play a game. I tell you something, you tell me something.”
“I don’t really believe in secrets.” I shrug. “So I’m game, but you’re going first.”
He sighs and nods. “I was in the middle of earning my forestry badge when my dad left us.”
“Daddy issues too, huh?”
He shakes his head. “Not really. My mom filled in as best she could. But some of the boys started picking on me, so I quit. My mom still made me earn every badge myself, with her help. She said my dad wasn’t going to ruin something I enjoyed so much, that we didn’t need him anyway.”
I smile, thinking of Pauline. She’s such an awesome mom. I haven’t seen her much since the soccer game, but she’s still in town.
“I’ve barely been able to see her,” I say.
He laughs. “She’s having the time of her life in Sunrise Bay. She’s never met a stranger. Anyway, that’s how I know how to do this stuff. It’s embarrassing.”
“I think it’s sweet. Why would you be embarrassed?”
He comes over and sits next to me, poking the fire with a long stick. “Because my mom forced me to earn the badges. I didn’t even earn them all until I was eighteen. You can imagine how hard I hid that from any of my friends. I never would’ve heard the end of it.”
I lay my head on his shoulder. “I think it’s respectable and sexy.”
He cocks an eyebrow, and I can’t help the laugh that sneaks out. “Sexy?”
“Well, maybe not sexy. But I think it says a lot about you.”
His lips fall to the top of my head and I close my eyes briefly at the contact. “Your turn. Tell me something embarrassing.”
I rack my brain to think of something to tell him. “I don’t have a lot of embarrassing stories. At least, not ones you don’t already know.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Really?”
“Honest.” I hold up my hand. “The only one I can really think of is that I was on this date once and during the date, we were talking about vacations and I opened my phone to show him a picture from a whale-watching tour I’d done. As I showed it to him, Molly messaged me that he’d approached her two weeks before. She screenshot a picture of him and wrote douche over the top and drew a penis coming out of his mouth.”
Logan laughs. “Tell me you didn’t look me up?”
I look away from the fire and shake my head. “Just the other night, but I only searched your name and the word marriage.”
He runs a hand over his forehead. “Phew, thank goodness you’re my first wife.”
“What would I find if I did?” I hold my breath while I wait for his answer.
“You’d find out your husband lives a boring life. You’d probably see a lot of pictures of me in the ring. Some out with friends, and I’m not gonna lie, probably some women. But I’m not the lothario you think I am.”
“I never outright said that.”
The sun is almost down past the mountains and Logan lays out a blanket for us. “I can read between the lines when it comes to your dad. He cheated, so every man must.”
I exhale loudly. “It’s hard for me to trust guys in general, and with the number of temptations you must face, it’s hard to conceive that you could be faithful, if I’m being honest. I’ve seen a lot of selfish, impulsive behavior hurt the people I care about over the years.”
He turns to me, his thumb brushing along my cheek. “I always want you to be honest. It’s the only way I can prove you wrong. I’m in this, Nikki, one-hundred percent.”
The fire reflecting in his blue eyes draws me in. I sink farther into him, unable to deny the attraction that’s been building since I woke up as his wife.
“My question is, are you one-hundred percent in this?” His voice is rough and gravelly.
“It’s really hard for me. I’m still scared about getting hurt, but…” I swallow hard and take the step I need to if I ever want to move forward with my life. “I’m in this, Logan.”
He smiles, and my insides warm from his happiness. “Can I ask what changed your mind last night?”
I tear my gaze away and study the fire in front of us. “Molly told me to look at our wedding pictures. And there it was… the way you were looking at me. Even though you were drunk, there was this kind and loving expression pouring out of your eyes and I finally realized I’d be an idiot to not explore this.”
He captures my lips in a quick kiss. “Thank you for trusting me.”
I nod, unable to speak because although I’m here to explore this, I can’t help but also have my exit plan prepared.
“I have another question then,” he says, and I’m scared about what he’s going to ask. “Are you cool coming with me to Vegas in three weeks?”
“I thought your fight wasn’t for another month?” I ask.
“I always go early for promotions and weigh-in, get my head in the game.”
This is when reality will come bearing down on us. “I’ll definitely be there for the fight, but I have to work. I can’t go down with you right away.”
He lowers me down on the blanket so he’s half on top of me. “It’s okay. No pressure. I just want you ringside when I win.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “Then I’ll be there.”
He kisses me one more time then rolls over and I’m left staring at a sky full of stars. His hand slides into mine, weaving our fingers together.
“It’s beautiful,” he murmurs.
“It’s breathtaking,” I add. “I’m not sure the last time I stargazed.”
“So the hike was worth it?” He laughs and I look over at him.
“Very worth it.” I squeeze his hand. “Thank you.”
“Thank you, Nikki.”
We’re silent for a while, then he points out the Big Dipper and a few other constellations. When we’re about to retire inside the tent, a shooting star falls from the sky.
“Make a wish, Nik,” he says, using my shortened name and something about that feels oh so right.
I close my eyes and silently wish that this marriage works out. My eyes open to find Logan smiling at me, then he takes my head in his hand.
“Me too,” he whispers and his lips land on mine.
I still worry about how I could fall for someone so fast, but I’m trying not to question logic at this point. I have to stop myself from second-guessing everything. Logan Stone isn’t the man I thought he was. Not even close. He’s way better.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Do your wifely duties involve pulling splinters out of my ass?”
Logan