Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Logan Knight was there.

She had completely forgotten that he had said he would come. But why was he standing in the Newtons' back garden instead of inside at the party?

- Missy? Are you okay? he asked, looking worried, still keeping his arms around her, although it was obvious that there was no longer any risk of her falling.

Blushing, Missy swallowed, nervously trying to look away from his eyes, which seemed to almost glow in the moonlight.

Heavens, the way the man was handsome was almost crippling at times.

- I... I'm fine. she stammered, shyly squirming within his embrace.

Perhaps it was good that he had stopped her in her mindless flight. She needed to breathe some fresh air and calm down enough to be able to get back to Liam and Lauren and make them understand that she didn't feel ready for a step as big as a wedding. They certainly should be furious with her, maybe even with some reason, but... Eventually they would understand she couldn't accept something of the magnitude of marriage just because she felt pressured, right? Maybe it was a good thing that she found out about their engagement plan that way, instead of going through the terrible situation of having to say "no" in front of all those people...

- Missy? – Logan's question, now more apprehensive than ever, called her attention again – You're pale as a ghost. Did something happen?

- Hmmm... No, no, I... - Stammering, Missy tried to find a plausible excuse; she certainly couldn't expose Liam like that, revealing to her boyfriend's boss that she had just turned down a marriage proposal in the most immature way possible – It just happened that something left me a little bewildered. But I am fine. she assured, as she took several deep breaths, trying to calm her frantic heart inside her chest.

- Are you sure? – Logan insisted, with those intense and shrewd eyes staring at her, incredibly, full of pure concern – You don't look very well to me.

- Do not worry. She smiled awkwardly. Even after all that change in behavior that same afternoon, Missy never imagined that one day she would see him being so kind to her... And, mainly, so attentive - It was really just... A scare. She sighed heavily, looking away quickly to the door behind her, wondering how long it would take Liam and Lauren to realize she had escaped that way.

- Oh… - Logan's eyes widened for a second and then became almost pitying – I see. And... Do you need help? he asked slowly, almost as if he was afraid of what her answer would be.

- Hmmm... No, no. – she denied quickly, surprised with how much his new way of treating her made her feel shy; well, more self-conscious than usual - I... I think I just need to breathe a little... Get my head straight... - Desperately needing to distract herself from the anguish in her chest, she started a casual conversation, trying to find some calm within himself and at the same time take his attention away from the subject – You... You really came. – She told him, not being able to avoid the tone of admiration in her voice.

- I said I'd come. He shrugged, smiling a little.

-Strange... - Missy muttered to herself, struggling to remember if she had seen him at any point that night-I don't remember seeing you at the party.

- I... I stayed for a little while. The whole situation made me feel… suffocated. – His sigh sounded like a snarl and the tension in his shoulders, the same tension that Missy had long ago noticed only seemed to form when she was around, betrayed how annoyed he was – So, I also thought a little air fresh would do me good. he explained calmly, although there was a disturbance in his deep voice that she didn't understand where it came from. Oh, he had probably been quite irritated with having to deal with Mrs. Newton for so long. Judging by the way she had surrounded Devon and Diana, surely Mr. Knight should have received even more extreme treatment, especially as his son's boss.

"I'm sorry…" She met his gaze once more, even feeling a certain affinity with his exhausted expression; that night had not been good for any of them, apparently - I know it must be a terribly boring night for you and your brothers... - She was still rambling on her excuses when she noticed the chic and shiny car parked in the street nearby theirs, arguably the kind of vehicle only a Knight could own - Were you leaving? – she finally realized why, probably, he was there alone – Oh, sorry if I disturbed you…

- It's not your fault if the hostess can't even hold a conversation, without asking to see the bank account statement of everyone around. – He exhaled with irritation, but her expression softened again as soon as he looked at her – And, no, I wasn't leaving. I couldn't anyway since Devon and Megan gave me a ride. - A half smile curved his lips, making him impossibly more handsome under the moonlight - I think it wouldn't be very fair to just take my brother's car and leave.

She laughed softly - Well... - A little embarrassed for not knowing very well what to say next, Missy smiled back at him - I'm glad you came.

- Me too... - despite his voice being just a deep whisper, there was something intense in it, that seemed to weigh in every word - Despite everything, seeing you makes it all worth it...

- What? – she questioned him, blushing deeply, even knowing that surely he must have just expressed himself badly or something.

"Um... I meant..." He cleared his throat, shifting stiffly, almost as if he were embarrassed... But that was impossible. In what world would the powerful and unshakable Logan Knight be embarrassed just by talking to her? 'I meant the evening was a little unpleasant, it's true, but it's always great talking to you, Missy. He corrected himself quickly, and she thought she saw a slight color in his cheeks, but quickly dismissed the idea. Surely it was just the night shadows on her face that were giving him that illusion.

- Swear?! - The disbelief in her voice was so great that it almost seemed that he had told her that the earth was flat. And, unfortunately, that tone didn't escape Logan's ears either. To her surprise, he shrugged and looked away, visibly saddened. "I-I mean... Uh, I just didn't think you could stand me... I mean..." Stuttering, she only managed to embarrass herself even more as she tried to explain.

"Missy, I..." Logan looked ready to say something, but stopped suddenly, remaining tense and with his jaw locked for several seconds, until he finally let out the longest and most anguished of sighs, before continuing, with the posture so terribly defeated that he barely looked like the same imposing, confident man she'd lived with for nearly two years - I'm sorry. – Even though it was the second time that day that she had heard him say that, he still managed to leave her stunned-I've been stupidly rude and unfair to you since we met. You've never done anything wrong and yet I chose to treat you in that unforgivable way. I know it would be too much to ask you to forgive me after almost two years of putting up with my bad behavior, but ... - her eyes, which until then had remained fixed on the Newton's lawn, slowly lifted to face her; and this time she knew that the shame there was very real, not a shadow fooling her - I just wanted you to know that if I could go back to the moment we first met, I would act differently . I would make everything different. – again, there was a vehemence in that last sentence that was almost exasperating.

But not just that. There was such fiercely deep and true regret in his voice that Missy suddenly found herself eager to comfort him in some way. Even if she had no idea how to do it. Yes, her behavior towards her had been unfair and reprehensible, but Missy honestly held no grudges. She always made an effort to be understanding with people and with him it was no different... Even if his former dislike for her was far from understandable, even now, which seemed to have disappeared in the blink of an eye. Besides, there was no point in holding a grudge. It wasn't as if his slight had impacted her life in a negative way. It was just plain uncomfortable and weird, that's all. So what reason could there be for her to deny him forgiveness when he looked so deeply regretful? So Missy just offered him a friendly, reassuring smile.

- Well... Maybe we can't change the past, but... - Missy pondered, fearfully lifting her hand to rest it gently on his arm, feeling the rigid muscles under her fingers tense when she touched him - We have the gift. - Increasing her smile, Missy shrugged - And of course I forgive you. We can start from scratch and try to be friends now... What do you think? – She asked fearfully, still a little afraid of having misunderstood him, even after everything she had heard.

For some time, he just stared at her, his expression extremely intense, yet still indecipherable to her, until finally a small, dazzling, maybe even hopeful, smile appeared on his face – I would love to be your friend, Missy. A shiver ran through her at the warm, velvety tone in his husky voice, a sound so exquisite that, embarrassingly and inexplicably, it made her want to moan.

-I would also love to... - she smiled shyly, trying to control that strange reaction in her body and disguise her blush, as she removed the hand that was on her arm and held it out to him - So... Friends?

Still maintaining that unreadable expression that was equally sweet and also a little wistful, he took her hand, gently wrapping it around his in a gentle grip and holding it there longer than she expected, allowing her to feel the warmth and the soft touch of that big hand around yours; quite a pleasant feeling against the chill of the night – I am honored to have you as a friend, Missy, thank you. I promise things will change between the two of us from now on. – for some reason she couldn't understand, the before bittersweet smile widened, becoming almost enigmatic; that expression, however, also quickly dissipated, before he became simply gentle again, looking over his shoulder at the closed door behind her - So... Would you like me to get my brothers and sister inside and we'll go to another place? Maybe dinner or something...? He said each word slowly, as if he was inexplicably afraid of offending her or something.

But, to be honest, she had already accepted that that night was not meant to be understood.

-Oh, no, I… - Feeling the weight of what had happened come back to overwhelm her, Missy sighed, finally realizing that she couldn't just run away from the Newton house and hide in her apartment. She needed to have a serious talk with her boyfriend that very night, so they could finally decide if they could deal with everything that had happened since Saturday together... Or not - I have something I need to sort out. – she finally said, her head down. Surely Liam and Mrs. Newton were mad inside, but at some point, after the screams and the hate, they would be understanding with her, as she had always been with them...

Right?

- Do you still want to go back inside? – for some reason, Logan widened his eyes to the fullest, sounding not only shocked, but also a little… disgusted? No, perhaps unbelieving would be the more appropriate word.

- I know that Mrs. Newton might exaggerate a bit, but she's not that bad. – She gave a humorless laugh, imagining what her mother-in-law could have said to him to make him so completely averse to even the simple idea of going back to the party – And… My boyfriend and I need to talk. She swallowed hard, unable to stop the apprehension tightening in her chest as she imagined the fight that would ensue.

- Boyfriend?! - Logan practically roared in a low voice, but, seeing her scared face before his tone, his posture relaxed and then he grunted something to himself inaudibly, before looking at her, again with that almost defeated expression. Was he really so tormented just by the thought of going back to the Newtons' living room? - I understand. - He exhaled regretfully - Let me in with you, then... - Logan offered, approaching her so he could place his hand on the doorknob - With luck, it shouldn't be too long before this shitty night is over. - He muttered in a very low voice again, but now beside her, Missy was able to hear him.

- Uh, it's okay if you don't want to come in. – she hurried to try to stop him, since obviously the event inside had not only angered him, but also disturbed him.

- It is not alright. - He gave another heavy sigh, before, to his complete surprise, turning his face a little, so he could smile sweetly at her - Actually, I'm glad I met you. Maybe this way we can finally talk properly... Like the friends we are. He nodded and opened the door, allowing her to enter first, looking genuinely happy at the prospect of them talking.

Missy cracked a smile, and as soon as they had both walked far enough to be back in the Newtons' hallway, she was about to speak again, when Mrs. Newton, appearing like a bolt of lightning from inside the living room towards the entrance hall, interrupted her.

- There you are! – her mother-in-law roared, more enraged than she ever remembered seeing, advancing towards where they were as if she was really planning to wrap her hands around Missy's neck – We've been looking for you in every damn room in this house! How could you run away like that...!

However, before Mrs. Newton could do anything or even Missy could react, Logan immediately stepped between the two of them, his broad shoulders and tall, powerful body towering over her like a protective wall as he glared at Lauren.

- I think you need to calm down before anything else... - he growled dangerously - Mrs. Newton.

- Oh, Mr. Knight, what a pleasant surprise. – even if the immense back in front of her did not allow her to see, Missy could perfectly imagine her mother-in-law's tremulous and yellow smile before that intimidating man - I thought he had left...

- But I didn't. - he cut her off without any mercy, totally cold and cutting - And I think you owe some apologies for being so rude to Missy.

-Oh, you say that because he doesn't know what happened to us! – she defended herself vehemently, leaning to the side almost completely, just to be able to shoot Missy with her eyes – You shouldn't have run away like that, young lady! My son was about to make an unforgettable request and you just ruined it out of pure and simple nervousness...! – she was about to continue her angry monologue, which was making Missy's insides squirm uncomfortably as she realized that she would have to hear much worse things than she had imagined, if she really wanted to resolve that situation, when Logan's deeply astonished voice interrupted her .

- Wait, request? He half-gasped and half-growled, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he turned to face Missy, looking not only baffled, but also…hurt? No, she must be imagining things again - A marriage proposal?!

- It was all... Very sudden. Missy tried to explain, biting her lip hard, embarrassed now that he knew what she had done. Without context, she certainly sounded like a terrible girlfriend, didn't she? A cruel woman, who coldly refused a marriage proposal that would be perfect. Or at least that was how her mother-in-law saw her at that moment.

- How can nine months of dating be sudden? - Mrs. Newton roared, his fists tightly clenched - My son is crazy about you and has been talking about asking for your hand for months! The only reason I forgive his behavior is because I know how nervous a woman can be when she's caught off guard. – She exhaled so hard that it almost sounded like a snarl and, so suddenly that it was almost scary, her expression changed, becoming smiling and excited – But, don't worry! All it takes to resolve this mistake of yours is to go into that room and allow Liam to give you the ring!

- Ring?! - Logan's voice, although suffocated, sounded as if he was about to kill someone. In fact, his possessed and dismayed expression made that very clear. Worried about what could have happened to make him so out of his mind, Missy placed a hand on her arm, feeling the strong muscles shuddering with anger under her fingers as she tried to talk to her mother-in-law and calm everyone's temper.

- Hmmm... Lauren, I don't think you understand... - Tense, she quickly diverted her eyes between Logan and her mother-in-law - I know it was rude of me to run like that, but it wasn't just nervousness. Please understand, I just can't...!

- What the fuck is this?! Her sister's loud, angry scream sliced through the air around them, making her heart skip a beat.

- Megan?! Worried about what could be wrong with her sister, Missy quickly stepped out from behind Logan and brushed past Mrs. Newton, solemnly ignoring her mother-in-law's angry screams and even Logan's heavy steps making the floorboards creak, denouncing that he was following her closely.

At lightning speed, Missy entered the living room, ready to look for her sister, when suddenly Megan loomed in front of her, the small figure looking pale and almost desperate as she wrapped her hands around her shoulders and tried to push her away. it backwards.

- No, Missy, no... You don't need to see this... - her sister repeated disjointedly, still trying to get her out of the room, which Missy refused to allow, more and more worried about what could have happened to her. make your sister upset like that.

- Megan, are you okay? - Missy gasped, struggling to calm her sister as she started to run her eyes around the crowded room, trying to understand what was wrong and why everyone was standing still, looking at only one place - What...?

And that's when she finally realized what had happened. And, as her blood ran cold and the tears gathered in her throat, she realized that everyone was watching, on the large television in the living room, a very clear picture of her boyfriend kissing Suzan Foster.

But soon she realized that it wasn't just a photo.