“Don't be. He is prone to doing things that make him very unpopular.” Logan shrugged. There was a back story I knew I was missing, but I didn't want to ask. I hoped Maddy would hurry up and get back so I could leave. Being this close to him was hard. Especially when he smiled.
I sipped on my champagne and smiled politely. If this was how the rest of our interactions were going to go, I could live with that. I knew that we would be running into one another, given our similar businesses and social obligations. Maybe, if we kept having these nondescript encounters, I would forget the ache in my heart. Maybe I would stop searching for his picture in the paper every morning just to find out what he was doing. Maybe I would stop missing the something we almost had.
“I also hear that your business is taking off,” he continued, taking a step closer. “I knew it would. Congratulations.”
Now I wanted to punch him. He had to bring that up and rub it in. I found my anger again and hated that I had lost it for even a moment. Damn him and his stupid smile making me forget how he never called. Damn him and his father for making me scramble to save my livelihood.
“No thanks to you or Travel, Inc.,” I replied with just a touch more venom than necessary.
“It was just business,” he said with a frown, as if he didn't understand what my issue was with him.
“Travel, Inc.'s portion of it perhaps, but what about yours? Or did you just forget about our little car ride?” I was a little afraid I was going to crush the delicate stemware in my fist and spill champagne and glass all over the garden.
He had the good grace to blush slightly. “I wanted to apologize about that...”
“Then why didn't you?” I demanded, my temper starting to boil over. “Why did you never call me?”
“Olivia, I wanted to—I really did—but I couldn't,” he explained. He ran a hand through his hair and dislodged another curl from his slick hairstyle. A few more passes and he would look like himself again.
“Because it is so hard to pick up a phone.” I took a step toward him and glanced around to make sure no one was nearby. “I'm not usually that kind of girl, but I did think I at least merited a phone call. The business part I could probably have forgiven as 'just business', but the fact that you led me on is inexcusable. You let me think I was... You could have at least told me that I meant nothing to you.”
He paled as my accusation hit its mark. “Olivia, it's complicated.” He started to reach out as if he wanted to touch me but thought better of it and put his hands in his pockets. “I wanted to, but my father made it very clear that I wasn't to contact you. I'm sorry.”
“Unbelievable.” I shook my head in disgust. “I'm so glad you do everything your father says. Do you still get an allowance for doing your homework and feeding the dog?”
“You're right. I should have called,” he said softly, retreating further. “I should have done things differently.”
“You're damn right you should have.” I stepped back from him, wanting to put as much distance as possible between us. For all his good looks, swagger and charm, he was still a little boy under his father's influence. “You missed out on a good thing, both me and Dream Vacations.”
He held me in his eyes for a moment. His expression was bleak, as if he was calculating the extent of his mistake and finding it bigger than he had first imagined. “Believe me, I know.”
We stood there in silence for a moment, the two of us just staring at one another and trying to figure out how to get out of this very awkward conversation.
“Olivia, I'm back,” Maddy announced, strolling up beside me and breaking the strange silence. “Who is this handsome young man you've found?”
“Maddy, this is Logan Hayes,” I said flatly. “Logan, this is Maddy Sawyer, the co-owner of Dream Vacations.”
“Oh my,” Maddy replied with a blush. “You are even better looking in person. I can totally see why Olivia follows you in the paper, on myFace, and won't stop talking about you.”
I closed my eyes and counted to five. That was the last thing I wanted Logan to know. I wanted him to think I cared even less for him than he did for me. I didn't need him knowing he had broken my heart in just one night. “No more champagne for you, Maddy.”
“Why? I'm enjoying myself,” Maddy asked, puzzled. I took a big breath before I opened my eyes and glared at her. “Oh. You're that Logan Hayes. Travel-Inc-broke-your-heart-and-scared-off-all-your-investors Logan Hayes. Got it. Shutting up now.”
Logan frowned. “What do you mean, 'broke-your-heart-and-scared-off-your-investors?'”
I purposefully ignored the first part of the question. “When word got out that Travel, Inc.'s Logan Hayes had taken me out for drinks and then dumped my business to the curb the next day, everyone thought there had to be a reason. Most of them assumed it was because you learned some terrible secret about my business. I could barely get a small business loan from the bank thanks to you.” The last part was a bit of an exaggeration, but I didn't care. It got the point across.
Logan's face fell. “I had no idea. No one ever said anything to me. I'm sorry,” he stammered, losing his usual calm confidence.
“Apology not accepted,” I replied tartly. I was still pissed.
“Yeah,” Maddy chimed in, her voice slurring. “She still cries about it sometimes.”
There was an awkward pause during which the three of us just stared at the ground for a moment. No one seemed to know what to say. The celebratory sounds of the wedding drifted up and provided a strange contrast to our uncomfortable lack of festivity. Logan was silent and then shook himself awake as if he came to some sort of conclusion in his head. Hopefully, it was to leave me alone.
“Well, it was delightful to meet you, Maddy.” Logan held out his hand to shake hers. She reciprocated firmly, and pulled him in close to her.
“If you could forget the fact that I mentioned you broke Liv's heart, that would be great,” she whispered, thinking I wouldn't hear. Except I could hear every cringe-inducing word. “She wouldn't want you to know that, especially because I don't think she's over you.”
I was never letting her drink again. She couldn't hold onto a secret with duct tape and super glue. I half-expected her to give him my Social Security number and bank PIN while she was at it.
“Consider it forgotten,” he assured her with an all-too-confident smile. I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to convince myself that killing them both would be too much work.