"Keep that up and you're going to put a hole in the floor."

I stopped pacing and turned around to find my mom standing behind me.

"What's up, mom?" I asked impatiently.

When she arched her left brow, I knew I was in trouble. "Don't take that tone with me, Logan Thorne."

I ran my hands over my face and fell onto the plush sofa. "Sorry, mom," I groaned. "Just a lot on my mind."

"I would like to think so. Today is Amelia's birthday and we haven't planned it out yet."

She wasn't wrong, but that's not what had me pacing the living room floor. What happened between Grant and I last night behind Jack's Bar wouldn't stop replaying in my mind.

Grant was right when he said he was the one that usually lost control. I remembered many nights where he pushed me up against the wall or pulled me into a dark corner of a restaurant because he had to kiss me right then and there.

I guess I got a little taste of what he felt in those situations last night. When I looked up and saw Grant in the bar, I didn't know what to do. Considering who I was at the bar with, I'm surprised that I went after him.

Thankfully when I told Amelia I was going to the restroom, she didn't question it. But she or Wyatt could have easily come looking for me. In that moment, however, I didn't care. I saw the hurt in Grant's eyes and I couldn't let him walk away without doing something.

Even before he suggested going back to the city, I knew that if I didn't follow after him, there was a good chance he would have left without even saying goodbye.

I needed him here. I wasn't ready for him to read yet. I couldn't explain it—and I refused to acknowledge the reason why, but for now...I needed him. Just like I told him last night. It was that simple. I. Needed. Him.

I looked to my mother who was waiting patiently. "You're right, mom. We should plan something." I got up from the couch and walked over to her. "I suggested dinner here when I was out with her last night. She seemed okay with it."

I saw Amelia early this morning when I wished her a happy birthday. I told her that I was going to spend most of the day time with my mom to plan her birthday dinner. She seemed a little nervous when I said that, but she said she was looking forward to it.

"I think it's sweet of you to do that for her, Logan. Is it just the family or a surprise party?"

"Logan...shit. Don't stop. Don't fucking stop."

Grant's voice whispered through my mind and I've never felt guiltier.

"Let's do a surprise party," I said to my mother.

"A surprise party? Uh, okay. Who should we invite?"

Fuck. I had no idea. "I don't know."

My mom tapped her chin as she thought of a solution. "I know!" she exclaimed. "We can do an engagement party/birthday party. I can invite some family and friends from the city!"

I frowned at her suggestion. "Are you sure? I mean, it seems like short notice."

She waved her hand at me. "Nonsense! Most of them are here already, anyway."

Okay, now I was even more confused. "Wait, why?"

She huffed at me like my question was of ridiculous. "We were going to have an engagement party anyway, so I went ahead and started calling some of our closest family and friends after you proposed" 

Chime--chime 

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and saw a text from Grant. 

G: Hey. What are you up to?

I made sure to bite back my smile.  my mother was a very suspicious woman.

Me: Planning this birthday dinner with my mom. 

G: Sounds exciting.

I could sense his sarcasm from here. Before I had a chance to reply, he sent another text. 

G: I miss you. 

I inhaled a deep breath. Neither one of us were the mushy-gushy type. I couldn't help but wonder what had Grant sending me that text. Was it what happened last night? It wouldn't be that surprising. I was just as surprised by my actions as he was.

Blowing Grant in the back of Jack's bar while two very important people were just inside was not a part of my plans last night. 

I finally started to type my reply. 

Me: Enjoy last night, did you? Okay, maybe I was having a little fun with him. 

G: Last night was a tease. You know that. 

Yes, it was. I would be lying if I said last night didn't make me want more with him. I remembered what being with Grant was like—and so did my body. 

G: Is there any way I can see you before tomorrow? Just for a few minutes. 

"Who are you texting?" 

Shit. I looked up at my mother. I got so engrossed with Grant's text messages, I forgot she was standing there. Panic set in and I opened my fat mouth. 

"It's Grant." Nice, Logan. What the fuck is wrong with you? 

"Oh!" She smiled instantly. "Your old college friend. How is he? It's been so long since we've seen him." 

My mother continued to ramble on and I regretted letting it slip that he was here. "Is he in town? He should come tonight!" 

Fuuuuuuuck. "Yes, he's in town. But he's here on business. He wanted to hang out, but I was going to tell him I was too busy." 

Lie, lie, lie. 

"Nonsense. You need to spend more time with your friends," my mother ordered before she started heading out of the living room. "Please tell him I said hello and see if he wants to come by tonight."

Once she was out of the room, I finally answered him. 

Me: I can probably see you for a little while after the party. Where do you want to meet?

G: My hotel. Room 624.

My eyes slid closed for a moment.

Me: I'll call you when I'm on my way. 

"SURPRISE!"

The lights flicked on and I smiled when I saw Amelia's very surprised expression. Wyatt was standing by her side and I was grateful. She looked like she was going to pass out.

"There's the birthday girl!" I walked over to her and pulled her in for a hug. "So, what do you think?" 

Amelia's eyes darted from one guest's face to another. "Logan, who the hell are these people?" 

I looked away sheepishly. "Most of them are my family members. Since we got engaged, I thought it would be a good idea to have a surprise birthday/engagement party. Pretty clever, huh?" Okay, it was my mom's idea, but I could take some credit. I frowned when I noticed she was wearing a polka dot dress. "That's different. Is it new?" 

Amelia appeared uneasy. Maybe she didn't like surprise parties after all. 

"You're right," she replied quickly. "I'm going to go change real quick. Tell my guests I'll be right down. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay. I'll be waiting here for you."

When she turned and ran out of the room quickly, I knew there was something wrong. When I glanced over at my brother, I could tell he had noticed also.

I walked over to him and nodded my head in the direction that Amelia left. "What's that about? She okay?"

The tension in Wyatt's face told me he wasn't comfortable about telling me whatever it was. "She gets nervous around crowds. Surprise parties, or large groups of people, isn't really her thing."

Fucking great. I thought the surprise party would be a good idea.

"I should go up there."

When I took a step towards the stairs, Wyatt grabbed my arm. "Let me. She's probably embarrassed. You wait here and I'll make sure she comes back down. Okay?"

I exhaled a heavy breath. "Yeah. Okay. Thanks, Wyatt."

After my brother went upstairs to go check on Amelia, I started mingling with the guests. I was surprised to see how many people my mom got to come here tonight. I recognized a few people from my father's office and I made sure to say hi to them, per my father's request.

Then I found some of my extended family that came into town for this whole engagement/wedding thing. A few of my cousins were surprised that I was going to be getting married. I went to high school with two of them and they always knew me as the non-committed type. People change, I guess.

I started heading towards the kitchen to get myself a drink. I kept glancing at my watch, wondering when I would be seeing Grant again tonight. Yes, we were meeting for dinner tomorrow, but when he asked to see me I couldn't say no. That always seemed to be the case between us.

Saying no. Actually, it was the inability to say no.

"Great party, son."

I poured some Jack Daniels in my glass before I turned to see my father standing behind me.

"Thanks, dad." Since I knew we had similar taste, I poured him a drink as well.

"Thanks," he said when he took the glass from me. He took a drink before he met my stare.

He had an odd expression on his face that concerned me. "Something wrong, dad?"

"We need to talk son. It's about you and Amelia."