PROLOGUE
Logan
“Mom, come on, you know it would mean the world to Declan for you to be there.” Her hip is propped up against the kitchen counter and an unlit cigarette dangles from the corner of her mouth. Declan is getting married in three days in Hawaii, and Mom feels like he doesn’t want her there. It’s clearly the negative voice in her head telling her she was never there for us, so why would he want her there now. The thing is, her voice isn’t wrong, but the part she doesn’t understand is we still love her, despite her deficiencies. She reaches for her lighter but then she looks me in the eyes and remembers that isn’t the best idea. Now she knows how bad it is for a person with asthma to inhale secondhand smoke. That wasn’t the case when I was younger, but my pulmonologist set her straight by telling her not to smoke inside the house when I’m around. Reality is, I’m not around much anymore. I’ve spent the last two and a half years at Westfall U. I’m halfway through my senior year. And yes, I know the math doesn’t add up, but I’ve finished up my four-year degree in three years.
“I’ve done more harm than good. Your brother doesn’t need a reminder of my bad choices on his wedding day,” she states. She pulls the cigarette from her mouth, places it neatly back in the pack, and then wraps her hands around her waist.
“He doesn’t want you there as a reminder of anything. He wants his mom to walk him down the aisle. He doesn’t have a father. The least you could do after everything we’ve all been through is to be there for your eldest son,” I say to her because, damn, when Declan and I were growing up she was not responsible at all. I was hoping at some point that would change, but it hasn’t happened, yet.
Her eyes fill with tears. I place a plane ticket on the counter and push it her way. “This is a plane ticket to Hawaii with a return flight. Declan has a room on hold for you in the hotel we will all be staying at. It’s a chance to get away from this place and see the world. You’ll also be making Declan super happy since Poppy’s mom is walking her down the aisle, along with her brother.”
“He has you,” she retorts, her voice thick from years of smoking.
“Yeah, he does have me,” I agree. My brother took care of me when I couldn’t take care of myself growing up. I would be anywhere he needed me to be. “That isn’t the point though. You need to be there for your son. We don’t ask much of you, but he’s asking for this.”
Her lip quivers and she reaches for the ticket. “Let me think on it.” She holds on to the ticket like it has the secret map with a treasure on it.
“Okay, Mom. I need to get going now. My plane leaves in two hours.”
I loathe coming back to Detroit. My memories of this place are cloaked in a poor, sad childhood. Mom is also not so keen about having me home or at least that’s how she behaves, but I came for Declan. He wants her in Hawaii because she is all we have and despite everything, we love her.
“Have a good flight,” she mutters.
I lean in and give her a half hug. I hate how she always smells like a stale ashtray. I pull away quickly and notice her lack of an attempt to hug me.
I turn around and head for the door, taking my suitcase with me. I hope she decides to get on that plane, but there isn’t anything more I can do here. I take an Uber to the airport and stare out the window at the snow-stained streets and the run-down buildings. People walk down the street, despite the frigid temperatures and drug deals go down on street corners. I sure don’t miss this place.
When I get to the airport, it’s busy as hell. Not that I was expecting anything else a week and a half before Christmas. I head straight over to baggage check and get in line for security. I take a deep breath thinking of Hawaii. I’ve never been anywhere other than Detroit, Westfall, and the places I’ve travelled with the team for games. My brother and Poppy left for Hawaii a few days ago with all our friends, but I made a pit stop on Declan’s behalf in Detroit to see Mom. I still don’t know if my trip was successful, and I hated to be back in my hometown for longer than I had to, but this was the only flight out we could find for this week.
After making my way through the treacherous crowds, I’m seated on the plane with my carry-on stowed away. I let out a breath and lean back on the headrest. This is a ten-hour flight and I’m in coach, which I’m not complaining about at all. My brother was generous enough to buy my plane ticket and pay for my hotel and food.
People are getting situated all around me. There’s a mom with two kids behind me, one of them is a baby and he’s crying. Two girls walk up to my row.
“This is us,” the first one says to the girl behind her. My guess is they are sisters because they look alike and they are about my age. People say Declan and I look alike too, except our features are slightly different. These girls have the same long dark hair, lightly tanned skin, and dark eyes, but that’s where the similarity ends. One sister is taller than the other, and one is slim where the other is curvaceous and sexy.
“I’m taking the aisle,” one of the girls says to the other.
“Fine, whatever,” the other girl huffs, rolling her eyes.
They place their carry-on bags in the bin above and take a seat. I’m seated by the window, and I look their way.
“Hi,” I say. I figure it’s the polite thing to do since I am stuck in a window seat, and I’m sure I will have to bother them at some point on the flight because I’ll need to use the restroom or stretch my legs. The space is a lot smaller than I thought it would be and it feels very cramped.
“Hi,” one of them replies. “I’m Alessa and this is my sister, Lili,” she says.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Logan,” I introduce myself.
Alessa smiles. Lili doesn’t say anything. The girls get situated in their seats and buckle in. I put my head back on the headrest and close my eyes. The plane takes off and after about half an hour I feel us leveling off. Truth is, I feel a bit anxious about flying. I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t flown too many times in my life or because this flight is a lot longer than any I’ve ever been on. I begin to shift a little because my legs are hurting from pressing into the seat in front of me.
“Geez, do you mind?” the girl beside me whines. I think her name is Lili. She gives me the stink eye.
“Sorry. I don’t have room for my legs,” I explain, shifting.
She raises her brows. “Shouldn’t someone your size be seated in first class?”
“Lili,” Alessa snaps, watching her sister with round eyes. “Get a grip.” Then she turns her attention on me. “Sorry for my sister’s pissy mood. She’s trying to get over a breakup and hates the world right now.”
Lili straightens out and shoots daggers at her sister with her eyes. “You can’t tell random strangers about my personal life.”
“I can when you’re being a bitch,” Alessa counters. Holy shit, these girls are feisty.
“You did not just call me a bitch,” Lili retorts.
Alessa takes a deep breath. “Would you just relax and try to be nice?” she urges softly.
“Fine, sorry,” she says to her sister.