“I’m going to lose her.”
Logan Montague sat on the bench in Grant Park. His world had just been blown apart, and the shards that were once his hopes and dreams scattered to the four winds. He was leaving Chicago…immediately. The timing of his parents’ decree could not have been worse. He stared down at the grass beneath his feet, but all he saw was time running out. What he wanted least in the world, working in the family business, was going to be his entire future.
He sensed the urgency in his parents, and he wished he could just ignore it and go his own way, but he could not, nor would he shirk his responsibilities to his family. He just wished things had turned out differently.
One disaster at Montague International had his family scrambling to do damage control. His father was insistent that the news of one of their directors suspected of sabotage and trying to jump ship to the competition had to remain out of the public eye at all cost. They could tell no one about it for fear of scandal and plummeting stock prices. It was bad enough having to leave, but not being able to tell Dakota Carson the truth of the situation was unacceptable.
A light of potential that had once burned bright within his heart was just extinguished. As much as it would kill him to do so, he would not tell his best friend the truth about why he was leaving. He had been in love with her for a while, but had yet to make his feelings known. He always assumed he would have time. It had just run out.
“Hey.”
Logan looked up to see her smiling down at him.
“Hey.”
Dakota sat next to him on the park bench. “Sorry I’m late. You can’t believe the amount of time it took me to finish up the chores Granny set out for me. It’s like she knew I was in a rush to come see you and found a million reasons why I had to stay.” She laughed. “But I finished, and here I am.”
Logan nodded.
“So, what did you want to do this afternoon? A movie? A walk through the park? What about a trip to Navy Pier, or a boat ride?”
“I can’t,” he replied. “I won’t be able to stay as long as I’d hoped.”
“Oh, well, that’s okay,” Dakota replied, wrapping her arm around his. “I’m glad to see you, no matter what.”
Logan closed his eyes and sighed. “Koty, there’s something I have to tell you.”
She glanced up at him. “Okay. Shoot.”
“I have to go away…to New York…for the summer. I’m…I leave in a few days.”
She sat up and faced him. “What? New York? Well, that’s not too far away. We can still see each other, right?”
He glanced away. “My father wants me to learn the family business. That’s going to take up most of my time.”
She laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”
Logan shook his head. “No, Koty. I have an internship at Montague. It’s an opportunity I can’t pass up. It’ll help me when I start working there after college.”
“But…I thought you didn’t want to work for the family business? You always said it wasn’t for you.”
“I know…but things change.”
“That’s a pretty big change, Logan. I don’t understand why you’re just now telling me. You’re practically gone tomorrow, and you spring this on me now?”
“I’m sorry. I just found out about it myself. It’s all arranged.”
The hurt in Dakota’s eyes caused Logan’s heart to tighten.
“Well, this sucks.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner.”
Tears fell in earnest now. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know, right?” She hugged him tightly. “I’m going to miss you, Logan—more than you know.”
He breathed in her scent. She was the most important person in his life. The turmoil he felt at saying goodbye was almost more than he could bear. No, this was wrong. He had to level with her. She deserved the truth, no matter what he promised.
“Dakota, there’s something you need to know. I—”
His cell phone chirped. Logan glanced down at the screen. It was a text message from his mother.
“I’m sorry, Koty, but I have to go.”
“Oh.” She stood up, her expression crestfallen.
“I’ll call you later.” He tried to muster a smile, but failed miserably. “Let me see you home.”
“No, I want to walk for a while. I just… I can’t believe you’re leaving so soon, Logan.”
He pushed the hair out of her eyes. “Me, either. There’s so much I wanted us to do.”
“Me, too.” She turned to face him. “It’s our last summer before college. I thought we’d have more time.”
“Hey.” He reached out and took her hand. “Don’t cry, Koty.”
“I can’t help it, Logan. I feel like my heart’s going to break.”
“You think it’s any different for me?” he said raggedly.
She hugged him tightly, and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll miss you.”
“Koty…forget waiting. There’s something I want to tell you.”
She smiled. “I know what it is.”
Logan sighed with relief. “You do?”
“Yes, and I love you, too, Logan. You’re the only best friend I’ve ever had.”
She threw herself into his arms. He felt utter disappointment. She loved him. Like a friend. He felt like he had been punched in the gut. His confession about his true feelings halted before it could be voiced. “Me, too. I’m sorry, but I’ve got to head home.”
“I’m glad you told me in person, and that I could see you one last time, Logan.”
He hugged her. “Me, too. Goodbye, Koty. I’ll call you when I get there, okay?”
“You’d better,” she replied tearfully.
He held out his hand, and she took it. They walked back to his car in silence.
They embraced a final time. Logan kissed the top of her head. When he looked into her eyes, he was suddenly lost. Whatever hold he was caught up in, it was more than he could shake. Before he knew it, he lowered his head and kissed Dakota on her lips. He felt her stiffen, but she did not pull away