“Logan isn’t Rory’s soul mate. He’s the wealthy rich boy who she does love, but when it comes down to it he isn’t the one. The show ended, but we all knew it was Jess she would go back to. He was her soul mate. He broke her heart once, but he had to grow up too, and he changed. I just don’t want you to get wrapped up in this boy. I want you to reach higher and get out of this life, but a rock star’s brother isn’t the way to do it. Enjoy it and have fun, but remember he’s just your Logan.”
He’s just my Logan. Words of wisdom from my momma. Shaking my head, I opened the door and picked up my suitcase just as the limo pulled into the driveway. I glanced back at her sitting there with her cup of coffee, staring out the window at my ride. She was right. Maybe not about the Gilmore Girls philosophy, but about enjoying myself and guarding my heart. I had been hurt when Jason hadn’t called the next day, but I had chalked it up to the inevitable. He was a fairy tale. And I didn’t live in a storybook.
The truck that pulled in right after the limo caused me to halt in my steps. This was not happening to me. Not right now. I didn’t want to deal with crazy. I just wanted to leave and get on a private jet and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“Shit,” I muttered as I dropped my suitcase on the porch.
“What is it?” Momma asked, standing up and walking to the door. “Well, hell. I just ran his ass off the other night. He was passed out on the porch. Told him not to come back here.”
“Got any Gilmore Girls wisdom for this dilemma?” I asked.
Mom just snorted.
Jason stepped out of the limo just as Hank jerked open his truck door. Jason glanced over at Hank, then back at me. I had to step in and fix this before Hank scared Jason off.
I picked my suitcase back up and started down the steps.
“Rory would send Dean home,” Momma called out behind me.
I just rolled my eyes and kept walking. I wasn’t an idiot.
“She’s taking him from me,” Hank said in a panicked tone as he stalked toward me, completely ignoring Jason’s presence. “She can’t take my boy from me, Jess. She can’t. He’s mine, too. I need you to talk to her. Tell her she can’t do this.”
I stopped walking and looked at Hank. His face looked stricken. The drunken asshole wasn’t present right now. He was the boy who needed me. I couldn’t just ignore him. This wasn’t the first time Carrie had threatened to take their son from him. She did it for leverage.
“What did you do this time?” I asked him, knowing that was what it all boiled down to. I turned to Jason and frowned. “I’m sorry. I’ll make this fast.”
He nodded and stood where he was, watching us with a bored expression. I wanted to hurl my suitcase across the yard at the unfairness of this.
“She knows I come over here when I’ve had too much to drink. She knows I love you, that I’ll always just love you. I can’t love her, Jess. She’s not you. But he’s my boy. She can’t do that, can she? Go tell her not to. She won’t listen to me.” He was begging me. I wanted to ignore all this.
“I’m leaving. I’ll be back tomorrow late, and I’ll talk to her then,” I told him.
“Don’t leave me,” Hank said, walking over to me and grabbing the suitcase I was holding. I saw Jason take a step forward and stop. He was waiting on me to decide what to do. I was thankful that he wasn’t getting involved in this just yet.
“Marry me, Jess. I love you and I just want you. I’ll stop fucking around. I swear it.”
I shook my head. We had been here before. Same argument. “No. I’m not marrying you. Now go home, and I’ll go see Carrie when I get back.”
“Please, baby?”
“She said she’d help when she got back.” Jason walked forward and took my suitcase from my hand, then handed it to the driver, who was behind him.
Hank shot an angry glare at Jason, and I watched as his hand curled into a fist. I took a step toward Hank and grabbed his arm. “Don’t do this. You’ve got to let me go,” I told him.
“He’s using you. When he’s done with you, I’ll still be here. He won’t be,” Hank snarled, still looking at Jason.
“Go, Hank,” I said, letting go of his arm and moving toward Jason.
It happened fast. Hank reached out to grab Jason, but the large driver was there instantly. The man had grabbed Hank’s arm, towering over him.
“What the hell!” Hank roared, trying to get free of the driver, who held Hank still with what looked like little effort. The driver glanced to Jason for instruction.