She laughed, closing the door behind her.

Then it was silent as the mood turned serious. Nathan looked from Logan to me, and back again. "You're happy to have someone else—"

"She knows it all, Nathan, it's fine." He took my hand and squeezed once.

"Okay then." Nathan pulled out a folder from his draw and set it on the table. "What do you want to know?"

Logan shrugged, his eyes staring off into the distance. He gripped my hand tighter. I don't know if he knew he was doing it. I cleared my throat. They both turned to me. I said to Logan, "How about her name? Do you want to know that?"

He nodded, turning back to Nathan, who inhaled deeply, then opened the folder.

And then he told us her name.

THIRTY TWO

Logan

She's been quiet since we left Jake's house. In fact, she's been quiet since Nathan told us her name. I'm not really sure why.

"You don't know, do you?" she asked, turning down the stereo on the drive home.

"Know what?"

"Who she is?"

I shook my head.

"It's Megan Strauss..." she trailed off.

Her saying the name a second time didn't change the fact I had no idea who she was talking about.

I raised an eyebrow, begging her to elaborate. "As in Mick and Meg? Mikayla and Megan and... James?"

"No shit!" I exclaimed, clearly shocked.

"Shit," she deadpanned.

"Shit..." I responded.

***

"Shit," Jake breathed out. I told him to meet me at the little league field between both our houses. He paced up and down in front me. His fingers linked behind his head. He took off his cap and threw it to the ground, running his hand through his hair. "Shit," he repeated.

"So," I started. "I mean—it's not going to change anything—between us—right? If I want to get to know her, I mean?"

He paused mid step and eyed me, as if deciding what to say next. He sat down on the bench beside me and leaned back. I was leaning forward resting my elbows on my knees.

"It's not that. It's just—it's more complicated. I think maybe—I mean—you might need to speak to Kayla."

"What do you mean more complicated?"

"Exactly what I said. You need to speak to Kayla. Come by my place."

I looked at my watch. "I gotta pick up Amanda soon."

I felt him lean forward, mirroring my position. "So you and her..." he trailed off.

"Me and her," I confirmed.

"We got lucky, huh?"

"Dude, you have no idea."

***

Amanda fell asleep on the way to Jake's house. She works way too frickin much. I told her I'd pay more rent so she could at least take a night off but she won't let me. Apparently Ethan can't work too long on his feet because of the pins in his leg, so his job prospects are limited. He delivers pizza a few days a week and also has a side business with a few of his boys where they fill kegs with half water half shit beer and sell and deliver to underage kids around the area. He says he's doing the world a favor by not letting fourteen year olds drink. Valid. But still—Assholes.

I gently nudged her until she woke, "You wanna stay in the car?"

She shook her head, and sat up straight, pulling down the visor to check her face.

"You look beautiful," I told her. "You always look beautiful." I outwardly cringed.

Lame.

She just smiled, faced me and spoke, "So I know this is going to sound stupid, or whatever, but you and me—us," she paused; a blush crept to her cheeks. She sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. "We're a thing right? Like—exclusive or whatever. I just don't want to think one thing and you think something else." She was rushing her words now. "Because if it's not, that's fine. But I don't not want to be not that—if that makes sense. I mean—I hope that I'm the only gi—"

"Amanda," I interrupted her. "Honestly, I'm kind of pissed that you're second guessing what this is. Do you need a written contract? You know how I feel about you, and if you don't, then I obviously need to do more..."

She shook her head slowly, "No," she sighed, "you don't need to do more—but I know you—and your past—"

"Is my past," I cut in, "and you—you're my future."

***

Jake pulled three beers out of the fridge and handed one to Micky and one to me. Amanda took my keys from my hand and jerked her head in approval. We took a seat at the dining table. "So," I said, running my palm across my jaw. Amanda placed her hand on my leg under the table. "Uh...you know how I told you about my parents—my birth parents, I mean?"

Micky nodded with a confused look on her face.

"Well—it turns out my birth dad had another kid—a girl—uh..."

"Just tell her," Jake encouraged. "Like a Band-Aid."

I closed my eyes. "It's Megan. Your friend." It came out as a question.

Her eyes went huge, and instantly, tears were streaming down her face.

I looked to Jake. He shook his head and held a finger up to stop me from saying anything. Micky frantically wiped at her face. We all stayed silent.

"Her dad?" she finally croaked out. "Her dad is the same as your d-d..."

"Birth dad—yes."