"Mom."
Isabella blushed and sidled up to Harper. Even though Isabella wasn't Harper's real daughter, Harper could read her like a book.
"What's there to be shy about? Your mom's been around the block. At your age, every girl's got a crush."
Harper had a bit too much to drink and was letting it all out.
Logan looked worried, "Mom, have you had too much to drink?"
Logan knew his mom rarely touched alcohol, so it was weird seeing her like this. Just a few sips of wine and she was already tipsy and unfiltered.
"I'm not drunk, Logan. You're not getting any younger. Give me a grandkid already. I can help out now, but when I'm old and creaky, I won' t be much use!"
Harper wasn't drunk, just venting. She'd been a widow for years, feeling super frustrated.
Without a man around, her needs were unmet, leading to a kind of pain she couldn't talk about, so after a bit of wine, she spilled all the stuff she usually kept bottled up.
"Your dad left us, and I haven't been with another man all these years cause I was worried about you two. Now you're grown, Logan, and Isabella' s about to graduate high school. I'm not worried about you guys anymore, I'm worried about me!" Harper kept rambling.
Benjamin felt super awkward, caught in the middle of this family drama, not sure if he should stay or go.
Luckily, Harper couldn't handle her booze. After finishing her glass, she passed out. Logan helped his mom to her room, and Isabella went in to take care of her, while the two guys started drinking together.
"That's just how my mom is, Benjamin, don't mind her. When you get older, you worry more!" Logan said, raising his glass.
Benjamin replied, "What are you talking about? Why would I mind?"
Logan chuckled, grabbed a bottle of white wine, and started pouring.
"Let's drink white wine!" Logan didn't say much, just downed three glasses in a row.
"Bro, how's life been abroad? If it's rough, come back and join me. I've been hanging with Mason lately, he's a solid dude, looks out for his crew. If you join us, you'll be in good hands."
Mason was a straight-up thug. Back when Benjamin and Logan were still hitting the books, Mason was already a big name in the local scene. Now, he had his own turf in Crystalhaven, and with no other options, Logan had joined Mason's Black Dragon Gang.
"Logan, that life ain't a long-term gig. If things go south, you won't just be broke, you might end up missing a limb or two. It's a rough game," Benjamin said. "I'm not dissing you, man. I just don't want my buddy living on the edge. If you're up for it, I can hook you up with a legit job, way better than what you're doing now."
"What do you mean by dissing me?" Logan joked, "Alright, having a bro like you is enough for me. But don't waste your breath. I know my limits. Even if you find me a cushy job, I probably won't cut it!"
"I'm serious, man. You'll dig this job!" Benjamin said, all confident.
"Whatever, let's drink!"
Logan didn't seem too interested, raised his glass, clinked it with Benjamin' s, and downed it in one go.
Whether Logan was into it or not, after finishing his drink, Benjamin slowly said, "I'm planning to invest in a plastic surgery hospital. If you're game, you can come help me out. You're sharp, good with the ladies, being an assistant director should be a breeze. Don't sweat it, I'll send you for some pro training for six months."
A plastic surgery hospital? Logan was floored. That was a place for making beautiful women, even if they were a bit artificial. Seeing gorgeous women every day? Hell yeah, he was interested!
"You've hit the jackpot? Investing in a hospital costs a ton, right?"
Logan was pumped, his face lighting up. The idea of opening a hospital was something he never even dreamed of. That was rich-people territory.
Benjamin grinned and said casually, "Yeah, I did alright. Made some cash abroad, so opening a plastic surgery hospital is doable."
"Damn, you're killing it!" Logan chugged a big gulp of white wine, laughing excitedly. The Benjamin in front of him was no longer the weak kid who used to get pushed around. He'd grown up, become mysterious, with even more secrets waiting to be uncovered.
"Dude, you still got that dirty mouth, huh?"
Benjamin laughed and shot back, saying Logan had always been a potty mouth since they were kids. Years had gone by, but some things never change. Not that Benjamin cared; it was just Logan being Logan.
As they knocked back drinks, they started reminiscing about all the trouble they got into as kids. All those good times came flooding back. Benjamin joked about how he regretted not having a simple fling back then, while Logan griped about losing his virginity too early and now only knowing how to bang, not love.
By six o'clock, they'd already polished off a bottle of white and a bottle of red. Logan was pretty much hammered, still trying to toast Benjamin, who was only halfway buzzed.
Benjamin just felt a bit warm, not drunk at all.
Logan was slumped over the table, eyes closed, still trying to toast. Benjamin shook his head with a smirk and went to find Isabella. "Your bro's wasted. Take care of him. I gotta bounce. Next time you're free, come over to my place. Dinner's on me!"
Isabella nodded, "Benjamin, you sure you're good? Want me to drive you home?"
She was worried about him driving after drinking.
"I'm good, just look after your brother!"
Benjamin shrugged it off. After helping Isabella get Logan to his room, he headed out.
Just as he left Logan's place, his phone rang. It was his stepmom, Ava. He picked up, "Off work? Need a ride?"
"Such a sweet son, but did you forget something?" Ava chuckled. A nurse nearby overheard and couldn't believe it. She
caught up with Ava, "Ava, you got a son? This would be big news at the hospital!"
Ava blushed, "Scarlett, don't be ridiculous. I'm not even married, how could I have a son?"
Ava's marriage to Daniel was a well-kept secret.
"Right, you're not married yet!"
Scarlett paused, confused, "But I heard you say your son is so well- behaved!"
She looked around, lowered her voice, "Ava, be honest, did you forget protection and end up with a kid before marriage?"
Women's curiosity knows no bounds, and Scarlett, being a nurse in the same department, couldn't resist.
"Stepmom, what's going on?"
Benjamin heard the chatter and asked.
Ava quickly said, "It's nothing, I'll call you back later!"
After hanging up, Ava glared at Scarlett, "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think I'm that kind of woman?"
Scarlett chuckled, "I didn't mean that, Ava. Seriously, I heard you talking about your son. What's the deal?"
"Can't I call my boyfriend my son?"
Ava shot back, and Scarlett burst out laughing, "Oh, so it's a thing now to call your boyfriend 'son'? Bold move!"
Ava didn't back down, "I heard someone had guys visiting during their shift! And there were some... interesting noises from the duty room, huh?"
Scarlett's face turned beet red, "Ava, I gotta go!"
Scarlett hurried off, embarrassed. She didn't expect anyone to overhear her and her boyfriend's escapades in the duty room.