He Gave Everyone a Key but Me Chapter 06
“That bridal boutique isn’t cheap, is it? Renting a gown for a day probably costs a fortune.”
Logan reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and slipped a card into my hand.
“Take it.”
“Don’t blow all your savings just to make a point.”
He looked at me the way someone looked at a child throwing a tantrum.
“When you’re done acting out, come home.”
I glanced down at the card. Then I looked back up at his confident, arrogant face.
“Logan.”
I said his name. My voice was perfectly calm, without the slightest ripple.
“That steamed sea bass earlier.”
“There were a lot of bones in it, weren’t there?”
Logan froze. He clearly couldn’t follow the sudden change in subject.
“What?”
With no explanation, I set the card on the sink.
Then I walked past him and pushed open the restroom door, leaving his confusion sealed inside.
Outside, the afternoon sun was bright enough to make me squint.
I didn’t go back to the apartment.
Instead, I took a cab straight to the bridal boutique.
The shop occupied a renovated historic mansion in an old upscale neighborhood.
When I pushed open the heavy carved wooden door, a wind chime rang softly.
A sales consultant greeted me with a smile.
“Ms. Gibson, Mr. Todd is waiting for you upstairs.”
I nodded.
Kevin was sitting on a velvet sofa in the second-floor lounge, flipping through a magazine.
He wore a simple white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing lean, well-defined forearms.
At the sound of my footsteps, he looked up.
A warm smile appeared behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
“Claire.”
He set down the magazine and walked toward me.
As his gaze landed on my dress, his brows drew together slightly.
“What happened?”
“Someone accidentally spilled wine on it.”
I brushed it off lightly.
Kevin didn’t press for details.
Instead, he walked over to the refreshment counter, poured a cup of water, and handed it to me.
“Have some water first. It’s pretty hot outside.”
The temperature was perfect. Neither too hot nor too cold.
“Thanks.”
Holding the cup, I felt the chill gradually leave my fingertips.
“The dress is in the fitting room.”
Kevin pointed toward the heavy curtain nearby.
“Want to try it on?”
I set down the water and followed the consultant inside.
The gown was beautiful.
Hand-embroidered French lace covered every inch, and tiny diamonds shimmered throughout the skirt.
Getting into it took some effort.
By the time I finally adjusted the layers and smoothed the train, the consultant pulled back the curtain.
Kevin stood a short distance away.
As he looked at me, unmistakable admiration flashed through his eyes.
“You look beautiful.”
He walked over.
Unlike Logan, he didn’t automatically reach for my shoulders.
Instead, he stayed at a comfortable distance.
“Do the shoes fit?”
His eyes dropped to the heels on my feet.
“Are they too high? You don’t usually wear heels. If they’re uncomfortable, I’ll have them bring a pair of flats.”
I looked at him, a strange ache suddenly rising in my chest.
Five years, and Logan had never once noticed how high my heels were.
The only thing he’d ever said when my feet hurt was “Nobody told you to wear shoes that high. Hurry up.”
“They’re fine.” I shook my head.
For the first time in a long while, a genuine smile tugged at my lips.
“I like them.”
Just then, a phone suddenly rang from the coffee table in the lounge.
It was Logan’s custom ringtone.
I walked over and picked up the phone.
“Hello.”
“Where are you?”
Logan’s voice came through the speaker.
The background was noisy. It sounded like he was still at the lunch meeting.
“Out.”
“Still mad?”
He chuckled softly.
“I had Tinsley pick out a new dress for you at the mall. It should’ve been delivered by now.”
“Quit being stubborn. I’ll come home early tonight and spend time with you.”
His tone was full of the kind of compromise he seemed to think was a generous favor.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
The woman in the wedding dress looked strangely unfamiliar.
“You don’t need to.”
There was a pause. Then Logan’s voice darkened.
“Claire Gibson, enough already.”
“I’m giving you a way out here. How much longer are you planning to keep this up?”