26!Stirring up past memories!

Logan

After making sure Sylvia was stable and had promised to rest, I finally made my way back to my office.

I couldn’t shake the guilt I felt. She had looked so worn out, so vulnerable… and seeing her collapse like that hit me hard. Sylvia, strong, fearless Sylvia, was human after all. And I’d played a part in the weight she now carried.

I was still thinking about everything that happened when I pushed open the door, and froze.

There he was.

Victor. My cousin. My closest friend. My occasional pain in the neck.

He was sitting comfortably in one of the guest chairs, arms crossed, with that familiar cocky smile on his face. As usual, he gave off that calm and friendly aura that made people like him instantly.

“Vee!” I called out, surprised and happy to see him. I walked up and clapped him on the back. “When did you get in?”

Victor stood up and pulled me into a quick hug before sitting back down. “Logan, it’s been too long,” he said, chuckling. “I got in about an hour ago.”

“You know I don't do well with hugs and why didn’t you call me to pick you up? Or even send a message?”

He gave me a knowing smirk on the hug topic. “Come on, Logan. I know you. If I called, you’d have come up with an excuse or sent your driver. I wasn’t in the mood for that argument. So I spared us both and showed up myself.”

I raised a brow, grinning. “Mmm. So you’ve finally learned, smart move.”

“Thank God I did,” he said with a laugh.

“So what brings you back to the state?” I asked as I sat at my desk.

Victor leaned back in his seat and sighed. “Dad called me back. He said he’s getting old and wants me to take over the business officially. No more running around.”

I nodded. “About time. That should have happened years ago.”

Victor shrugged. “Not everyone matures as fast as you, Mr. Perfect. Also not everyone becomes an overachiever at twenty-five, Logan. Some of us like to enjoy our youth first.”

“Enjoying youth or running away from responsibility?” I teased.

“Potato, potahto,” he said, waving me off. “Anyway, I’m here now.”

We both laughed, the room feeling lighter with him in it. But then he raised a brow.

“So where were you? I waited in this cold office for over thirty minutes, like a lonely man.”

I let out a long breath, remembering how my whole hospital visit had gone sideways. “I went to Rhodes Hospital. I was supposed to meet Maryanne and discuss a project with her…”

“Okay?” Victor said, leaning in.

“…but I completely forgot about the meeting.”

Victor blinked. “Wait, what?”

I scratched my head. “I got caught up with something else.”

“Logan, what could possibly make you forget a business meeting?” he asked suspiciously.

“I was with Sylvia,” I said, without even thinking, while picking up my phone to call Maryanne.

“You were with who?” Victor asked, sitting up straight.

“Sylvia,” I repeated, distracted.

Victor stared at me, mouth slightly open. “Sylvia as in the Sylvia Rhodes? Sylvia, who you once broke her heart and sanity? That Sylvia? My Sylvia?”

Only then did it hit me what I had said out loud. I looked down, feeling that sting of regret I thought I’d buried a long time ago.

I looked up slowly. “Yeah… we’ve been getting along lately.”

Victor’s eyes widened like he’d seen a ghost. Then he burst into laughter.

“You? And Sylvia? Getting along? Don’t mess with me, man. We’re too old for games like this.”

“I’m serious,” I said, half-smiling. “She fainted at the hospital. I had to stay with her and make sure she was okay.”

Victor blinked again. “Sylvia fainted? Sylvia Rhodes? The same woman who would rather die than show weakness?”

“She’s human, Vee. She’s been under a lot of pressure. People change. Time changes us. 

“Wow. The Sylvia I knew wouldn’t even let you finish a sentence if she saw you again. And you’re telling me she actually let you help her?”

“She didn’t have a choice,” I said quietly. “Plus, we have been talking more often these past few weeks. I have been apologizing to her a lot for my past actions.”

Victor narrowed his eyes. “Logan, are you seriously telling me that the woman you hurt, who couldn’t stand to be in the same room with you, allowed you to help her… and you’re now talking again?”

I nodded.

Victor leaned back in his chair and whistled. 

“Get out of here,” I said, throwing a pen at him, which he dodged.

He whistled. “Okay. Clearly, I missed some serious episodes while I was away. Last I checked, Sylvia couldn’t even say your name without spitting fire.”

“I know,” I said. “I still don’t understand why she isn't pushing me away. I know I asked for her forgiveness, but the Sylvia who left without looking back wouldn't forgive me that easily, that is why I keep asking for her forgiveness anytime we see. Today she looked so tired, like she was running on fumes. It made me feel…”

“Guilty?” Victor finished for me.

I nodded again. “Yeah. I hurt her. I know I did. And seeing her like that today… it made everything real again.”

Victor studied me for a long second. “So what? Are you planning to make it right?”

“I don’t even know where to start,” I said honestly. “But I want to. I need to.”

Victor leaned back and crossed his arms. “Logan, let me tell you something. Sylvia is one of the strongest women I’ve ever met. You breaking her once doesn’t mean she stayed broken. If she’s letting you back in, even just a little, that means she’s either got something planned…”

I shot him a look.

“Or,” he added quickly, “she’s willing to forgive. But don’t take that for granted. You already got a second chance, and that’s rare. Don’t mess it up. I won't forgive you this time if you hurt her.”

“I won’t,” I said firmly.

“I’m serious though,” he grinned. “Now I really want to know what’s going on between the two of you. I feel like I missed the entire season one and two of this new drama.”

I smirked. “You might want to grab some popcorn. There’s been a lot.”

He stood up, dusting off his jeans. “Speaking of popcorn, I’m starving. Let’s go get lunch. You’ll talk, I’ll listen, and judge, of course.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You haven’t changed one bit.”

“And you’ve changed way too much,” Victor said with a wink. “Come on, let’s eat. I want every juicy detail.”

“Have you told Sylvia you're around?”

“No I haven't, you think if I had told her I would be here with you, she would have come to pick me up, no matter the circumstances.”

“Whatever. Oh, and where are you staying?” I asked as we walked out of my office.

“St. Nicole GRA. I heard the houses there are amazing.”

“Of course you’d pick the bougiest place. Good luck settling in,” I teased. “And just so you know, if you need any help, feel free not to call me.”

Victor laughed. “Too late. I already added you to my emergency contacts.”

We both chuckled as we headed for the elevator, already slipping back into the comfortable rhythm of old times. But somewhere in my mind, I knew this visit from Victor was going to bring back memories, and maybe stir up some new ones too.

Especially with Sylvia now back in the picture.