#anguish

Phil Graham never called without a reason. And, in the twins' experience, it was rarely a good reason.

He emerged from under the sink without wasting any time, dropping the tool somewhere on the countertop before turning his full, worried attention back to it.

To be completely honest, it was never a good reason.

When their father's name appeared on the illuminated screen of their cell phone, both Y/n and Garret knew it immediately. It didn't matter where they were or what they were doing at that exact moment; that simple call was enough to make their stomachs clench in a tense knot.

The offer, at least to anyone looking from the outside, seemed completely harmless. An invitation to Thanksgiving dinner.

That's exactly how any outsider would see the situation, but Y/n and Garret knew their father perfectly well and were very aware of the suffocating feeling of returning home after seeing him, needing entire days just to emotionally recover from all the tension.

During the following days, they tried to think of every possible excuse.

Non-existent commitments. Last-minute invented trips. Urgent work. A rare disease that didn't even exist in medicine. Anything that would justify an acceptable absence. But in the end, reality remained exactly the same.

Logan was on the kitchen floor of the house he shared with Garret and the boys. Y/n entered the room without knocking, her hands deep in her trouser pockets, her shoulders visibly tense, and her face bearing an expression that made it clear something was very wrong.

She closed the door behind her and walked slowly through the house, noticing that no one was there except Logan. Hearing some noises coming from the kitchen, Y/n headed in that direction.

Logan was completely focused on the task, humming softly some random song they had heard earlier in the car. She approached the counter silently and rested her forearms on the cold marble, observing his every move. And even without seeing her directly, Logan sensed her presence almost immediately, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Hey, honey! Are you going to keep staring at me, or can I get a little kiss?"

Y/n let out a weak giggle.

"Hi, darling." The reply came with an awkward smile, and that was enough for Logan to realize that something was amiss.

"I know you probably already have plans for the holidays. And I know you always spend Thanksgiving with Jules. And I know Garrett will be there with me. And I know I'm a perfectly functioning adult who should be able to survive a dinner party without panicking, but..." The words continued to flow without pause. "And I also know it's not fair to ask you to spend hours sitting at that table listening to my dad talk about himself and hockey and—"

"Are you okay, love?"

Y/n looked away, her fingers beginning to pick at bits of nail polish, as if she needed to keep her hands occupied to stop all her emotions from escaping at once.

"This isn't good at all..." Her voice faltered, and Y/n looked up at him, clearly trying to hold back tears.

Logan's expression changed instantly; he quickly wiped his hands on his pants and hurried closer.

"Hey, hey, I'm here..." His hands landed carefully on her shoulders.

Y/n tilted her head until it rested against him, finally finding a safe place where she could relax.

"Do you want to tell me? But only if you feel comfortable."

"My father called." That simple sentence was enough for Logan to understand part of the problem.

"He invited Garrett and me to Thanksgiving dinner so he could introduce his fiancée. And I don't want to go."

"I know..." Logan smiled gently, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"I can't remember a single time he invited us to something and it didn't end up being awful." Her eyes filled with tears. "Garret and I left there feeling terrible and then spent days pretending nothing happened, because it's easier than admitting how much it hurts."

"Love..."

"I know it sounds dramatic. I... I'm just tired."

Logan nodded slowly, still smiling gently at her. "I know."

Y/n stared at her own hands for a few seconds before biting her lip. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything, my love!"

"You're not bothering me."

"No."

Y/n continued.

"And I know you have absolutely no obligation to deal with my family because it's enough that I have to deal with—"

"Hey! Breathe, my dear!" Logan laughed and Y/n blinked a few times.

She exhaled slowly. "Sorry... I'm almost freaking out."

"I perceived."

Y/n let her head fall forward. "This is awful."

"So let's tackle one thing at a time. First, you sit down and take a deep breath." Logan pulled up a stool.

Y/n sat near the counter, her body still stiff. Logan filled a glass with ice water and handed it to her, pulling up a nearby stool and sitting down beside her.

"Would you... go with me to my father's problematic dinner party?"

"Yes!" John said quickly.

Y/n blinked. "Yes?"

"Yeah."

"You didn't even think."

"Because I didn't need to think."

She stared at her boyfriend, as if she were expecting a more complicated answer.

"Logan..."

"Honey, did you really think I'd let you face this alone?"

"But what about Jules?"

"I talk to her and she's very understanding. She'll understand."

Y/n shook her head. "I don't want to bother you."

Garret watched the two for a few more seconds, and then his shoulders finally relaxed from all the accumulated tension. The weight he had carried since the call seemed to lessen a little. He nodded in silent thanks, smiled slightly, and turned to go to his room.

"He is sure?"

"Absolutely." John smiled and extended his little finger for her to intertwine. Y/n laughed and intertwined their fingers.

"Thanks."

"No need to thank me, I'll do anything, you know."

Logan opened his arms without saying anything, and she didn't hesitate. She put her glass down on the table and immediately leaned into his warm embrace, feeling his arms wrap around her waist as she buried her face in his neck and closed her eyes.

It was at that exact moment that the sound of the front door opening echoed.

Garret arrived and as soon as he appeared in the kitchen doorway, he found his sister completely hidden in Logan's protective arms. The scene was more than enough for him to understand everything that was happening there.

Then he made an expressive face, as if to say to Logan something like: Our father called.

And Logan clearly understood the message, because he replied with a calm smile that said exactly what was happening and assured her that everything would be alright.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Logan knew exactly how fragile and anxious his girlfriend became on the day she had to go to her father's house, so the day before, he made sure to play the role of the dream boyfriend: he gathered his last two savings and bought flowers, chocolates, and their favorite snack from the local Italian restaurant. With everything planned, he went to her apartment on campus to pick her up, ensuring she would spend that night at his place.

The day of the dinner had finally arrived.

Y/n felt her eyes burning with tears. "Or I don't know, I wish my mother were here because...because everything is too much sometimes."

At the moment, Logan was waiting for Y/n outside the house, leaning against the side of the truck with his hands in his pants pockets. As soon as he saw his girlfriend appear in the front doorway carefully holding the freshly baked pie they had made together, he smiled and approached, extending a hand to help her down the steps.

"Where's Garrett?" Y/n asked, looking around.

"He said he would stop by Hannah's apartment before leaving."

Y/n frowned. "I thought he was going with us."

Logan shook his head and then opened the passenger side door.

"He told me he was going alone. We know what Garrett is like, don't we?"

Y/n settled into the seat, fastening her seatbelt and holding the pie firmly on her lap, while Logan got into the driver's side and began to enter her father's address into the GPS.

She remained completely silent for a few seconds. He then noticed, out of the corner of his eye, that she seemed very thoughtful.

"Hey. You're thinking so hard I can hear it from here."

Y/n let out a weak giggle. "Sorry."

Logan frowned immediately. "Why are you apologizing, love?"

Y/n looked at her own hands. "Because I'm only now officially introducing you as my boyfriend." Logan blinked, clearly confused. "We've been together for a year and I didn't want it to be under these circumstances, you know?"

"I don't understand, my dear." John raised his eyebrows.

She exhaled slowly.

"It's Phil Graham, you know..." The name was more than enough for Logan to understand exactly where this conversation was going. "The hockey player and all that. People like meeting him, they get excited, they tell their friends... It's just that..." Y/n made a vague gesture with her hand in the air. "I wanted him to be...normal?" She tried to force a sad smile.

"I understand, my dear." John gently stroked her cheek. "And that's okay, because I'm with you for who you are, not for the last name you carry."

Y/n and Garret had already confided in him countless stories from the past about the man, harrowing accounts that made John's stomach churn with pure, silent rage, because he blindly believed every word the twins said.

John immediately pulled her into a tight hug.

"You have me and Garrett. And we're not going anywhere!" He kissed her cheek tenderly, and Y/n smiled through her silent tears. "And what about your father? I know Phil from the games, and about what you're telling me, it's all right, I'm with you... And I'm not even a HUGE fan of his!" He shrugged casually, and Y/n let out a genuine, open laugh, which made Logan smile.

"Silly!" John simply winked charmingly, and Y/n smiled softly.

"Thank you for everything."

His expression softened completely at those words. Then, with all the gentleness in the world, Logan cupped her chin with his fingers and pulled her in for a quick, incredibly delicate and affectionate kiss.

"Ready."

"Ready what?" She smiled slightly, curious.

"You are now officially forbidden from being sad for the next forty minutes."

"That doesn't even make sense." Y/n laughed genuinely.

"Of course it does." He started the car engine and placed his cell phone in the dashboard holder. "Now choose a song. But nothing too sad or dramatic."

Y/n laughed loudly and nudged his ribs with her elbow. "Shut up!"

From the beginning of college, Phil used to attend the most important games, campus sporting events, team dinners, and celebrations related to the hockey team. Logan was an active part of that world. They had already talked on a few casual occasions, because Phil usually showed up in the locker room after games, greeted the players closest to him, briefly praised a specific play, and moved on with his imposing posture.

Sometimes he would even congratulate Logan on his excellent performance on the ice, but almost always the interaction ended in exactly the same predictable way: Phil would find Garrett and immediately begin a series of comments about the tactical errors his son had made in the game.

For that exact reason, Logan never pressured Y/n to rush an official introduction to the family. Because he knew very well how Phil Graham operated outside the spotlight on the ice.

"If you want, we can go back." He brought one of his warm hands to her face, caressing her skin with his thumb and brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

The car ride along the highway went surprisingly smoothly. And Y/n actually managed to completely forget exactly where they were going.

Then a familiar car suddenly appeared in the rearview mirror and, a few seconds later, overtook the pickup truck at a daring speed, soon followed by the shrill sound of a horn. Then another quick honk. Then one more, in a joking tone.

Y/n immediately recognized the shiny black jeep, and before it completely disappeared around the bend in the road ahead, a familiar hand emerged from the driver's window, making a series of exaggerated and completely meaningless gestures in the air.

The scene was so genuinely ridiculous that she immediately started laughing, the kind of laugh that made her shoulders tremble all over.

When they finally arrived at their final destination, Logan maneuvered and parked right behind Garret's car. But he immediately noticed a crucial detail: his brother-in-law's silhouette was still clearly visible inside the jeep. Motionless in the driver's seat. As if gathering every last drop of courage before opening the door.

Beside her, Y/n continued to grip the pie tin with excessive force, pressing her fingers against the edges while her eyes were completely fixed and locked on the main entrance of the house.

And Logan realized that instantly, because he knew each of those expressions of panic in detail.

Y/n chuckled without any humor. "I really wanted to."

"We can do this, the choice is yours."

And then her gaze fell heavily on Garret's parked car ahead. Just as her brother finally opened the jeep door, his jaw visibly clenched and that familiar frown on his forehead.

"But I'm here for him too." She discreetly pointed with her chin in the direction of her twin.

Logan observed Garret's rigid posture for a brief moment, then turned his full attention to her.

"And I'm here for you, never forget that."

Y/n ended up letting a faint smile appear, feeling more secure.

However, when he looked outside again, he found Garret leaning against the side of his own vehicle. Even at that average distance, it was perfectly clear that he had neither the desire nor the energy to cross that garden and enter the house.

And then Y/n's attentive eyes went straight down to his hands; her brother's fingers were repeatedly opening and closing into clenched fists.

Garrett only did that when he was extremely nervous or under an unbearable level of stress.

Then she turned her head quickly and saw that Logan was still there, with one of his strong arms resting behind her seat and his body leaning slightly towards her.

"Do you want to go back home?" The question came gently and without any pressure.

Y/n turned completely around in her upholstered seat to face her boyfriend. "Can I tell you something before we go inside?"

"Of course, my dear." He gently poked the tip of her nose with his finger.

"But... promise me you won't act strangely when you find out?"

"Honey, what happened that was so serious?"

"Promise me first?" she insisted, her eyes fixed on his.

Logan straightened up a little more in the driver's seat, assuming a protective posture. "I promise. You know you can tell me anything."

Y/n took a deep breath, pulling all the air she could into her lungs, and then began to talk about an old childhood memory.

Because that particular story carried a dark and hidden side of Phil Graham that no one in the public or on the hockey team saw, a real side that existed in their daily lives long before the big games started being televised.

And when it was finally over, the car was completely silent.

Logan didn't say anything at all, not immediately. Because he knew there were no right words, so he did the only thing that truly seemed important at that moment; he opened his arms and pulled Y/n close to him.

The gesture was as if to say that everything was alright now, that she didn't need to carry that entire burden alone, that she believed in herself above all else.

Outside, Garret looked up just as he saw the comforting embrace through the glass and knew immediately what was happening inside, because he knew perfectly well that vulnerable look in his sister's eyes.

His jaw visibly clenched for a moment, a wave of tension coursing through his body, and then his eyes fell heavily to the floor.

When they finally got out of the truck, Logan closed the door firmly and gave Garret a subtle, gentle smile. Y/n just watched her brother with a neutral expression, trying to compose herself.

As they walked together towards the steps of the house, Garret decided to do what he did best to break the ice: openly tease the young couple.

"Then..."

Y/n closed her eyes immediately, anticipating what was to come. "No."

"I saw the little kiss."

"Garret!" Y/n let out an audible groan of embarrassment.

"That was disgusting." Garret made a theatrical grimace.

"It was just a peck!" Y/n argued in her defense.

"It was disgusting."

"You're ridiculous."

She laughed, and the three of them calmly climbed the porch stairs, with Garret going ahead and knocking on the wooden door. Logan took advantage of the moment and comfortably put an arm around Y/n's shoulders.

And then, they heard firm footsteps echoing toward the door. The first to appear and open the door was a middle-aged woman with an immensely kind smile on her face. Her eyes curiously scanned the three young people standing on the porch, and her whole face lit up with satisfaction at welcoming them.

"Garret and Y/n! It's so good to finally meet you." She smiled warmly before turning her full attention to Logan. "And you could only be John? Y/n's boyfriend?"

Logan smiled politely, showing friendliness. "It's me. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine." She opened the doorway wider, letting them in. "I was really looking forward to this dinner."

Y/n returned the smile with all the politeness she could muster. "John and I brought a pie."

"Oh, how sweet! They didn't need to worry about that."

Garret discreetly lifted the dessert wrapper he was carrying. "And I was responsible for the other one."

Cindy laughed kindly. "So nobody goes hungry in this house today."

The initial atmosphere seemed surprisingly light. Almost truly welcoming. Almost.

Because it only took a few more heavy footsteps echoing down the main hallway for everything to change drastically, and for Phil to appear imposingly in the living room entrance.

As soon as Logan's eyes met his, his polite smile faded almost automatically. Y/n's words, spoken inside the truck, were still completely fresh in his memory.

The two brothers exchanged a quick glance before walking over to the man. The hugs they shared were short and completely awkward.

"Look who decided to show up. My sons!" Then, his analytical eyes met Logan's. "John Logan! Finally meeting you officially." He extended his firm hand. "We've seen each other so many times in the arena that I was starting to think you were avoiding me as a son-in-law."

Logan accepted the necessary handshake and smiled politely. "No, sir. I think all that was missing was the ideal occasion."

Phil chuckled, lightly patting him on the shoulder. "I hope Garrett didn't teach you his bad habits."

Garret discreetly rolled his eyes at the comment, and Y/n looked away at her brother. Cindy, who remained completely oblivious to all that underlying tension, flashed an even wider and more radiant smile at the group.

"I was really curious to meet you. Phil keeps saying that Y/n is very happy in this relationship."

Y/n felt her heart skip a beat in her chest and slowly turned her head toward her father, completely surprised.

Happy.

He had specifically used that word, and she could barely remember the last time her own father had stopped to ask how she was feeling inside.

"By the way..." Garret discreetly raised the dessert in his hands to change the subject. "Where can we put all this before I drop something on the floor?"

Cindy smiled. "In the kitchen, please. You can leave everything on the main counter."

"Perfect!"

As Garret hurried toward the kitchen, carrying the purchased dessert and the pie his sister had made, Logan remained firmly by Y/n's side. He kept his hands gently resting on her shoulders in a clear form of physical and emotional protection, almost a silent reminder that she wasn't alone.

However, Phil once again focused his full attention on Logan.

"So... how's the season going? I've been following your games. You've been improving a lot on the ice."

"Dad..." Y/n ended up interrupting him on purpose, wanting to get her boyfriend out of that situation. "Do you mind if I show Logan around the house before we sit down in the living room?"

Phil smiled. "Of course, go ahead! After all, this house is yours too."

The sentence sounded strange, empty, and completely out of place in their reality, but she only nodded slightly to avoid confrontation.

"Thanks."

Without saying another word, Y/n gently took Logan's hand and began to guide him up the stairs.

The walls of the long hallway were completely covered with old picture frames and photographs from childhood, records of past birthdays, Christmas mornings, and especially old sporting competitions of the twins.

Logan slowed his pace whenever he saw a different image of his girlfriend, smiling discreetly at all her phases.

Until she stopped completely in front of a specific, incredibly cute photograph hanging near the end of the hallway.

In it, a Y/n girl of approximately six years old appeared holding a large spoon as if it were a shiny trophy, completely covered in white flour from head to toe. Next to her, Garret seemed to be in an even worse and more chaotic state. The two smiled broadly at the camera while their mother laughed in the background behind the children.

Logan began to chuckle softly as he contemplated the details of that pure scene.

Y/n turned her face to him. "What's wrong, love?"

He pointed to the photograph on the wall. "Your brother looks like he fought with a sack of flour... and lost badly."

She stared at the photo and began to laugh as well, the old memory warming her chest for a moment.

"It was all my fault."

"He was?"

"I wanted to make a surprise birthday cake for my mom, but we started fighting in the kitchen, throwing flour at each other, and she ended up discovering the whole surprise ahead of time."

Logan laughed loudly, finding the story adorable, while Y/n stared at the photo with eyes filled with a deep and clear longing.

"Mom wasn't sure whether to laugh at the mess or scold us. But in the end, the three of us made the cake together."

Logan watched intently the subtle change in her facial expression; the slight smile was still there, but now it carried a heavy nostalgia. A great longing indeed.

"You look incredibly like her!" Logan smiled sweetly, gazing deeply into his girlfriend's eyes.

Y/n turned her head quickly toward him, flashing a wide, truly radiant smile. "Do you really think so?"

Logan immediately realized how genuinely happy that realization made her. "In every little detail!"

Y/n smiled shyly, lowering her gaze for a brief moment, her heart warmed.

She continued showing him each room and hallway, which seemed to hold a fond and comforting memory of her and her brother from when their mother still lived there with them.

She pointed out the balcony and fondly remembered the nights she, Garret, and her mother spent lying there watching a meteor shower. She indicated the green area of ​​the garden and recounted the sunny afternoons when the two of them patiently tried to teach the family's old dog to fetch sticks.

She talked nonstop. She smiled slightly. She laughed openly at certain moments of nostalgia. But, deep down, Logan perfectly understood that she wasn't just showing him the physical rooms of the house; Y/n was, in fact, desperately searching for her mother's presence and trace in every corner of that empty place.

The rest of the afternoon dragged on slowly and deliberately, because whenever a conversation seemed to be heading towards any other topic, Phil found a way to steer the conversation back to hockey.

He kept talking about the possibility of Logan pursuing a professional career, questioned tactical strategies, and debated the latest college championships. Meanwhile, he never asked Y/n how her routine was going at college.

He never asked how she was doing away from home. He never asked if she was genuinely happy. Similarly, he also never asked Garrett anything that wasn't strictly related to his performance on the ice.

Logan answered each question with as much politeness as he could muster. But inside, his chest harbored an extremely dangerous mixture of fire and gasoline.

When night finally fell, the dining table was already completely set and decorated in the dining room.

Phil and Cindy sat side by side, and right in front of them were Logan and Y/n. Garret, for his part, preferred to strategically position himself at the end of the table, right next to his twin sister.

"Not to brag... but you're going to love Cindy's mashed potatoes."

Garret chuckled softly at the insistence. "He's been talking about that mashed potato all afternoon."

"Because it's worth the hype," Phil replied, amused, gesturing with his cutlery.

Cindy shook her head, visibly embarrassed by the compliments. "Modesty aside... this mashed potato is delicious. My mother taught me how to make it when I was a teenager."

Y/n smiled at the woman with genuine affection. "I'm sure it's wonderful."

"And..." Phil continued, staring intently at his children. "I also asked Cindy to make macaroni and cheese—"

Y/n's eyes immediately met Garret's in a flash of memory.

"With breadcrumbs on top." They said it exactly at the same time, in perfect sync, and the whole table burst into laughter at their identical reaction.

"It was a tradition." Y/n finished in a soft tone, and Cindy smiled contentedly before turning her attention back to Logan.

"And you, Logan? Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions in the kitchen?"

The brothers' smiles vanished almost instantly. Logan blinked a few times in quick succession, trying to find a happy answer in his mind that he simply didn't have to give.

Noticing her boyfriend's discomfort, Y/n discreetly reached for Logan's hand under the table and gently wrapped her fingers around his.

Logan fixed his gaze on her and simply smiled slightly to show that everything was alright.

"Yeah... sure!" He let out a shy chuckle to fill the silence. "We had a kind of silly tradition with marshmallows."

Cindy immediately flashed a warm smile. "Oh, that sounds lovely!"

"It was fun..." Logan smiled weakly, but the glimmer of joy quickly faded from his features, and Y/n seized the perfect moment to subtly change the subject.

"Thank you so much for dinner." She returned Cindy's polite smile. "And thank you for making the pasta."

"Of course, darling." Cindy smiled with genuine sweetness.

Phil suggested that everyone say a brief prayer of thanks before beginning to eat the served dishes. When the short prayer ended, Cindy smiled at everyone around her and gently gestured for the main courses to be served.

"So... what are your plans after you finish university?" Phil looked directly at Logan, and Y/n sighed deeply, realizing the sports interrogation was about to begin again.

"I'm still calmly evaluating some possibilities."

"Do you plan to enter this year's draft?"

"If a good opportunity arises, yes."

Phil nodded slowly, considering the answer. "And which league do you think best suits your playing style?"

"I think I still have a lot to develop physically before I can really think about that."

Garret watched the whole scene in absolute silence, and Y/n did exactly the same beside her boyfriend. Phil seemed solely interested in getting to know the promising athlete on the team and not the sweet, caring, and protective man Y/n was completely in love with.

Y/n placed some macaroni and cheese on her own plate and smiled discreetly at Cindy in thanks. "Could you pass me the bottle of wine, please?"

"Of course, darling!" Cindy reached for the bottle on the table without hesitation.

As she stretched her arm across the table, the sleeve of Cindy's sweater rode up a few inches, just enough to reveal a large, distinct purplish mark spread across her pale skin. For an overwhelming instant, time seemed to slow down completely for Y/n.

The polite smile instantly vanished from her face, and the strength in her fingers gradually weakened as she held the bottle of wine that was handed to her. Around the dinner table, Cindy laughed at some silly remark Phil made, completely distracted by the moment. Garret served himself some more food on his plate, and Logan calmly answered a question about his university routine.

For a full second, Y/n stopped seeing the dining room, and everything around her was abruptly replaced by old, suffocating memories.

It ranged from memories of dark days when the whole house was immersed in heated arguments, to terrible days when Garret would physically step in front of her to protect her when their father came home completely frustrated and stressed with life.

And as if her own mind wanted to betray her even more in that tense environment, her troubled thoughts returned forcefully to a few hours earlier, to the exact moment when she had confided in Logan a crucial and painful part of her childhood.

"He arrived early that day..." Y/n's voice was almost a whisper. "I got a B on an important test, and I always got A+s in that specific subject... But Mom had died recently, and I was still completely devastated inside..." Her fingers clenched tightly, and Logan remained in absolute silence, running his hand down her arm in a comforting caress. "In my childish mind... I was going to show him the test and just say that I would improve my grade next time. But as soon as he saw it, he simply didn't listen to me anymore... Garret was at practice. And... that day... there was absolutely no one to step in front of me to defend me from him..."

Her voice completely trailed off for a second, and her teary eyes went toward her brother outside the vehicle. Logan, heartbroken, reached out and wiped a lone tear from her face.

"My father beat me so badly that I had to miss three days of school in a row so that no one would see my bruises... And when Garret found out what had happened... he was infinitely angrier with himself than with our father." Y/n quickly wiped her face with her sleeve. "After that, he was always the one who bandaged me. Because he had more opportunities when Garret wasn't home and my father simply had no one else to take out all his pent-up anger on..."

Logan stood completely still and stunned by the revelation. While an overwhelming fury gripped his chest and he felt the urge to take justice into his own hands, Logan also wanted only to embrace her with all his might and never let her go from that safe haven.

Y/n's dazed mind abruptly returned to the reality of the dining room, and then the fingers of her hand completely lost their strength.

The wine bottle slipped from her fingers and the glass hit her with a sharp, deafening crash, bringing all conversation to an immediate halt. Y/n pushed her chair back with such haste and desperation that she almost fell to the side.

Cindy's friendly smile vanished completely from her lips, and Phil frowned in clear irritation at the mess. Garret turned his face toward his sister so quickly he almost dropped his plate of food, and Logan stood up from his chair without a second thought.

"Hey, love... Are you hurt?" Logan asked, his voice filled with genuine concern, gently holding her arm and examining every inch of it. "Are there any shards of glass in you?"

But Y/n couldn't even hear him, her eyes remaining completely fixed on that purple mark hidden under the sleeve of Cindy's sweater.

Garret was already in a state of complete tension, because he was looking in the exact same direction as his twin sister, who was staring in panic. His fingers gripped the edge of the table so tightly that his knuckles turned completely white.

Phil, on the other hand, let out a small, nasal laugh, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere that had settled in.

"Relax, guys." He gave a characteristic wry smile, dismissing the situation. "In hockey, we learn that a fall like that doesn't even count as a real accident. It's just a common welcome card for those who interact with players daily."

Cindy chuckled, Logan remained completely serious, and Garret closed his eyes for a full second, controlling the immense anger rising in his chest.

But Y/n was already completely consumed by an uncontrollable wave of anger and indignation.

"Do you think that's funny?" The entire room fell into a deathly, piercing silence.

Phil raised an eyebrow, surprised by his daughter's audacious tone. "What?"

"You and your ridiculous hockey jokes."

"Y/n, daughter, what is this?"

"NO!" She raised one hand firmly before he could continue with his false speech.

Phil took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure, and laughed again disdainfully. "You're making an unnecessary fuss over a simple broken bottle of wine. We have plenty more in the cellar, I can ask Cindy to go get another one—"

"Is that really what you think happened here?" Y/n snapped her fingers in a clear sign of pure nervousness, and Logan quickly placed one of his hands on her back. "You think everything in life is that simple, don't you?"

"Then explain your point to me," Phil said, his expression hardening and his voice becoming a little more serious because of his daughter's confrontational tone.

"You spend your whole life pretending to the rest of the world that you're the perfect, exemplary father. In front of everyone, you're extremely friendly, polite, you make silly jokes, you ask about other people's future careers... But a real father asks how his children are feeling inside, asks real questions about his daughter's boyfriend, and doesn't just focus on his sports career. A real father is present and cares about his children's lives!"

"What you're saying isn't true. I always—"

Y/n let out a sharp, completely humorless laugh. "Do you know exactly what semester of college Garrett and I are in right now? Or do you happen to know what major I'm studying with so much effort?"

"You're exaggerating and going too far," Phil said in a sharp tone, trying to regain authority.

"You never wanted to know anything about my life. And when you found out about something that was out of your control and you didn't like it, you simply took it all out on us with slaps and bruises!" Y/n spelled out each syllable with a cutting clarity, leaving Cindy with wide eyes in shock and Phil visibly furious. "You've always been a cowardly and aggressive man."

Y/n added firmly, unleashing all the pain she had held for years, and that was the absolute last straw that made Phil truly furious.

In one swift, brusque movement, Phil's chair scraped against the dining room floor with a thud, falling backward and pointing a stiff, accusing finger directly at his own daughter.

That reaction was enough to make everyone's heart race in a frantic, frightened beat. And that single movement was all it took for Logan and Garrett to react at exactly the same time.

Logan swiftly stepped in front of Y/n, placing a protective arm directly in front of his girlfriend. At the same time, Garret stopped beside them, leaning slightly forward in a visibly defensive stance.

The two stared at Phil with the same unwavering firmness in their gaze, driven by the same protective instinct and sharing the same ultimate goal: to protect Y/n from anything.

Phil immediately noticed the roadblock, and his eyebrows slowly rose as he saw the two athletes completely blocking his path to his daughter.

Over Logan and Garret's broad shoulders, the man met Y/n's striking eyes again. Her expression was entirely tense, hard, and filled with legitimate anger, but with warm tears still falling discreetly and continuously down her pale face.

"This is over!" Garret says definitively, stepping back from the table and placing both hands firmly on his twin sister's shoulders to pull her away.

"Hey, hey, everything alright!" Cindy says in a desperate voice, hurriedly getting up from the table.

"No, everything is not alright!" Logan says in an extremely serious tone, looking Phil in the eyes one last time with deep contempt.

Logan and Garret quickly led Y/n out of that suffocating dining room. Garret walked ahead of the group, clearing a path down the hallway, while Logan remained right behind his girlfriend, keeping both hands gently resting on her shoulders in constant physical contact.

As they crossed the large living room, Logan paused only to pick up the two coats they had left scattered on the sofa earlier, immediately returning to her side as soon as they reached the front door.

Garret had already opened the door and made enough space for the two of them to get outside, but as soon as he heard Phil's heavy footsteps coming in the same direction down the hallway, Garret blocked the door with his own body.

"Take her." Garret glanced quickly over his shoulder at Logan, who was already on the outside balcony.

"Are you going to be okay?" Logan's question came out low and full of complicity.

"Yes, I will." Garret glanced briefly at his sister. "Take care of her, please..."

"You didn't even need to ask." Logan gave a small, understanding, sad smile. Garret returned the gesture with an almost smile of pure relief.

Garret stood completely still and rigid in the doorway, absolutely preventing Phil from crossing the porch to go after his daughter. And while this human barrier remained at the entrance, Logan guided Y/n to the truck, waited patiently until she got in, and only then went around and got in on the driver's side.

The metal keys turned rapidly, but before he could actually engage the gear, he felt Y/n's cold, trembling hand land firmly on his.

"Wait..." Y/n pleaded, her voice choked with emotion. "We're not leaving without Garret." Her eyes, which had previously overflowed with anger, were now completely filled with the genuine despair of a sister. "I... I'm afraid of what might happen if he's left alone with our father."

The genuine concern in her voice tightened painfully in Logan's chest.

"Of course, we'll wait for him, my dear!" Logan squeezed her hand back to reassure her and gently stroked Y/n's cheek. "I promise!"

"Even if it takes a long time?"

"Even if it takes a long time!"

She breathed a little easier. "Thank you."

Logan left the truck's engine running in neutral, opened the driver's side door again, and remained standing, leaning firmly against the side. He kept his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes fully alert and fixed on every movement on the porch of the house, positioning himself ready to physically intervene the moment it was necessary.

Besides, if he wanted to break some bones, all he had to do was throw John Logan up in the air.

Garret continued speaking firmly to Phil, who remained detained on the other side of the entrance gate. And it was precisely at this moment of high tension that the older man realized he was also being watched; as soon as Phil looked up, he found Y/n sitting safely inside the truck, and soon after, his piercing gaze met Logan's.

The young player maintained an extremely cold facial expression, making no effort whatsoever to hide the profound contempt he felt.

At that exact moment, Phil Graham finally understood that Logan knew every detail of the twins' past and that he knew perfectly well the monster he had been within the privacy of that house. And, by the firm and menacing way the young athlete stared back at him from the sidewalk, it was also implicitly clear that Logan would never allow any kind of violence to happen to Y/n again.

"Listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you." Garret took a deep breath, controlling his own voice to avoid shouting. "Never show up in another one of my games."

Phil immediately opened his mouth to respond and retort to the insult, but Garret raised his open hand sharply in the air.

"I'm not finished speaking yet." He then pointed clearly with his index finger toward the parked truck where Y/n was waiting. "And never again come looking for her with cheap apologies! Because she spent her entire childhood and adolescence waiting for you to act like a real father. But now she doesn't need you for absolutely anything. She has me and Logan! So do us all this huge favor. Leave us alone once and for all!" Without waiting for any kind of response, he turned his back and went down the steps.

As soon as Garret got into the jeep, Logan finally moved away from the side of the truck and returned to the driver's seat.

The rain started pouring down on the road, and the only audible sound inside the car was the rhythmic, continuous movement of the windshield wipers.

Nobody said anything at all, but Logan kept one hand firmly on the steering wheel while, from time to time, his worried eyes drifted to Y/n sitting next to him, and then his eyes automatically searched the rearview mirror.

Garrett's Jeep remained close behind them, keeping a safe distance in the storm.

It was then that a low, broken sob broke the silence, and Logan discreetly turned his face toward her.

Tears streamed down Y/n's face again, but this time it wasn't from anger; it was from sheer exhaustion and a deep, accumulated sadness. When she brought both hands to her face, the crushing weight of that night finally collapsed upon her. Her shoulders began to tremble uncontrollably, and her crying turned into painful sobs that seemed to trap the air in her chest.

Without taking his eyes off the road completely, Logan reached for her trembling hand and held it firmly, gently stroking her skin with his thumb to offer as much support as possible.

But then, suddenly, the sound of crying stopped completely.

The silence was so sudden and abrupt that it made Logan frown immediately, and as soon as he turned his face to the side, his heart plummeted in his chest.

Y/n was completely still on the bench, her eyes wide with panic, her hand pressed tightly against her chest as she desperately tried to draw air back into her lungs.

"Honey, breathe!" Logan's voice came out, heavy with a nervous and urgent tone.

She tried to do what he asked, but the tears kept falling while her breathing became increasingly rapid. Logan immediately lowered both windows of the truck, and at that same moment, the cold wind and heavy raindrops flooded the interior of the vehicle.

But the effort wasn't working.

Without thinking twice, Logan turned on his turn signal, slowed down, and pulled his truck over to the side of the road. Right behind him, Garret noticed the emergency maneuver and also turned on his hazard lights, stopping alongside and quickly lowering his window to assess the situation.

And while this was happening, Logan had already removed his own seatbelt and leaned completely towards Y/n in the passenger seat.

Garret hurriedly opened the Jeep door, jumping out into the heavy rain and quickly stopping at the driver's side window of Logan's car.

"What happened?" The concern in his voice was evident as he tried to see his sister.

"Panic attack." Logan replied without taking his eyes off her for a single second. With awkward but careful movements, he pushed Y/n's hair back, brushing away the strands that insisted on sticking to her face. "Do you have any water?"

Garrett immediately turned to his own car and seconds later found a new, full plastic bottle.

"Here!"

Logan quickly opened it, handed her the object, and brought one of his hands directly to Y/n's face. With his thumb, he gently wiped away the tears that were still streaming down her cheeks.

"Just take a little sip," he said softly, modulating his tone of voice to convey calm. "Take a deep breath and then take a little more."

Gradually, Y/n's stiff shoulders began to visibly relax. Her uneven breaths became less rapid, and she slowly closed her eyes, finally allowing the cold, damp wind of the rain to touch her face and the breeze to fill her lungs without encountering the same suffocating difficulty as before.

Once they realized she was actually better and that another immediate panic attack wouldn't occur, they resumed driving until they finally arrived at the boys' house.

Logan had a comforting, firm hand on her back or shoulders the whole time, carefully guiding her as he led her to the bedroom and picked out some of his own clothes for her to wear after her shower. He only truly left her side when Y/n closed the bathroom door and turned on the shower.

Logan slowly descended the stairs of the house, running both hands over his face. As soon as he reached the kitchen to get something for Y/n to eat, he saw Garret leaning against the cabinets.

His clothes were still considerably damp from the earlier rain, and his wet hair dripped discreetly onto his expressive forehead. On the marble countertop, a bowl contained some untouched fruit.

"I... wanted to apologize to you."

Logan frowned slightly. "Apologies?"

"Because of everything you witnessed today. You shouldn't have been exposed to this dark side in this way."

Logan let out a quiet sigh, moving closer. "Garret..."

Y/n's brother looked away, his gaze fixed on the floor for a moment.

"She shouldn't have had to go through all that again. I should have protected her better."

"You protected." Logan leaned against the counter.

Garret shook his head immediately, refusing the consolation.

"Not enough. Because I keep wondering if that day... you know, she told you, right?"

Garret looked at Logan, and his sister's boyfriend immediately understood what he was talking about and nodded silently. "I keep thinking I should have skipped practice... Or left her at Grandma's house... Or..." The sentence died before he could finish the painful thought.

"Garret." Logan waited patiently until he raised his head again. "You were just a kid trying to protect another kid. It was never your fault."

"But I still feel like it."

Logan nodded slowly, understanding his pain. "I know."

They remained silent for several long seconds, and then Logan let a small, knowing smile appear on his lips to ease the tension.

"You know what? If that dinner had been at my family's house..." He let out an awkward chuckle. "...it probably wouldn't have been exactly a perfect margarine commercial."

Garret chuckled briefly through his nose, understanding the irony. "Yeah... None of our families won the 'Most Functional of the Year' award."

The two chuckled softly together, not because the family situation was genuinely funny, but because, for a few brief seconds of complicity, they had finally managed to breathe amidst the storm.

Garret lowered his head again, watching the water slowly trickle down the hem of his jacket onto the kitchen floor. Meanwhile, Logan walked to the refrigerator, grabbing a bottle of fresh water, and before he could actually look for something for his girlfriend to eat, Garret called him softly.

"Logan. Here." He pushed the glass bowl with the cut fruit. "I set it aside for her."

Logan smiled back, grateful for his brother-in-law's gesture. "Thank you."

Carefully picking up the fruit bowl in one hand and balancing the water bottle in the other, Logan left the kitchen. But as soon as he set foot on the first step of the stairs, he turned back towards Garret.

"Can I ask you something?"

Garret frowned slightly, curious. "Hm... maybe."

"Could you give me the recipe for that macaroni and cheese? The one your mom used to make..." Garret blinked a few times, taken aback. "I... wanted to make it for Y/n."

Silence filled the kitchen again, but this time, it was a completely different kind of silence than before.

Garret felt a thick lump instantly rise in his throat, and at that exact moment, he truly understood how immense and genuine Logan's love for his sister was. Because Logan wasn't just thinking about superficially comforting Y/n on that difficult night; he wanted to bring back good memories from her past to gradually replace the old, bad ones that hurt her.

"Of course." Garret replied, his voice visibly choked with emotion. "She'll like it."

"Thank you." Then he climbed the stairs.

When he reached the quiet upstairs hallway, he noticed that the sound of the shower had completely stopped. When he carefully opened the bedroom door so as not to make a sound, he saw that Y/n was already lying on his bed, wearing his baggy sweatshirt and comfortable pants.

She was completely curled up under the covers, as if she had finally found a safe place where her body could truly rest, and she was breathing deeply, having fallen asleep from extreme exhaustion.

Logan closed the bedroom door, placed the water bottle and the bowl of fruit on the study table, and turned off the main light. Then he slowly walked to the side of the bed, carefully crouching beside her; he brushed away a few strands of hair that stubbornly covered her face with his fingertips, and then placed a long, tender kiss on her forehead.

"I'll always be here for you." His voice was just a whisper directed into the silence of the room. "I love you."