Page 99 of Kilt Trip

She scrubbed every available surface until her fingers were raw and her body was completely drained of any more bullshit thoughts about Logan and home.

While she finished eating a bowl of cereal, Jack came into the kitchen wearing a gray T-shirt and sweatpants, dragging his hands through his unruly hair. He kept his mouth shut and went about making breakfast.

He slid into the chair across from her and slurped spoonfuls of Weetabix, the disgustingly hearty shredded wheat. When he finished chewing, he asked, “Did we have a burglar last night? Your room appears to be utterly cleared out.” The look he gave her stung.

“I’ve had a change of plans.” Her voice came out as a croak. “Heading to Amsterdam this morning. I wanted to clean up for you.”

The penetrating stare made Addie shift in her seat, but no amount of big-brother intimidation was going to make her open her mouth and tell him one thing about how Logan Fucking Sutherland had broken her heart.

Jack went to his room, and she thought he might stay there until she left, making this easier on all of them, but he returned and handed her a book. “It’s the next one in the series. I haven’t finished it, but it looks like you need it more than I do.”

Addie half laughed, half sniffled and took the Iain Banks book from him. “That obvious?”

He gave her a guilty smile.

After she called a car, she perched on Frank by the front door. Jack tilted the pillow on the couch and ran his finger along the top of the TV, finding it immaculate, Addie knew. He grunted.

She held every part of her body as stiffly as possible to keep her shit together and not give in to the temptation of telling Jack everything or, worse, asking him to intervene. He’d probably only yell at her for hurting Logan.

Addie’s app buzzed announcing her ride, and Jack moved toward her and her bags. She waved him off. “I’ve got it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I complain about my mum plenty, but you know she raised me right.” He took Frank and tipped his chin for her to get moving.

Addie followed him down the stairs, but he turned at the bottom and set her suitcase down, effectively blocking her path.

“Does Logan know you’re leaving?”

She’d never once noticed the elaborate light fixture in the atrium with tarnished, intricate silver loops.

“I’ll take that as a no, then.”

Startled by the derision in his voice, Addie’s eyes snapped to Jack’s. “I don’t think he’ll be too surprised.” Tears blurred out Jack’s face, but she could tell his combative stance softened.

He let out a heavy sigh before opening his arms. She shook her head, frantic to get in that car and onto a plane, to get as far away from here as fast as she could.

Jack mumbled, “What a bawbag,” under his breath before stepping forward and putting his arms around her. “You two will figure it out.”

All the years of practice to keep her emotions inside crumbled in the safety of Jack’s hug. His certainty was all the more crushing. Addie burst into heaving sobs, too broken to even be embarrassed. She clung to him, her shoulders shaking and his cotton shirt absorbing the torrential flood of her tears.

“He doesn’t want me,” she whispered. Jack’s arms tightened around her before the horn of the car blared.

She pulled back and wiped her tears with the heel of her hand, like that was all it took to keep back further hysterics.

Jack stared at her for a long moment before he gave her a resigned nod, picked up Frank, and headed into the early morning darkness.

Footsteps caught her attention, and for one wild second, she thought they were Logan’s, here to take it all back, to keep her from going.

Elyse walked down the street in pink-striped pajama pants and a wool coat. Addie had to be out of tears by now, but her eyes filled again with a crushing disappointment and a heart-stopping appreciation for her friend.

“Gee whillikers. You can’t leave without saying goodbye.”

Addie made a gurgling sound as Elyse looped an arm around her neck and pulled her in for a hug. Addie squeezed her back.

“It’ll all work out.”

Addie nodded, even though she’d never be okay again. Even though she wasn’t sure how she could come back here. She was afraid Logan had broken the part of her that could dream.

She got in the car and waved out the back window, watching Jack and Elyse until they faded from sight.

---