Page 65 of Her Three Tech Bros

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ETHAN

“You knock on the door yet?” I ask Ryan.

I spot him immediately as I step off the elevator in Logan’s apartment building. He’s standing outside Logan’s door.

“No,” he responds. “I was waiting for you. Figured we should do this together.”

“Yeah, sorry, my meeting ran long.”

The first chance we had, Ryan and I raced over here. We aren’t stupid, we saw something was bothering Logan while we were away. But he kept denying anything was wrong, even when Jade talked to him alone. So, we dropped it for the sake of the vacation.

I even, maybe a bit naively, believed that he just didn’t like the location we went to. Maybe he didn’t like all the sun or hated the sand.

But once we landed back home yesterday, his mood, if anything, only got worse. He bolted from the airport, barely even saying goodbye to Jade. Since then, he hasn’t responded to any texts or calls.

So, when I found out that he not only didn’t show up to work today but also didn’t even bother to call his assistant to tell her that he wouldn’t be coming in, I knew I had to do something. I called Ryan, and now we’re both here.

“Ready?” I ask Ryan.

“Whenever you are,” he responds.

I raise my fist up to the door. Then I pound it so hard in rapid succession that even the neighbor’s doors shake. I do this for maybe five seconds before the door swings open.

His hair is disheveled. Bags rest under his eyes. And I think he’s still wearing the same clothes I last saw him in.

Logan’s eye dart between Ryan and me. His expression is a healthy mix of confusion, anger, and a hint of annoyance. In the past, when Logan’s been in one of his moods, we just ignore him until he emerges on his own. But things are different now.

“Lookin’ good, Logan,” Ryan says. At least I can always count on him to make a joke at the wrong moment.

“I thought you were – What the hell are you two doing here?” he demands.

Ryan and I walk past Logan into his apartment, not waiting for an invitation. This is not a conversation I want to have out in the open. Besides, he’s clearly in no condition to stop us.

“What’s up, Logan?” I ask as he closes the door behind us.

“Nothing, nothing is up.” He won’t look at either of us.

“Why didn’t you go to work today?” I ask.

“I needed a day off,” he responds.

“We just got back from a weeklong vacation,” Ryan interjects. “What? Did you need a vacation from your vacation?”

“I’m just feeling jet-lagged,” he tries to explain.

“We never left this time zone,” I respond quickly, cutting his defense at the heels.

“Plus,” Ryan adds. “You’ve been acting like this since we got to the hotel. We all noticed it. Me, Ethan, Jade. Fuck, even the pool boy at the hotel pulled me aside to ask what your deal was. So… What’s your deal?”

“I don’t have a deal,” Logan says. “Everything is perfectly fine.”

“We know that’s not true,” I cut in. “You’ve been acting more quiet and sullen than usual. Not responding to our texts, sure, I get that. I ignore your texts sometimes, too. But not answering when Jade calls? Something is seriously wrong when that happens. So, tell us. We’re not leaving until –”

Logan’s door starts rattling again as a new banging begins on it. It’s even more forceful than what I did. Ryan and I both look at Logan. He’s completely frozen.

His body goes completely stiff. I’ve never seen him like this. His body isn’t moving an inch. I’m not even sure if he’s breathing or blinking anymore.

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