Page 57 of The Sweet Spot

“Crazy Wren was there last night, huh?”

I’d wondered if this would come up. Cutting him a half-smile, I shrug. “Yeah. I wasn’t expecting that at all. How come you never told me about her and Dallas?”

“Didn’t think it mattered, I guess,” he says. “Didn’t think you guys even talked again after that one night.”

“I sent her a few postcards from Brazil that first summer.” I glance at him. “Sent them to her job, I mean. But that was it.”

“Huh.”

“She been seeing Dallas long?” I ask, turning it around.

A smile creeps over his face. “I wouldn’t call it ‘seeing.’ You know Dally’s a little player.”

I nod, keeping my eyes on the road, but I don’t like that shit. I used to play around, but I guess I’m more sensitive to it lately.

“I think he likes Wren,” he continues, “but after last night, it’ll be interesting to see what happens.”

I glance at him. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, come the fuck on,” Matt pipes up from the backseat, awake after all. “You know exactly what he means. You and Sweet Spot, making eyes ateach other all night long. I’m surprised Dallas didn’t try and deck you.”

Kellan and I burst into laughter. “Dally’s a lover, not a fighter,” Kellan says, shaking his head. “And he’s nothing if not confident. He must not have thought Luca was a threat. Oh man, that’s funny.”

I grin, remembering the hard glint in Dallas’ eyes when I took Wren from the firepit. “Nah, he definitely knew the deal. I think it came down to Wren doing what she wanted to do.”

“Truth,” Matt says. “Sweet Spot’s always been sweet on you.”

“Lucky for Dallas, stealing isn’t my style.”

The mood shifts, like a passing rain cloud casting a shadow.

Kellan clears his throat. “Listen, it’s your call, but Matt and I have talked about it, and we think Logan should move out.”

Surprised, I look at him and then at Matt in the rearview mirror. “What?”

“He really screwed up, bro. And like, not just once,” Matt says, his face hard. “I know you mentioned the possibility of moving out, but you didn’t do anything wrong. If there’s anyone who should go, it’s him.”

“When did you two discuss this?” I ask, legitimately shocked they’d thought it out this much.

Shocked and warmed.

“Yesterday.” Kellan waves his hand dismissively. “Anyway, we’re all on the lease, so we all have a say. We can’t legally force Logan out, but I’m hoping he’ll have the decency to bow out gracefully.”

“You know—what he should’ve done with Brooke,” mutters Matt. “Bow out gracefully.”

Their loyalty means a lot to me—loyalty I didn’t realize I missed until now.

Brooke’s behavior stings, but it’s Logan’s betrayal that hurts the most. Part of me still misses him, misses the kid I grew up with. Most of my elementary school memories include him—skating, homework, trick-or-treating, sleepovers. And a lot of our firsts—smoking weed, getting drunk, jobs, getting grounded, driver’s licenses—saw us at each other’s sides.

There’s a deep sense of loss when I think about Logan. Even if I could forgive him, things can never go back to the way they were—I’ve lost my trust in him. I don’t hate him, and I don’t have it out for him, but the guys are right: if anyone should move, the onus is on Logan.

* * *

We haven’t been home a day when Brooke shows up at the door. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, her hair’s pulled into a messy bun, her face free of makeup. I almost like her better this way.

“Why are you avoiding me?” she asks, hands balled at her sides.

“Why do you think?” I turn to go back into the house.

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