Page 46 of The Fake Affair

“I can’t—” My voice breaks. “I can’t do this, Audrey. You know what happened to Mum.”

“Yes, I do. Because you’ve spent my entire life making sure I knew her, even though you were just a boy yourself.” Her voice softens. “Logan, what happened to Mum was tragic. But it was also rare. And medicine has advanced so much since then.”

“You don’t understand. If something happened to Bella?—”

“Then you’d handle it just like you’ve handled everything else. But nothing’s going to happen. You know why? Because you’re not alone this time. You’ve got me. You’ve got Louis at the hospital.”

I sink onto the bare floor, pressing my palm against the cool hardwood. “I watched him fall apart, Audrey.”

“But Logan, you’re not Dad. You’re stronger than he ever was.”

“Am I? I just ran out on her.”

“So go back.” She says it like it’s simple, like I’m not choking on memories that have haunted me for years—memories that I’ve tried to put at bay but wouldn’t go away.

“I don’t know how to do this.”

“Yes, you do. You’ve been taking care of people your whole life. The only difference is, this time, you don’t have to do it alone.”

My phone beeps with another text.

I understand if you need space. But please let me know you’re safe.

“She deserves better,” I whisper.

“Then be better.” Audrey’s voice is firm. “Be the man I know you are. The one who learned to braid hair from YouTube videos because his little sister wouldn’t let anyone else touch her hair. The one who built an empire while making sure I never felt alone.”

“Audrey—”

“The one who’s been in love with Bella since forever even though he was too scared to admit it.”

The words hit home. Because she’s right—I have been running from more than just tonight’s news. I’ve been running from the possibility of real happiness since I watched it die with my mother.

“Go home, Logan,” Audrey says softly. “Don’t let fear cost you everything worth having.”

“I can’t.” My voice breaks. “Not yet.”

“Logan...” She pauses. “There’s something else you should know. Louis and I... we found out two days ago. I’m pregnant too. So, you see, you and Bella couldn’t have been expecting a baby at a better time. We’re going to be one big family.”

But the world stops. My sister’s words echo in my head, and suddenly I’m seven again, and I’m seeing Audrey in that same hospital bed, machines beeping, doctors rushing?—

“Logan? Say something.”

“No.” The word comes out raw. “No, you can’t be. Audrey, you can’t?—”

“This is different,” she says firmly. “Medicine has advanced. Louis is a doctor. We have the best care?—”

“So did Mum!” My voice rises, panic clawing at my throat. “She had the best care too, and look what happened!”

“Logan—”

I hang up. Can’t bear to hear more. Can’t face the possibility of losing both of them—Bella and Audrey—to the same fate that took our mother.

My phone lights up with texts:

Audrey:

Don’t you dare shut us out.

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