Page 89 of Breathless

“It’s okay. I don’t need aride.”

She frowns and stands up. “It’s no trouble atall.”

“I’m not going very far.” Tori and Ethan’s house is a twenty-minute walk that will probably take ten minutes longer because I’m dragging my luggage behind me, but it’s still a trip I can make on foot. Even though Logan’s truck is outside, I’m not about to drive itagain.

“Did you let your friends know you’d be coming?” she asks as she takes a stepcloser.

What an odd question. I shake my head. “I’ll text them on theway.”

I head toward the door. It feels really freaking weird to leave this stranger alone in Logan’s house. I might be mad as hell at Logan, but I can’t deny the strange vibe I’m getting fromSamantha.

Maybe she’s giving you the stink-eye for boning her boyfriend. What do you expect,Josephine?

I’m so confused right now, I want to crawl back into bed and never come out from under thosecovers.

Seriously, how did I end up being the otherwoman?

Samantha gives me an impatient look, and I debate whether I should ask her toleave.

Clearing my throat, I motion to her. “Can I ask how you got in the house?” I don’t mention it was probably unlocked, but I’m not sure how to broach the subjectotherwise.

She blinks slowly. “Logan gave me a key.” Reaching into her bag, she pulls out a keyring and rattles it in my face. “See?”

A deep sigh wells up from my chest. I really want to leave this woman here so Logan can deal with her, but she is a stranger, to me at least. And I’m not about to test out each and every one of her dozen keys to check whether one works on thedoor.

“Um. Would you mind waiting for him in your car? I’m the guest here, and it would be rude of me to leave someone in Logan’s house withouthim.”

Of course, it’s rude of him to have a child with someone else and never bother to mention it to me, but who’s keeping the dangscore?

What is it with the men in my life? Do they all have to be suchassholes?

Sam’s nostrils flare, and she lets out a huff of annoyance. “Sure. I get it.” She points behind me toward the kitchen. “Actually, I think I’ll wait for him at my place. Do you think you could help me carry some groceries back to mycar?”

Lord, grant mepatience.

“Sure.” I leave my luggage at the front door and head to the kitchen, but I don’t see the groceries. She must have put themaway.

When I turn back to ask Samantha what she needs me to carry, she’s right behindme.

“Sorry.” She shrugs. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come tothis.”

Unease crawls up my spine. “Come towhat?”

Suddenly, everything goesdark.

40

Logan

Zachand I stand on the porch awkwardly. Ethan looks at the little boy next to me for several heartbeats before turning tome.

“You gonnaexplain?”

Lowering my voice, I whisper, “Look, I just need you to watch him for an hour. Maybe two. I’ll tell you everything when I get back. I swear. It’s just… I have asituation.”

Thank God our mother is hanging with Tori at Kat’s place tonight. I couldn’t handle it if she was here rightnow.

Ethan laughs, but it lacks amusement. “You don’tsay.”

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