Page 33 of Breathless

Brady clears his throat. “My wife has a way of getting her friends to confess their deepest, darkest secrets until they’re curled up in a ball crying. I’m going to break this up before you needtherapy.”

I chuckle at Kat’s annoyedgasp.

About an hour later, my phone pings with a text. Anger and nervous energy whip through me when I see Logan’sname.

Whose car are youin?

He hasn’t texted me much since I’ve been back in Texas. I scroll back and see his messages from earlier in the year that I didn’t respond to, and guilt washes overme.

Even though I’m still upset, I know I can’t do that again. It’s childish. No matter what he did or how hurt I was last winter, that’s no excuse. I won’t stoop to behaving like my brother, who can’t seem to be bothered with myexistence.

I’m riding with Brady and Kat.And because I don’t want him to die, I add,Don’t text anddrive.

We stopped for gas. I assure you I’m a law-abiding citizen. Most of thetime.

I fight a smile because he’s too dang charming for his own good. But I’m still feeling sideswiped by what happened at the ranch, and I’m not ready to let go of thatyet.

Two minutes later, he pings again.Why’d you leave? I thought you were riding withme.

I think long and hard about how to respond. Part of me wants to lie and say Kat invited me or that I figured Logan wanted to hang out with his friends, but that’s not fair to either ofus.

It’s time I gotbrave.

I wasupset.

There. It’s astart.

Whathappened?

My heart flutters like a hummingbird in my chest as I consider telling him the truth. I hold my breath as Itype.

I started to wonder why you wanted me around if you’re just planning to hook up with Renee. I’d rather not have a front seat to thatshow.

Send.

The second it’s gone, I want to delete the message. It reeks of jealousy, but there’s nothing I can do about itnow.

The message bubble that indicates he’s typing pops open and disappears. Opens.Disappears.

Anxious minutes pass as I stare at thescreen.

Brady taps on the steering wheel. “There’s a lot of groaning back there. Youokay?”

I sigh. “Why are men sodifficult?”

“This about Logan?” He glances at Kat, and she smiles and turnsaway.

I answer as honestly as I ever have. “When is it not aboutLogan?”

They bothchuckle.

When my phone pings, I almost dropit.

I didn’t know she was coming, I swear. I’d planned to spend the entire weekend with you, not the guys. Patrick invited these people, notme.

I guess I believe that. Patrick is a bitclueless.

It buzzes again, and this message sends a wave of butterflies soaring through mystomach.

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