Page 18 of Best Kept Secret
“Millie, it wasn’t what you think.”
I’ve heard it all before, multiple times, but how can it not be what I think it was when I was unlucky enough to see it with my own eyes? Exactly how stupid does he think I am?
He takes a step closer, and I know I should move away, but I’ve been rendered frozen. I hate how my brain is telling me one thing, but my body is telling my brain to shut the fuck up.
“You know what Parker did to me,” I whisper, against my better judgement. “You know everything, Logan.” I look up at him then, frustrating tears stinging my eyes.
Logan rubs his stubbled chin while his intense gaze bores into mine.
I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry.
I’ve wasted enough tears over this man.
“You should probably get out,” I say with a thick swallow. Arching a brow, I practically seethe as I say, “Wouldn’t want my brother to find you in here, now, would we?”
Logan stares at me for a long moment, something unreadable in his eyes. His jaw ticks and his nostrils flare. But finally, he turns and heads for the door.
Just when I’m about to release the breath I’ve been holding,he stops and glances at me over his shoulder, forcing me to involuntarily stiffen.
“Unblock my number,” he demands with a gruff, yet slightly hopeful tone. “Please.”
He walks out, and I’m left alone with nothing but the sound of the dripping faucet and the residual pain Logan Cullen caused me, my chest aching in the space where my intact heart sat before I made the biggest mistake of my life and gave it to him.
When I walk back out to the bar, it’s suddenly a whole lot busier than it was when I ran off to the ladies’ room like a coward. I make sure to keep my head down as I snake my way through the throng to our table. Thankfully, everyone is talking about the game tonight against Miami, and no one seems to acknowledge how long I took in the bathroom. But when I look up, I notice Logan is no longer sitting in his spot. And I should be relieved not to have to deal with him or his impenetrable gaze set on me, but instead, I find myself searching the crowded space for him.Pathetic.
“Are you okay?” Emily asks me as I slide in next to her. Her smile is casual and her eyes are soft, and I love her; she’s the big sister I always wanted. But right now, I just need to be left alone.
I nod, picking up the glass of beer sitting in front of me. But just as I take a sip, my gaze settles on Logan as he shoulders his way through the crowd, an emotionless veil masking his face. He didn’t leave. I don’t miss the flare of relief that sparks somewhere deep inside of me. But that relief is quickly quashed when I notice he isn’t alone; a beautiful yet devastatingly familiar brunette is following closely behind him.
As they stop by the table, I watch on as Logan keeps his head down, pulling his stool out for her, and she offers him a smile, her big, blue eyes sparkling as she sits down.
My hand trembles from the emotion coursing through me, so much that I’m forced to place my beer onto the table before I drop it.
“Mils, have you met Hannah?”
I snap myself from my daze, glancing at Fran. She smiles from me to the brunette and back again, which is when Hannah suddenly seems to notice that I’m right here, her smile faltering momentarily before reappearing with a lot less conviction.
“Mils is my little sister!” Dallas boasts, appearing behind me, hand ruffling my hair like I’m twelve.
Hannah stands, reaching over the table. “It’s nice to finally meet you,” she says, the look in her gaze uncertain. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
I’m sure you have, Hannah. I glance at Logan, who won’t meet my eyes. Forcing a smile as I accept Hannah’s hand, I squeeze it a little tighter than necessary and relish in the slight grimace she makes at the contact as I shake it.
“Sonice to meet you,” I say with a beaming and entirely disingenuous smile.
As Hannah sits back down, she casts a sideways glance at Logan, still standing right there by her side, and I hitch the strap of my purse onto my shoulder.
“Actually, I’m not feeling great,” I announce to no one in particular. I look at Emily and my brother, grabbing my jacket from the back of my stool. “If it’s okay with you guys, I might just head back to the apartment.”
Dallas’s eyebrows bunch together with genuine concern. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just my stomach,” I lie, clutching my middle for effect.
Emily stands. “I’ll go with you.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s fine. You stay. I’m just going to go home, take a shower, and fall into bed.”
“How are you going to get home?” Dallas asks, panicked.
