Page 123 of Wild Catch
I slouch back. “It’s like I didn’t learn my lesson after Ben-cheater-Williams. Why am I like this?”
“Logan and Trash Williams can’t possibly be compared,” Hope says while chewing at the same time, her hand buried in the snack bag.
Audrey giggles. “Trash Williams, I like that.”
“You’re right. Logan is a trillion times better.” That makes my annoyance return full force, though. “But there’s a big, big problem with him.”
“What’s that?”
“He can’t seem to realize it,” I all but bark before stuffing my mouth with crunchy cheese bites and chewing violently. “I know that we started out under a ruse?—”
“By the way,” Hope cuts in. “I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“I’m sorry.” My shoulders slump—mysoulslumps. “Only a few departments knew and we wanted it to look organic and—ugh. That’s no excuse, you’re my friend and I lied to you. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay?—”
“No, it’s not okay. You’ve been an amazing friend and I’ll?—”
“You haven’t stopped being an amazing friend yourself so I?—”
“—Do whatever I can to regain your trust so?—”
“You don’t have to?—”
“Just hug it out so we can get back on topic,” Audrey chimes in, impatient.
It’s not a bad idea, though. I set my margarita down and throw myself at Hope. She pats my back awkwardly because even though she’s warmer than Audrey, I wouldn’t necessarily say that Hope is touchy-feely in general.
“There, there. I forgive you.” She chuckles over my head. “You were saying?”
Grunting, I release her and return to my corner. I bend my legs and tuck them inside my oversized T-shirt. “As I was saying, I have very real feelings for Logan, and I’m pretty sure they’re mutual.”
“No shit.”
“Yeah, that right hook kinda confirmed it.”
“The problem is…” They both lean toward me. “He has put me on some pedestal and fully believes that he’s not worthy.”
“What?” Hope frowns.
In contrast, Audrey leans back. “Oh, that’s good. Nothing better than a man who knows his place.”
“Audrey!” Hope admonishes her before turning to me. “But that makes no sense. The Logan I know?—”
I interrupt. “According to him, the Logan we’ve known has been a fake.”
That makes Hope close her mouth for a moment. “Based on the events tonight, we clearly don’t know him enough. But he’s a pretty good guy—I mean, I still can’t get over how he maneuvered Cade and I together because he knew we were right for each other, even if that made him look like the villain for a hot second.”
“That was pretty silly but noble of him, I concur,” Audrey says.
“Exactly.” I snap my fingers. “Logan is silly and noble, and self-sacrificing and protective and all of the things I’ve ever dreamed of—and more, to be honest. But I can’t force him to see that, and I don’t know how to love someone who doesn’t love himself.”
“Love?” Audrey’s eyes bulge. “You’re in love with him?”
I reach for my cup and down the rest of the contents in one go. Sighing, I admit, “So help me, but I am. I’m in love with the fool.”
“Oof.” Hope pours me another cup. “Then, what are you going to do?”
