Page 31 of Now You See Him
Would it be so bad if he did?
The urge to tell him what she knew about the house and his past was so strong that it robbed her of any conversation. Lucia, his ex, and his complicated relationship with the Sutter brothers. She even knew about the way he destroyed Damien’s life.
When they were almost to their destination, Logan cleared his throat. He reached out, brushed his fingers over her arm. “Tina, I really need to get some sleep tonight. That hospital bed was terrible. Would you mind if you took the couch tonight? I hate asking, but I just need to stretch out a bit and have some quiet.”
She wasn’t exactly a noisy sleeper, but she nodded. Truthfully, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to sleep next to him, anyway. It felt like a relief not to have to share a bed with him again. “I know it’s only one in the afternoon, but why don’t you go upstairs and relax now?” she motioned to his arm in a sling. “I’ll give you those painkillers and get you some water. Rest as long as you need.”
The corners of his mouth fluttered in a smile. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
She flinched at the endearment and bit the inside of her mouth to stay quiet.
They drove in silence for another ten minutes before Tina spoke again. “Do you want to talk about what happened? What scared you that you fell off the bed?”
Logan turned to face the window. Tina could see the lines of his jaw tense from his profile. “It was the storm. The freak thunderstorm.”
“Yeah, that was wild.” She didn’t correct him even though she knew that neither of them believed it was a storm. When the ambulance had come to pick him up, the grass and pavement were completely dry.
Tina pulled into the driveway and slowly nosed her car into the empty garage bay. She helped Logan get out of the passenger seat and led him upstairs to the primary bedroom, where she made a show of retrieving his pajamas and helping him get settled. She then came back with his medication and water that she sat on the bedside table. She closed the blinds, so the room was plunged into darkness, before making a noncommittal sound as he turned his back towards her and curled up on his side with his arm and a cast draped across the bedspread.
Something had changed. He wasn’t the Logan that was charming, confident, and self-centered. Everything had been fine at his parents’ dinner and when they had gotten home, but Damien must have done something or appeared in some sort of way to spook him into a shell. She wondered if this was going to hinder her ability to figure out what Damien wanted.
Tina left the room silently and made her way down to the great room. It was still early, so she debated getting some work done but opted for sitting on her deep, comfortable couch and watching some TV. She made herself a quick sandwich, then nestled into the corner of her sectional. There was a reality TV marathon happening, which was exactly what she needed.
Her phone buzzed halfway through the first episode of House Hunters.
SUTTER CONSTRUCTION:
Okay?
She smiled,then on impulse, went to edit the contact information and changedsutter constructiontoderrick. If Logan found out, it was no longer the end of the world.
TINA:
Okay. I’m sleeping on the couch tonight.
DERRICK:
Good.
TINA:
I feel like I should tell him tomorrow.
DERRICK:
Wait. Just a bit longer. We’re still missing a piece of the story. I know my twin.
TINA:
Okay, I trust you.
She must have fallen asleep,because the next moment she opened her eyes, and the room was dark. Her sandwich plate was empty and sat on the cushion next to her, and someone, orsomething, had taken the throw that was draped over the back of the couch and covered her with it from neck to toe.
Tina wasn’t sure what had woken her until she heard a whimper and then a moan come from upstairs. She bolted to her feet and raced to the second floor, down the hall, and into theprimary bedroom. The room was dark, so it took her a moment to realize that no one was in bed. The curtains were pulled back, and moonlight cast an eerie glow against the hardwood.
“Logan?”
She heard the whimper again and turned to see her fiancé huddled in the corner of the room with his arms wrapped around his calves and his head buried in his lap.
