Page 2 of Logan
“What the hell are you talking about, Logan?” Shaina yells over my shoulder. She tries to open the door wider, but he stops it with his foot. “Move and let her in so we can get her dried off.”
“No. Mind your own damn business.” Logan’s jaw tightens, and he nods toward the living room.
“You’re a real asshole, brother.” She shoves him hard before stalking away.
Logan looks at me, but it’s as if he’s looking through me, like I’m not even standing there. “I told you not to make this harder than it needed to be. You need to accept this, Kenzie.”Tears burn hot against my already chilled skin, but the rain masks them. “I will take you home. You shouldn’t be out in this.”
He steps onto the porch, the door slamming shut behind him. I follow, my legs moving stiffly, as if I’m not inside my own body. The walk to his car is silent except for the pounding rain.
Logan opens the door for me, and I sink into the seat, my fingers curling into my lap. The short drive to my house feels like seconds, like time is folding in on itself.
Once the car stops, I turn to him, my voice small. “Why?”
It’s all I can manage.
“Just go, Kenzie. Forget about me. Live a happy life. You deserve it.”
I shake my head, refusing to believe this is it.
“Go.” His voice snaps, loud and harsh, making me flinch. For the first time, I feel something close to fear when I look at him. The boy in front of me isn’t the one who held me last night, who whispered he loved me. That boy is gone, and I don’t know why.
My hand fumbles for the door handle, and as soon as I hear the click, the car speeds away, taillights cutting through the curtain of rain before disappearing completely.
I stand there, water running down my face, hair plastered to my skin. The cold bites at me, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my chest.
I’m alone in the rain.
The worst part is, I have no idea why.
Chapter One
Mackenzie
Nobody told me that I'd be in happy places
Just trying to erase the traces
What came before me
A girl that I used to see somewhere very deep
She's falling asleep and I'm trying to wake her said her pray
- ‘Anything but me’ Lindsay Lohan
I hand Mrs. Thompson her room key just as my phone starts to ring. The brass numbers on the keycard catch the soft lobby light as I place it in her palm with my usual practiced smile.
“Dynasty Suites, this is Mackenzie, how can I help you?” My voice is pleasant, professional, which is muscle memory after years in this role.
“Mackenzie, please come see me for your evaluation.” My boss, Mr. Watson, says before hanging up. No greeting, no small talk. Just clipped words and the click of the line going dead.
I’ve been working in guest relations for the past two years, full time since graduation and part time while I wasstill in school. I’ve poured myself into this job learning every system, every policy, remembering faces, birthdays, the smallest preferences of our regulars. I’m hoping that my evaluation is not only good, but good enough to lead me straight into the open manager position.
As I make my way toward the back offices, I smooth out any wrinkles in my skirt, palms brushing over the fabric to keep my hands from fidgeting. I pass one of the hallway mirrors and pause for a second, checking that my hair is still neatly pinned, my makeup even, lipstick intact. If there’s ever a time to look completely put together, it’s now.
Once I reach his office, I knock lightly, my knuckles making a muted tap against the heavy wood. A beat later, his voice calls out, telling me to enter.
Stepping inside, I cross the short stretch of carpet to one of the two chairs in front of his large oak desk. The smell of leather from the chairs mixes with the faint tang of furniture polish in the air.
