Page 28 of Logan
The sound makes me freeze. My head jerks up to see Shaina leaning out the window of her car, parked just a few feet away.
Great.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, brows pulling together in confusion. Her gaze flicks from me to the house, and I see the exact second the pieces fall into place. Her mouth forms a silentoh.
“My brother around?” she asks, voice cooler now.
I shake my head, trying to keep it together, but my chest feels tight. Before I can stop it, the tears spill over again, unstoppable.
“Shit. Get in,” she says, leaning over to push open the passenger door.
I slide into the seat, the scent of her perfume filling the small space.
“Where are you staying?” she asks once I’m buckled.
“I moved back in with my parents,” I admit, swiping at my cheeks, “but I can’t show up like this.”
“Got it. Say less.” Her tone leaves no room for argument, and she pulls the car into gear, merging smoothly onto the road. She doesn’t push me for details during the drive, and I’m grateful. Silence feels like the only thing keeping me from falling apart entirely.
When we pull into the parking lot of one of the sleek new apartment complexes in town, I blink in confusion. Jena told me these were impossible to get into, reserved for the kind of people who actually had their lives together.
Shaina throws the car into park. “You’re staying with me. I have a three-bedroom and it’s just me. Perk of selling most of the units. I could use some company, and you look like you could too.” She’s already out of the car before I can muster a response.
I follow her to the front doors, my feet dragging. Halfway there, I reach out and catch her arm. “You don’t have to do this.”
She turns her head, giving me that trademark side-eye of hers. “We both know I don’t do shit I don’t want to.”
The elevator ride is quiet but fast, the air smelling faintly of lemon cleaner. Fifteenth floor. She unlocks her door and gives me a quick tour it’s got high ceilings, big windows, tastefully mismatched furniture that makes the place feel lived in without being messy.
We settle on the couch, my body sinking deep into the cushions.
“I appreciate you letting me stay here, but I can’t afford it,” I say, twisting my hands in my lap. “And honestly, I think I’ll be leaving town soon anyway.” I can’t keep running into him. I can’t live with this constant whiplash.
“Fuck, no. He doesn’t get to run you out of town a second time.” She shifts to face me fully, crossing her legs. “Alright, I just have to say… you are way too goddamn hot to let my idiot brother keep you tied in knots.”
“It’s not that easy,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “It hurts too much.” The tears come again, quiet and angry, and I hate myself for it. For letting him still have this much power.
“I don’t know what the hell his problem is,” she says, shaking her head. “He never told any of us. But that’s his problem, not yours. There are a million guys who would fight like hell to be with you.”
The problem is, I don’t want any of them. Not even a little. Last night, I thought we were finally back together. And then, just like before, he pulled the rug out from under me.
“Here’s the plan.” Shaina leans in, her grin turning wicked. “Logan is either going to get his shit together, or he isn’t. You don’t let him touch you again unless his ass is claiming you. And while you wait, you make it so damn miserable for him to be at the club that he’ll either get his shit together or stay the hell away.”
It’s a plan that’s equal parts petty and self-preserving, and I can’t deny that I like it.
I take a deep breath, feeling some of the ache in my chest start to shift. She’s right. Completely right.
Logan will regret the day he ever decided to screw with me.
Chapter Thirteen
Mackenzie
Feels like I'm drowning
I'm screaming for air
Louder I'm crying
