Page 72 of Fighting Fate (Granton University 1)

“We, uh, well, we found this old trunk full of dress up clothes,” Logan started haltingly, “and spent most of the hour playing make-believe with different costumes.”

“Hey, now that sounds fun.” Samantha nodded in approval.

“Yeah, the kids really enjoyed the outfits we put on them.” Paige grinned big and risked a knowing peek at Logan, wondering if he’d flip out if she mentioned his outfit. “And ourselves.”

He narrowed his eyes in warning, silently demanding she keep quiet. Then he turned back to everyone and dryly confessed, “I wore a dress.”

Kevin snickered. “Dude.”

“He made a very cute girl,” Paige immediately defended.

He sent her a scowl but ended up cracking a grin a second later. “I did, didn’t I?”

“Incredibly.” She smiled back, aching to simply reach out and touch him.

“Aww,” Jamie spoke up from her chair. “You two are so cute together. Seriously, when are you guys going to stop fighting it and just hook up already?”

Paige gasped while Logan’s mouth fell open. Her face drained, and she felt suddenly very faint.

When nothing but silence followed Jamie’s comment, and everyone in the room stared at her and Logan standing side by side as if they wanted to know the answer too, Paige slapped her hands over her mouth and ran.

Frozen in place, Logan stared after Paige as she rushed from the Crimson Room. He wanted to go after her and soothe her, but since he was the source of her distress, he knew he was the last thing she wanted.

And he hated that.

After he sent a glare to Jamie for opening her mouth, she shrugged. “What? What’d I say?”

“Jamie—” Samantha started in a warning voice, but Logan spoke above her.

“I killed her brother. Okay?”

This time, the silence in the room was more stark and echoing.

“You what?” Kevin finally said, his voice halting and disbelieving.

“I…we grew up in the same county,” Logan explained. “Neighboring schools. Biggest rivals. Everything she told you about his death was true. I got into a fight with him, and after I hit him, he fell and hit his head, and he died. Then my lawyer dad got me out of trouble, and I never spent a moment in jail for killing him.”

As he finished, he closed his eyes, braced for the fallout.

Samantha was the first to react. “Well? Keep going.”

“Keep going?” Logan opened his eyes and frowned, confused.

Sam waved out her hand, signaling him to continue. “Yes. Keep talking. I know your story doesn’t end there. What happened after your father cleared your name?”

She didn’t look at all surprised to learn he’d murdered someone. It sent off alarm bells in his head. But everyone else was gaping, clearly not in the know.

Since he still stood in the middle of the circle, the center of attention, he kept going as the leader had instructed him to.

“After…after he cleared my name, my dad told me to leave and never come back.” He looked up, straight into Sam’s sympathetic gaze. “I haven’t seen anyone in my family since then. I moved away and ended up here where no one knew who I was or what I’d done. I just wanted to start fresh with a new life, as a new person.”

Swallowing down the hard lump in his throat, Logan looked down at his hands. “I know I didn’t lose anyone like everyone else here did. I don’t belong in this group. I…I’m sorry for deceiving you and misleading you into thinking I was…grieving.”

Wiping at his dry face, he lowered his head and started for the door.

“Logan, stop,” Sam said.

He paused and glanced back, ready for her to rip him a new one.

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