Page 92 of Because of Logan

Skye places a plate in front of me and a glass of water. This is what one would call a man’s meal. Beef stew, potatoes, carrots, and...

“Is that homemade bread?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t help myself.”

I dunk a chunk of the bread into the rich wine-colored sauce on my plate and moan with the first bite.

“This is amazing. Thank you.”

River is silent, but I can tell she wants to talk. Skye is glaring at her in an obviouskeep quietwarning.

I take three huge bites before turning to River.

“Spill it. What do you want to know?”

“I don’t want any of the gory details,” she says, and I let out a breath of relief. I wouldn’t say anything anyway, but I’m glad that’s not what she’s after.

“What I want to know is, what can someone in this situation do to make sure they survive it? We’re all very lucky this guy only wanted his wife and shot no one he crossed paths with. I heard from several people that he walked into the building with a gun in his hand. He could have—”

Her voice falters.

“He could have killed a dozen people if he wanted.”

I take a deep breath and answer her.

“In training, they say you should run, hide, fight. In that order. If you can run, do it. If you can’t make it to a door and you’re in a room with windows, lock the door and try to get out of a window if you can. Don’t waste time. Don’t go back for anything.”

“And if I can’t run?”

“Then you hide. Lock the door and turn off the lights. Push anything you can against the door. Stay out of sight and stay quiet. Turn your phone to silent mode and turn off vibrate. You want to stay as quiet as possible and hope the shooter thinks the room is empty and bypasses it.”

She looks at me and waits for the next step.Fight.

“If you’re trapped and can’t run or hide and the shooter is coming into the space or room you’re at, find something to fight back with. Anything you can put your hands on and use as a weapon. Be it a chair, a keyboard, anything. You fight back.”

“How come no one ever told us that before?” She looks at Skye.

“Probably because it’s the kind of thing no one wants to believe could happen to them. There are videos on YouTube. Searchhow to survive an active shooter.”

“There are? I gotta check this out.”

River leaves to go look for videos.

It’s justSkye and me now. I finish my plate in silence. We look at each other. The silence is heavy and loaded with unsaid words.

I drink the water, push the plate and glass away, turn away from the counter, and stand up. I take Skye’s hand and walk to her bedroom, and she closes the door behind us.

We’re both exhausted. We shed our clothes in silence, words unnecessary. I pull the blanket back and get in the bed first. I open my arms and Skye comes to me. Her small body fits perfectly into mine. Her back to my front, we fold into each other like matching pieces of a puzzle. A perfect fit. A better picture together than separated.

Our bodies tell a story, our touches the narrative of what’s to come. I nuzzle into her neck and hair, inhaling her into my lungs, my skin, the very center of my being. Skye melts into me, molding herself to the shape of me. I’m the vessel and she’s water.

Chapter Forty-Five

We didn’t havesex last night. And yet, being together like that was more intimate than anything we’ve ever done. The walls have crumbled. Whatever reason Logan had to hold back is gone now. Whether it was the words we finally said out loud—I love you—or the scare we both went through, although from different perspectives, the last barrier, the last vestige of the fear of giving in 100 percent is gone now.

There’s a new level of comfort and understanding between us, even though we haven’t discussed it out loud. We both know it’s different now. Up to this point, we held back a little. We enjoyed each other’s company and had tons of fun together, and we knew of each other’s affections, but I can’t say we were all in.

That has changed. I can see in the way Logan looks at me, in the way he touches me, kisses me, holds me. There’s a new level of tenderness and vulnerability. Our chests are open, hearts exposed. And there’s no fear.

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