Page 109 of Because of Logan

I turn to the nurse. “Can you just tell me if he’s okay? Please?”

She hesitates and then looks at her computer, tapping a few keys. I hold on to hope as if my own life depends on it.

Just as she looks up, the ex-fiancée stands next to us. She looks me up and down and glares at Joanne behind the desk.

“Were you about to give information to a non-family member?”

“No, ma’am.”

She turns her attention to me now.

“I heard you mention my fiancé’s name. Who are you?”

Her voice is loud enough to call Logan’s parents’ attention. Joanne shifts behind her desk. River stiffens. I can feel her gearing up for a fight, and that’s the last thing we need. I just want to know about Logan. I don’t care how or who I get the information from. I grab River’s arm, and she receives my silent message.

There are other people waiting for the information desk now. I step around the ex and walk the few feet to the waiting area.

I make eye contact. Logan’s father is a handsome man, and it’s easy to see where Logan got his looks from. He’s dressed in a suit that looks like it costs more than my entire closet put together. But he lacks the warmth and openness Logan has. His mother is a beautiful woman, but petite and timid-looking. There’s curiosity in her eyes, while his father’s only hold coldness. She looks friendly. So while I look at both of them, I address the question to her.

“Hi, my name is Skye. I just heard what happened. Can you please tell me how he’s doing?”

A sad smile touches her lips but disappears as soon as Logan’s father opens his mouth. He does not respond to my question but interrogates me instead. He stands and towers over me. I recognize the intimidating gesture for what it is. The few times Logan talked about his father come to mind. Controlling, intimidating, cold. Yes, he’s all that and more. I can’t help but compare this cold man standing in front of me to my always happy and loving father.

“Who are you? How do you know my son?” He snaps the question at me as if the hospital belongs to him and I’m breaking in.

River cracks her knuckles behind me, a gesture I’m well accustomed to—a clear sign that she’s about to release fury out into the world. Our father nicknamed herTheKrakenwhen we were kids because her tantrums were that scary. She’s about to have a throwdown with Logan’s father and I can’t let that happen. I catch her eyes and send her a silent plea. She nods at me, but I know she’s a hair-trigger away from teaching this guy a few new curse words he’s never heard before.

“As I said before.” I take a deep breath to steady myself. “My name is Skye, and I’m a friend of Logan’s.”

“Never heard of you.” His disdain is clear. The ex stands next to him, hands on tilted hips. Face fierce, perfect hair, perfect makeup. She looks like she’s posing for a magazine cover, dressed in caramel-colored soft wool pants, four-inch heels, and a cream silk blouse. Jewelry sparkles on her wrist and... the left ring finger.

“Funny, I heard a lot about you.” I let my eyes glance at the ex, and his face loses the haughtiness for the briefest of moments, but the composure is back just as fast.

The ex—Amanda is her name, if I remember correctly—speaks up. “A friend? Or a girlfriend? Are you lying now, or were you lying before? I heard what you said to the receptionist.” She waves her hand as she speaks, the intent to show off the garish diamond ring on her finger clear. She’s staking a claim and I have nothing to hold on to. Logan is no longer mine.

“I’m not lying.”

She looks me up and down, and I’m painfully aware of my limp hair, lack of makeup, the black leggings, an old pair of Uggs I’ve had since high school, and my oversized hoodie with Yoda on the front and the famous quote,Do or do not. There is no try.

She laughs a fake laugh, and it’s as annoying as her voice, nasally, whiny, and sharp at the same time.

“Oh, you poor little thing. Did you think he actually cared about you? You’re a bed warmer and nothing more. I told him to have his fun while we’re not married. We laugh about it when he calls me. The poor little girl who thinks she got herself a big fish.”

A fake laugh follows the cruel words. It’s a lie. I know it is. She’s trying to hurt me and make me leave.

But is it? Is it a lie?

How do you know?

Blake thought you were just a challenge. Jon just wanted to use you.

Why would Logan be any different?

The voice of doubt whispers in my head, but it may as well be screaming. I stand there, paralyzed by fear, hurt, and doubt. River shifts to my side and squeezes my shoulder.

“Let me, please let me,” she begs.

I just shake my head and turn away from them when I see cops walking down the hall in the direction of the waiting room. One of them looks familiar. He stops the other two and says something to them, and they continue to walk my way, except for the familiar one. He nods at me to follow him and I do, River trailing several feet behind me and giving us space to talk.

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