Page 34 of Secret Baby With My Brother's Best Friend

"I'm afraid there isn't."

"Do you not like this trip? Hasn't it been fun?"

That wasn't the problem. The problem was I needed to forget Logan, and I cannot do that here! I wanted to scream. "It has. I just can't stay."

"Why?"

"Personal reasons."

"What about the contract?"

"I want to assure you that I will go through with it. I will finish the feature and send it to you for approval."

"You never told me you would leave halfway through the trip. I must say it's not very professional," Carl said, sounding a little desperate.

"I'm sorry. I didn't plan to leave like this either. I didn't think I would even have to leave, but I'm afraid I can't stay any longer. Mr. Adams, I'm really sorry if I have let you down, but I really need you to understand that I want to stay, but I cannot, and if you do not wish to pay me or continue with the contract. I will accept it."

"No. It's fine. I'll take a look at the feature when you're done with it, but it better be good."

"It will," I smiled.

"Trying to convince me to stay. It means a lot," I replied honestly. It did mean a lot. It was strange, but I appreciated it. If only—if only Logan would ask me to stay, but the more I imagined that, the more I was certain it would never happen.

"Oh! That," Carl chuckled. "Why would you thank me for that?" he smirked. "If you want to thank me, then just stay."

"I can't."

"I know. I'm just saying... I'm going to miss you, Miss Harper."

I smiled.Would Logan miss me too? Would my absence even be felt?I knew I would miss him, though, very much.

"It's been a pleasure knowing you."

"You too, Sir. Anyways, I should get going so I don't miss my flight."

"What a great idea. Maybe I should delay you more," Carl made a joke, and we both laughed.

"I have to go," I carried my bags.

Carl helped me with the door. The second the door swung open, my eyes landed on Logan standing at the entrance, looking rather impatient.

He shifted a bit at the sight of me. "Are you ready?" he asked with a small smile, taking the bags from my hands, and my chest tightened even more. It felt like my heart would rip into two.Was he that excited to see me go?

"Yeah, let's go," I mumbled with a lackluster smile, lowering my gaze to the floor.

"Let's go," Logan repeated and went ahead of me. I lingered for a second, taking a deep breath as I followed him to the car. As we headed out of the hotel, I still hopelessly wished that he would say something out of character.

"Harper, stay," but those words never came out no matter how much I wanted.

"I'll see you later," I heard him tell Carl as I climbed into the passenger seat and waited for him.

Logan joined me soon, taking his seat and wearing his seatbelt. He glanced at me, and I caught him checking to be sure I was wearing a seat belt. The action made my insides clench weirdly. There was a tap on the window, and I turned to find Carl standing there, waving me a final goodbye. "Don't slack off with your work. I'll be strict," he said with a warning tone.

"I won't," I waved back, flashing him a toothy grin.

"Bye!" he exclaimed.

The engine roared to life, and we got on the road, driving farther away. I watched the hotel building, and Carl slowly disappeared in the side mirror until I couldn't see them anymore, and my heart ached. The realization of what I was about to do sunk its claws deeper into me and the pain, too, and for a minute, I felt a little conflicted.This was really happening. I was leaving like this, and Logan was letting me go.

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