Fighting Fate (Granton University #1)(46)

“He wanted to get a business administration degree in marketing. So I majored in business administration.” Paige gave a short, harsh laugh. “But the thought of actually taking a business class scares the crap out of me.”

Logan peered at her. “Then why did you—”

“Because I wanted to live his life for him.” Her shoulders lifted and fell in a helpless shrug. “It seemed easier than living my own life. Yet once I got here, I found I could have my own life. And slowly, I started living for me instead of him. It was so strange. At home, everything fell apart around me, and no matter how hard I tried to fix it, it just got worse. But here…here I actually help people. I make a difference. I’m somebody. And I like it.”

Glancing at him to gauge his reaction, she found him profoundly affected. Though he wasn’t technically crying, his eyes looked wet. “That’s…that’s great, Paige,” he whispered as if he was honestly proud of her.

“Yeah.” She wiped her damp palms on her thighs before dropping her next bomb. “I think subconsciously, you and I both came here, to this college, for exactly the same reason. To start over fresh. But if not attending those grief group meetings prevents you from doing that, if it keeps you from your own healing process, I won’t be able to move on quite so well either. I like helping people, and if I do something that purposely blocks you from being helped, it’s going to bother me. A lot. So I really need you to come back to the meetings. Okay?”

The breath shuddered from his lungs before he answered. She knew how big a decision this was for him. But she didn’t back off. She stared at him hard until he nodded.

“Okay,” he said, his voice quiet. “I’ll be there.”





Chapter Eighteen


LOGAN APPROACHED THE CRIMSON ROOM the next Tuesday evening with his nerves on edge. Just because Paige had told him she was fine with him returning to the grief group didn’t mean she honestly was fine with him returning to the grief group. He knew he’d said he was fine plenty of times when he hadn’t been.

But there was only one way to find out the truth. To show up at a meeting. Besides, he’d missed it. A lot. He missed Samantha, and Jamie’s weekly treats, and Kevin’s goofy comments. The members had become his pseudo family these last few years, and he looked forward to seeing them again.

Most of all, he looked forward to seeing her.

He fully realized he had to be the biggest loser on earth, crushing on the most forbidden girl he could possibly dream about. But Paige was so…

She was just so Paige.

She could put her own abhorrence for him aside so they could both move on with their lives. There was something precious about that. He wished he could be more like her.

Smoothing his long sleeves as far down over his wrists as he could get them to go, he paused just before the entrance, working himself up for the big moment. When he felt ready enough to proceed, he blew out cheeks full of air and stepped into the room.





“Oh my God. Logan?”

At Samantha’s astonished cry, Paige lifted her face. She turned slowly from talking to Jamie and watched from across the room as Samantha rushed to him and hugged him hard. Others flocked forward to welcome him back as well, and not one person asked why he’d been absent for so long.

Logan smiled timorously at the hearty greetings and murmured one-word responses to each person who spoke to him.

It struck her then how quiet he was. Not even at work when he had to talk to customers did he speak a lot other than what needed to be said.

There went another misconception she’d made about him. Before, she’d always pictured him as a conceited loudmouth, spewing out a bunch of vain nonsense just to hear his own voice. But her assumption couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Paige sighed. She’d been so wrong about him on so many different issues.

When he glanced up and caught her gaze, she felt captured. Her breathing stumbled through her lungs at the hesitant, questioning look he sent her, silently asking if she was certain about his presence.

In answer, she smiled and nodded her own greeting.

He stared at her another moment longer before turning back to Sam to respond to whatever she’d said to him.

The leader of the group seemed happier to see him than anyone. Samantha hooked her arm through his and led him to the circle, talking animatedly. Paige hadn’t realized just how much she’d taken away from everyone here when she’d forced him to leave. He might not have been a loquacious member, but sometimes silent support was equally important.

She was glad she’d grown up enough to make him come back.

“Okay, everyone,” Sam called, clapping her hands. “Time to get this show on the road. We have lots to do tonight.” Her cheeks were flushed with pleasure and her smile full of joy as she gathered the college students to the circle.

To show her support, Paige made sure to slip into the empty seat next to Logan.

He didn’t glance her way, but she heard his sharp intake as she sat.

Keeping her voice quiet, she murmured, “Welcome back.”

He gave a slight nod, letting her know he’d heard her.

She had never been so aware of the person sitting next to her before. Paige held her breath as she stared at his knee, barely making out the jean-clad joint in her peripheral vision. They sat only inches apart. If she wanted to, she could probably swing her leg to the side and bump it into his.