Tamed (Torn #5)(60)

She chuckled. “Well, you sound like you feel better at least. When do you go back to work?”

“Not until next week. I’m about to go nuts from sitting in my apartment. I have three more days of this shit.”

She made a sympathetic noise. “I wish I were there to keep you company.”

“Me, too.” I sighed. I wished more than anything that Logan and Chloe were around.

“You could always come out here and visit me,” she said.

I laughed. “Uh, thanks, but no thanks. By the time I fly out and then back, I’d only have a day with you. I love you, but there’s no point.”

“Call work and ask for a few days off. You told me a while back that you had, like, three weeks of vacation time saved up. Use them to come out here.”

“I can’t,” I told her.

“Why not? It’s not like you have plans.”

I bit my lip. “I just…can’t.”

Chloe had lived in L.A. for over two years. She’d been back to Morgantown a couple of times since then, but I’d never made the trip out to visit her. I knew why. I didn’t want to take a chance of seeing him.

Chloe sighed. “Amber, it’s been a long time. Surely, you’re not still thinking about—”

“No!” I cut her off. “It has nothing to do with him.”

Chloe knew very little about what had happened with Adam. No one really knew anything, except that we’d parted on…unhappy terms. That was, unless Adam had run his mouth. I wouldn’t put it past him to run my name into the dirt.

“Then, what’s stopping you?” she asked softly.

“I…” I sighed again. I was being stupid. There was no reason for me not to visit her. I probably wouldn’t see Adam anyway. I was letting him control my life even now, and it was ridiculous. “Where would I stay?”

“I have room. You can stay with Drake and me.”

I could already hear the excitement in her voice.

“Please, Amber. I really want to see you even if it’s only for a few days.”

I groaned. “Fine. But I’m still sick, so plan on babying me.”

“Deal!”



Less than twenty-four hours later, I found myself pushing through a crowd of people in LAX, searching for Chloe’s blonde head. I spotted her just before I heard her shrill shriek. She rushed over to me and threw her arms around me.

“Oh my God! Ah! I’ve missed you so much!” she shouted as she squeezed me tightly.

I laughed. “I missed you, too.”

She pulled away and looked me over. “You look good.”

“Thanks. You do, too.”

Chloe did look good. Obviously, California agreed with her. Or maybe it was the married life.

I picked up my luggage and followed her out of the airport and to the parking lot. She shoved my bags into the back of her car. Once we were inside, she started the car and pulled from the lot. I stared out my window, taking in the sights. L.A. was so different from Morgantown. Comparing the two was laughable. Where Morgantown was almost nothing but farmland, hills, woods, and fall weather, L.A. was all concrete, congested roads, palm trees, and heat.

I watched as Chloe moved in and out of the congested traffic like a pro. I would be shitting myself if I had to drive in traffic like this.

“Are you feeling better?” she asked.

“Much. I still feel a little weak, but it’s nothing unbearable. Those antibiotics kicked my bug’s ass.”

She nodded. “Good. Now I know that I don’t have to baby you.”

I stuck my tongue out at her. “Skank.”

“Ho,” She shot back.

I laughed. It was like no time at all had passed between the two of us.

“Drake and the rest of the band are in the studio today. I thought we could meet up with Logan for lunch. Just the three of us like we used to do. Is that okay?” she asked.

“Sure. It’ll be just like old times.”

Chloe took us to a place she said was only a few miles away from her house and Logan’s apartment. It was far enough away from the main part of L.A. that the traffic wasn’t as bad. When we arrived at the small diner, Logan was already waiting on us, sitting at a table outside. When he saw us, he grinned and stood. I all but jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. I’d missed these two so much.

He finally pulled away and smiled down at me. “It’s about time you decided to come visit us.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I mumbled, still smiling.

Logan dropped back down into his chair. Chloe and I took our seats as well. About two seconds later, a waitress appeared beside me. At least the service was good around here. Chloe and Logan ordered the same thing, so I did, too, without bothering to look at the menu.

“How long can you stay?” Logan asked.

I shrugged. “Work told me I could have next week off, too, so I’ll probably stay until next weekend, if that’s okay with Chloe.”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course it’s okay. I’m so excited to have you here. It’s been too long since the three of us were together.”

“Agreed.” Logan grinned at me.

He looked so much happier now, compared to when he’d left West Virginia to go after Jade. There was a peaceful look in his eyes that I hadn’t seen in such a long time.