Toxic: Logan's Story (Torn #4)(24)

Adam came out of the bathroom just as we pulled up to the airport. After climbing out of the bus and grabbing our bags, we bypassed security and walked straight to the label’s private jet. It was almost the same as the one the label had originally sent to West Virginia before we even signed with them. Five seats were on each side, and in the back, two couches were situated directly in front of two flat-screen televisions mounted on the wall.

The first time we’d stepped onto a plane like this, the entire band had been amazed at the extravagance of it. By this point, we were used to it. Things had changed so much since then. I’d barely had enough money to pay bills before we left West Virginia. Now, I had my own place in L.A. where the rent was more than three times the amount of the old place I’d shared with Eric. Money wasn’t a problem anymore. That was probably my favorite thing about signing with the label. After spending years of just barely making it, it was nice to buy what I wanted.

I settled into one of the seats and hooked my seat belt. The rest of the band and Chloe did the same as we waited for takeoff. Once we were in the air, I took off my seat belt and reclined my seat until I was almost lying down. I took the blanket Eric handed over and threw it on me. Within minutes, I was asleep. Lucky for me, Logan was waiting for me behind my closed eyes.



I awoke several hours later to Eric nudging me. I opened my eyes and stared up at him.

He dropped down into the seat next to me. “We’ll be landing soon.”

“Thank God. All I want to do is go home and sleep for a week.”

“Me, too. This tour kicked my ass,” Eric said.

I looked out the window to see that it was still dark. Even though we’d left at just after midnight in London and traveled a little over ten hours, it was still dark here. Time changes always f*cked with me when I was flying. I felt like it should be early morning.

“So, what do you plan to do while we have some time off?” Eric asked.

I hesitated. Eric of all people knew how bad my home life had been. He’d picked me up not long after I ran away, and he’d seen how f*cked-up I was. I knew he wouldn’t approve of me going back for the ultimate family reunion.

“I’m going home,” I said quietly.

“What? Back to West Virginia? How come?”

I shook my head. “I’m going home.”

“Oh.” He was quiet for a minute, obviously trying to figure out why I would want to do something stupid like that. “Why?”

“Bethaney.”

He nodded. “She’s what? Eighteen now?”

“Yeah. I wanted to wait until they couldn’t stop me from seeing her. I just hope that she wants to see me after all this time. She probably thinks I abandoned her.”

“She saw what he did to you, right?”

I nodded.

“Then, I’m sure she understands why you left when you did. A person can only take so much, Jade.”

“I know. I just hope she sees it that way. I’m nervous to see her again. She won’t be the little girl I left behind.”

“You’re still her big sister. I’m sure she’ll be excited to see you.”

“I hope so. I can’t wait to hug her again. I’ve missed her so much.”

“I know you have. You know, I don’t have any plans for this summer besides sleeping. Do you mind if I tag along with you? I don’t want you to go by yourself, especially since I’m sure you’ll run into your stepdad.”

I bit my lip. “That’s okay. Someone already offered to go with me.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

He knew that the only friends I had were the guys and Chloe, so I understood his surprised look.

“Uh…Logan.”

His eyes widened before he glanced over to where Chloe and Drake were sitting. “Chloe’s Logan?”

“He’s not hers, Eric.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I just…shit, sorry. You just surprised me. I didn’t even know you two were friends.”

I gave him a meaningful look. “We all have our secrets, Eric. You should know that better than anyone.”

He looked away, and I knew he wouldn’t push the subject anymore. If he did, it meant that I would ask him questions he wouldn’t want to answer.

The seat belt light came on, and we buckled up as the plane slowly descended into the lights of L.A. It was good to finally be done with the tour and back in America.

“You’ll call me if you need anything, right?” Eric finally asked.

I nodded. “You know I will. You’re the closest thing to family I have, Eric.”

“Good. I don’t want to worry about you.”

“I’ll be fine. I have every intention of confronting my stepdad while I’m there. David is nothing more than a bully, and it’s time someone put him in his place. I’m going to tell my mom what I think of her, too, but my main focus will be spending time with Bethaney.”

Eric took my hand in his and squeezed. “Give ’em hell, kid.”

I grinned. “Oh, you can bet your ass I will.”





I spent two days sleeping and recovering before packing some of my clothes and flying back to West Virginia. Besides Eric, no one knew what my plans were, and I wanted to keep it that way. Mentally, I knew that I would be f*cked-up by the time I returned to L.A. I just wasn’t sure if it would be Logan’s fault or my stepdad’s.