Toxic: Logan's Story (Torn #4)(31)

It’d been hard to hide things from Eric when I would wake up screaming and crying in the middle of the night. The day I’d told him how my stepdad had blackened one of my eyes because I got a D on a report for school, I’d thought he was going to drive back to Tennessee and kick his ass.

I hadn’t been the only one who had nightmares though. Eric had had his fair share, and he’d finally come clean to me about what happened to him and the things he witnessed. I couldn’t even process it. Eric was always so calm and put together on the outside, but on the inside, he was broken beyond repair.

“So, want to give me a little Jade history before we get there?” Logan asked.

We’d just stopped at a small diner for lunch and were now back on the interstate. We had less than an hour before we arrived in Crossville.

I tapped my finger against my chin as we merged back onto the interstate. “Let’s see. My stepdad’s name is David, and my mom’s name is Elizabeth. I look nothing like my mom. My little sister’s name is Bethaney, and I look nothing like her either. I grew up in a middle-class family. David was a pharmacist while Mom stayed home with us. Crossville is a small town, so there isn’t a lot to do there. We have a bowling alley, a movie theater, a Sonic, and a Walmart. I didn’t really have any friends, except for Mikey and his friends. My sister, on the other hand, was a social butterfly.”

Logan nodded. “Where are we going when we get there?”

“Well, I thought we could rent a hotel room and get settled in tonight. Then, we can go confront my parents and try to steal Bethaney away tomorrow. For all I know, she doesn’t even live at home anymore. She’s nineteen now. Once I meet up with her, I’ll know how long we’ll stay in town. If she hates me, we’ll leave. If she wants to spend time with me, maybe we can look for someplace to stay for a month or two.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with seeing your stepdad again? You know you don’t have to. There’s got to be another way to get in touch with Bethaney. Maybe go to one of her friend’s houses and have them call her?”

I shook my head. “Nope. I’m going to confront the bastard. He made me feel like I was worthless, and I can’t wait to tell him just how much I’ve accomplished since I ran away. I want him to know that he didn’t win. I’m not afraid of him anymore.”

“Fair enough.”

We were both quiet as we sped toward my past. I couldn’t help but wonder what Bethaney looked like now. When I’d left, she was nothing more than a mouthy preteen. I couldn’t imagine her all grown-up. To me, she would always be my baby sister.

“Do you plan to look up Mikey while we’re here?” Logan asked.

His tone had indicated that he didn’t care, but I knew better. He was back to gripping the steering wheel like he wanted to break it. I couldn’t hide my smile. He was jealous—because of me.

“Nah. I’m over him, and I have been for a long time. I’m sure he feels the same. There’s no point in finding him. All he would do is yell at me for leaving and then send me on my way.”

Logan seemed satisfied with my answer. “Okay then.”

We started passing signs leading us to the exit for Crossville. My palms turned sweaty when I realized I was really going home. No, I was practically home now. Nerves fluttered in my stomach as I tried to keep my breathing normal.

“You okay?” Logan asked as he took the exit.

“I’m fine,” I said in a small voice. I wasn’t fooling either of us though.

“Jade, we can turn around right now and go home. No one will ever have to know that we came here. Or we could even take a road trip like we told everyone. It doesn’t matter to me. You’re in control here.”

You’re in control. I sat up straighter and forced the butterflies in my stomach to take a flying leap. I. Am. In. Control. I can do this.

“Nope. We’ve come this far. I’m seeing this through to the end, no matter what.”

“Which way?” Logan asked when we stopped at the end of the exit ramp.

“Right. There’s a motel a few miles down the road. We can stay there until we know what we’re doing.”

Neither of us spoke as Logan drove toward the motel. Once we arrived, I checked us into a room with double beds. Logan and I each carried our overnight bags up to the room. There was no point in carrying all of our things up if we were only staying here for a day or two. If I remembered right, there was another place that rented rooms by the month. We could move there if things worked out since we’d be in town for more than a few days.

“Which bed do you want?” I asked once we were inside the room.

It wasn’t anything fancy, but it would do. I actually preferred staying in places like this rather than the five-star rooms the label had put us in. It was also nice not to be swamped by security. I wasn’t Breaking the Hunger’s Jade here. I was just plain old Jade, and I loved it. I didn’t have to pretend for anyone, especially not Logan.

“Doesn’t matter to me,” Logan said as he dropped his bag onto the floor in front of the dresser.

I shrugged as I dropped my bag in front of the bed closest to the window. “I’ll take the window then.”

He grinned as he lay down on the other bed. “What do you want to do for dinner tonight?”