Toxic: Logan's Story (Torn #4)(45)

“Good.” She paused before grinning at me. “Now, about Eric…”





After we finished up our lunch, Bethaney and I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Crossville. We talked about the things we’d seen and done over the past six years. She loved listening to my stories of how Adam would get himself in trouble, and one of us would have to bail his dumbass out.

When I’d told her about Drake’s cocaine problem, she had been shocked. Apart from our little group of friends, no one knew what he had gone through. The label had been very careful to keep his problems private. I cried when I told her about the night he’d overdosed. I thought I’d lost him then, and reliving the memories of that night nearly brought me to my knees. Even though he seemed truly happy with Chloe, I knew I’d watch him for a long time. I would never let him go back to how he had been.

When it was almost dark, I finally called Logan to pick us up. Bethaney and I had ended up at the old playground, and that was where Logan found us, sitting on the swings. Logan dropped Bethaney off at Lily’s, and I promised her that we would get together in a few days. I needed to find a place for Logan and me to stay until we were ready to go home. Since we only wanted to rent for two months, I knew we’d have very few places to choose from.

Once we dropped her off, Logan and I stopped at a diner for dinner. It was a small family-run business that I’d only been in a few times before. My goal while I was here was to stay away from all the places where I used to hang out. I didn’t want someone from the past to see me. I didn’t want to explain why I’d left or what I’d been up to the last few years. I was here to see Bethaney, and that was it. I wasn’t interested in seeing old friends. None of them mattered to me anymore.

“So, how did things go with your sister?” Logan asked after we’d placed our orders.

“It was actually good. She wants me to stick around, so I thought you and I could go hunting tomorrow for a place to stay while we’re here.”

“Works for me. As much as I like our hotel room, it’d be nice to have an actual apartment or house to stay in.”

“Agreed. The hotel room is way too tiny. Hopefully, we can find someplace with a washer and dryer. I’m tired of using Laundromats. I hate washing my clothes where a complete stranger’s underwear was before.”

Logan laughed. “You’re so strange. I never noticed before.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I asked, suddenly self-conscious.

“Not at all. It’s cute and refreshing.”

“Oh, okay. Good,” I said.

I had no idea where strong, independent Jade had gone, but she needed to get her ass back here pronto. I wasn’t used to second-guessing myself the way I did around Logan, and it sucked.

“What are you thinking?” Logan asked.

I looked up, realizing that I’d been staring down at the table in front of me for longer than I should have. “Nothing. Just thinking.”

“Jade…”

“Ugh, fine. I was just wondering why I’m always second-guessing myself around you. I’m not usually like this. You make me nervous, and I’m always worried that I’m going to say or do something that’s going to make you rethink this whole thing with me.”

“Jade, never doubt yourself, especially around me. I like you just the way you are. Nothing you do or say is going to change that, okay? Just be who you are.”

Our food arrived, and we ate in silence. I couldn’t stop myself from glancing at him every few minutes. He was just…perfect. He was sweet and kind on the inside and sexy as hell on the outside. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I’d be sitting here with him. Men like him were one in a million, and I’d never been the kind of girl who would normally have a chance with a guy like him.

I realized that my stepdad had really f*cked with me. That thought angered me. He’d damaged me so long ago, killing my self-esteem, and I was still fighting with myself to get over the things he’d beat into me.

“You ready?” Logan asked once we finished.

“Yeah.” I pulled out a few bills and dropped them on the table, ignoring the glare Logan was sending my way.

He wrapped his arm around me as we walked outside to where he’d parked the car. I snuggled into him, loving the feel of his body pressed against mine.

He stopped on my side of the car and kissed me gently. “I missed you today,” he said quietly.

“I missed you, too.”

He grinned before walking around to his side of the car.

All the way back to the hotel, he kept bringing my hand up to his lips and kissing it. I couldn’t help but smile at his sweetness. We were both so different, yet we clicked. I was the hard-ass who would go balls to the wall on everything while he was the quiet, sweet type. We complemented each other’s personality perfectly.

When we arrived at the hotel, I stepped out of the car and stretched. I squealed when Logan scooped me up and started carrying me to our room.

“Put me down!” I yelped.

He ignored my protests as he stopped at our door and stuck the key card into the slot. He opened the door and stepped inside. The minute the door closed, he had me pressed up against it, and he began kissing me until I couldn’t breathe. His hands cupped my bottom, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer.