Toxic: Logan's Story (Torn #4)(63)

I ended up staying with my mom for two days before heading back to Morgantown. Now that I knew exactly what had happened between her and my father, I didn’t feel as resentful toward her for moving us around so much. I hated how my dad had made her suffer for years just because she chose to protect us from him. I didn’t feel any loss knowing my dad was dead. It was probably a blessing that I’d never known the bastard.

I promised my mom that I would come back to visit her again sometime soon, and I meant it. I wasn’t sure when, but I would make it down to Charleston even if it was just for the weekend.

On the drive home, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was doing the right thing. I’d thought about what Chloe, Drake, and my mom had told me, and I knew they were right. If I didn’t talk to Jade, I would always wonder what had really happened that night. I had to know the truth.

As I pulled into the driveway of my house, I saw Chloe and Drake walking to their rental car. I parked my car beside theirs and climbed out. Chloe gave me a tentative smile as I walked over to her.

“Hey, Logan,” Chloe said.

“Hi. You guys leaving?”

“Yeah, we’re heading to the airport now. I was hoping you’d make it back before we left. I didn’t feel right leaving without telling you bye.”

“I’m glad I caught you guys. I was wondering if you had room for one more on the flight back to L.A.” I grinned down at her.

Her eyes widened in surprise before she gave me a huge grin. “Of course we do!”

“Okay, give me a few minutes to pack up some of my stuff.”

“Yay! That’s fine. Whenever you’re ready,” Chloe said excitedly.

I glanced over at Drake as I passed by him. He gave me a silent nod before turning his attention to Chloe. I walked inside and straight back to my room. I grabbed one of my old luggage bags, dropped it onto the bed, and unzipped it. After grabbing my clothes out of the closet and dresser, I tossed them inside and walked across the hall to the bathroom to grab some of my stuff.

“What are you doing?” Amber asked, stopping mid-step at the bathroom.

“I’m going to L.A. with Chloe and Drake, so I can talk to Jade.”

“Are you kidding me? Everyone is going to California, and I’m stuck here without any of you!”

“I’ll be back, Amber. Classes start soon.”

“Yeah, right. You’ll make up with Jade, and then you’ll move to L.A. with her and have five kids, abandoning me in the process.”

I snorted. “Really, Amber?”

“Yes, really! You just wait! And when I turn out to be right, I expect an apology and some flowers.”

“Amber, I will be back. For starters, I can’t just drop out of school. Also, half the rent on this place is mine to pay, remember? I’m not just going to abandon you.”

“Like Chloe did? She also had school and rent to pay, but that didn’t stop her.”

I rolled my eyes as I walked past her and back into my room. I threw the rest of my stuff into my bag, zipped it, and turned back to Amber. “I’ll see you in a week or so, okay? No wild parties while I’m gone.”

“Yeah, whatever. Out of the three of us, I never thought that I’d be the one left behind while you two go off and do whatever your hearts’ desire.”

I grabbed my bag and walked over to her. “I’ll miss you, too, Amber.”

I kissed her forehead before walking past her and down the hall.

“Logan?” she called after me.

I glanced back. “Yeah?”

“Will you let me know how Adam is? I didn’t want to ask Chloe because it would be awkward since she’s around him so much.”

I grinned. “Yeah, if I see him, I’ll let you know. You could always call him and see for yourself.”

She shook her head. “Nah, it’s been almost a year since we talked. No going back now.”

I opened my mouth to tell her to stop being so damn stubborn and just call him, but I stopped myself. Who was I to give relationship advice?

“Behave yourself while I’m gone,” I teased before walking out the door.

Chloe and Drake were sitting in their rental car, waiting for me. Drake popped the trunk with the lever inside as I walked over. I threw my bag inside and then climbed into the backseat.

“That didn’t take very long,” Chloe remarked as I fastened my seat belt.

“I’m not a girl. It doesn’t take me two days to pack.”

“Oh, whatever. I don’t pack that much.”

Drake snorted as he started backing out of the driveway. “Bullshit. The back of this car says you’re full of shit.”

“That’s different! We were gone for a whole summer! Of course I needed a lot of stuff.”

Drake glanced back at me in the rearview mirror and shook his head, but he said nothing. Chloe stuck her tongue out at him as he drove away from the house and toward the interstate.



“So, what changed your mind?” Chloe asked as we approached the Pittsburgh airport.

“My mom,” I said.

She turned in her seat to stare at me. “Your mom? Seriously? That’s where you went?”

I shrugged. “I didn’t intend to go there, but that’s where I ended up. We talked a little bit. She even told me about my dad. She said some stuff that made a lot of sense.”