Toxic: Logan's Story (Torn #4)(65)

When we pulled up to their house twenty minutes later, I was surprised. Chloe hadn’t been kidding. While the house was large, it was simple. There was nothing flashy about it. It looked like every other house on this street. It was a two-story white house with a black roof. It had a small front porch with a high privacy fence extending all the way around the house. The only hint that someone famous lived here was the keypad on the gate and the huge privacy fence.

“Home, sweet home,” Drake said before climbing out of the car. He walked over to the gate. After punching a combination into the keypad, he swung the gate open.

The driver and the rest of us each grabbed a few bags and carried them up to the house. Drake unlocked the door, disabled the alarm, and continued inside. We followed and sat all the luggage next to the door.

I smirked at Chloe as I watched her separate her blue bags from Drake’s. “And you said you didn’t have that much luggage.”

“Oh, bite me, *. We were gone for months!”

I laughed as I grabbed a few of her bags and carried them up the stairs. I followed her into the first bedroom on the second floor. I glanced around the room before putting her bags down and walking down the steps to carry more up for her. I passed Drake on the stairs as he carried two of his own bags up. He only had two left by the door while Chloe still had four. Yeah, she definitely hadn’t packed light. Once all of her bags were in her room, I grabbed my bag and followed Chloe down the second-floor hallway to one of the guest rooms.

“Is this one okay?” she asked as she opened the door.

We walked into the room. It was much larger than the one I had back in West Virginia. The walls and carpet were a cream color. A queen-sized bed sat against the far wall. Other than that and a closet, the room was completely empty.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Thank you for letting me stay with you. I shouldn’t be here for more than a few days.”

“You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”

“I also owe you and Drake for convincing me to come out here, especially after I said all those things to you and after hitting Drake.”

“Don’t apologize for what you said to me. I deserved it. And you felt better after you got everything out, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I guess. I still shouldn’t have said what I did though.”

She shook her head. “Logan, you and Amber have always been my best friends. We’ve been through the good, the bad, and the horrible together. You’ve never kept things from me, and I don’t expect you to now. No matter what happens, we’ll always be friends.”

“Even if I join the circus and Amber runs off to be a hooker in Las Vegas?” I joked.

“Even then. Besides, if you joined the circus, I’d come to watch you perform. And we both know we’d go after Amber if she followed her hooker dreams.”

“True.” I grinned at her. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Are you really happy with Drake? I mean, is being with him everything you thought it would be?”

She gave me a hesitant smile. “It really is. He’s everything I’ve ever hoped for. I can’t even begin to explain how he makes me feel. It’s like my whole world became clear once we finally found each other again. Because of everything Drake and I have been through, I now believe in fate. I mean, there’s no way we would have ended up together if it wasn’t for fate. There were just too many things in our way.”

I pulled her to me and hugged her tightly. “I love you, Chloe, and I’m truly happy for you. You deserve some happiness after everything you’ve had to endure.”

“I love you, too. And, Logan?”

“Yeah?”

“Like I said, I believe in fate. I think you and Jade found each other for a reason. Don’t let obstacles get in your way if you really love her. If it’s meant to be, it will happen.”

I released her and stepped back. “I hope you’re right. The way I felt when Jade and I were together…Jade is special, just like you are.”

“Then, don’t let her get away, no matter what.”

“After I talk to her, I’m hoping that things will work out for us.”

“When do you plan to talk to her?” Chloe asked.

“As soon as I can. Classes are starting soon, so I can’t stay long. I want things resolved before I go back to West Virginia.”

She frowned. “Why are you so determined to go back to West Virginia?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s not like you have anything to keep you there. You could transfer schools and stay here. Your job isn’t a big deal. There are plenty of places that would hire you here.”

“I can’t just leave everything and move.”

“I did.” Chloe grinned at me.

“Yeah, but it’s just Amber and me on the rent now. I can’t just abandon her.”

She laughed. “I told you earlier. Her parents will help her. Don’t let trivial things hold you back if you really want to be here with Jade.”

“Amber is trivial?” I asked, surprised that Chloe would refer to Amber that way.

“No, that’s not what I meant. What I’m trying to say is that you keep finding insignificant things, like rent, to hold you back. If you want to stay with Jade, then stay. Things have a way of working themselves out.”