The Promise of Us (Sanctuary Sound #2)(89)

“Hope you’re right, although it seems like it might be your first time for something else.”

He narrowed his eyes, failing to follow her logic.

“Claire? You like her . . . like, like her.” Karina seemed to be tamping down a giggle. “Could she be the woman who finally brings you to heel?”

To heel? He shook his head to reject the dog metaphor and then crossed to the door, waving her suggestion away. “I’ll see you at the airport tomorrow night.”

He could hear her laughter as he closed the door. A thin sheen of sweat coated his forehead, although his discomfort at having his feelings for Claire exposed made little sense. He trotted down the stairs and onto the sidewalk, heading west toward his place. When he arrived, Steffi was still working.

“Didn’t expect you to stay so late.” He closed his door, forcing a smile despite a dull headache.

She balanced on her ladder, mounting one of the picture-frame moldings to the wall. “Trying to get as much done as possible. No use getting caught in rush-hour traffic, and I’d rather work four long days than come back for a fifth.”

“Makes sense.” Logan tossed his keys on the counter. Some masochistic part of him wanted to edit those pictures he’d taken of Claire at the Breakers, but first he had to eat something. The apple and three beers he’d had at Karina’s wouldn’t sustain him for long. “You hungry? I’m ordering takeout.”

“Chinese?”

He shrugged. “If you want.”

“I’m not starving, but I can always eat a spring roll and pan-fried dumplings.” She nailed another section of the molding.

He noted the paint cans, sprayers, brushes, and such collected in one corner. Drop cloths folded into piles. He’d cleared out most of his furniture so they could work while he traveled, but he wasn’t looking forward to sleeping on the blow-up mattress tonight. “When will you start painting?”

“I’ve finished the sanding and caulking, and am almost done with this framing. I should get a coat of primer done by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Guess it’s a good thing I’m getting out of here tomorrow, so I won’t have to sleep with the paint fumes.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t stay at Arcadia this week.” She peered at him as if he might respond to her statement. She could fish all she wanted, but he wasn’t biting. Steffi climbed down the ladder and came to the kitchen to get a glass of water. “Are you looking forward to your trip?”

“You say that like I’m going on vacation.” He wondered how much Claire had shared with Steffi, and if Steffi agreed with Claire. If he asked about her, Steffi would be all over him, and he didn’t want that. Not tonight, anyway. He was leaving for weeks and had no idea what to expect from his trip, let alone worry about what he might want when he returned. “I’m hoping what we do there might make a difference. It’ll be draining, no doubt.”

“Must be weird to get back into the groove after taking so much time to help Peyton.” She patted his shoulder. “You did an awesome thing for your sister. I hope you know how much it meant to her, and how much I admire you for it.”

“I didn’t do it for praise.”

“All the more reason why it deserves some.” Steffi gulped down the water.

“Thanks.” He pulled out menus from some local Chinese places that delivered.

“You okay? You seem off, like you aren’t eager to go. I know Claire’s worried about this trip.” Steffi held up her hand to stave off questions. “She hasn’t said much, and even if she had, I wouldn’t tell you anything, but she’s distracted, and I know it’s because of you.”

Logan didn’t want to add to Claire’s stress, yet hearing about her concern made him happy. She missed him. She still cared. Maybe time apart would make her rethink her hasty decision. “I’ll be checking in on Peyton now and then, so she can reassure Claire of my safety while I’m away.”

“Why don’t you do that yourself?”

“Because she ended it, Steffi.” He crossed his arms. “Not me.”

Steffi waved him off. “Pfft. That’s a technicality.”

“A big one, don’t you think?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “You and I both know that was a preemptive strike. She nipped it in the bud before saying goodbye would hurt too much.”

Maybe, but that still had been her choice, not his. “And now we’ll never know what might’ve happened.”

Steffi shook her head. “You’re no smarter than I was in college. That’s sad, Logan. Especially since I had the excuse of being nineteen at the time.”

He leaned against the counter. “Just because you and Ryan found your way back to each other doesn’t mean every other couple can or even should make it work. And I’m not the only one with issues here. Claire’s got her own to overcome.”

“I know. The only reason I’m not pissed at you is because you got her to question what she’s been missing out on all these years. I never succeeded, and neither did Peyton. She might not make changes on your preferred time frame or scale, but she’s better off for having spent time with you.”

Small comfort. “For her sake, I hope so. She deserves a full life.”