Page 127 of That Last Secret

I’m actually crying, too. You’re going to be the best nurse.

I’m so proud of you.

My palms feelsweaty under the table after sending that text message.

Oliver, Marc and Thomas all have their eyes on the group chat Emiline started to tell us the good news. I sat there, having no idea how to respond. I couldn’tnotrespond, because it would look weird.

Are they all reading too much into my text?

“Aww. You’re nice to her,” Oliver coos.

I raise a brow at his comment. “As opposed to?”

“She thinks you hate her,” Thomas chimes in, and I tilt my head more in confusion. “Remember that night I forced you to give her your sweatshirt? She told me then she thought you hate her.”

The words come out so casually.

As if it’s no big deal.

That was over a year ago. I felt justified at the time because I thought I did hate her. Iwantedto hate her because I started looking at her differently.

I shrug a shoulder at his comment. “I don’t know,” I say, which is my best response to keep my mouth shut and avoid spilling the truth about what’s really happening.

“Either way, that was nice of you to say that to her. I know she’s hard on herself,” Thomas says.

“I’m glad she’s done with school now so she can come around a little more,” Marc adds. “I felt terrible for all the times she couldn’t make it because she was studying.”

“I agree. I hated when she missed Taco Tuesday the night Macey met everyone,” Oliver says.

I swallow past the lump in my throat because it’s the first night they’ve brought this up and now all three of them have their eyes on me.

“She was studying… right, Logan?” Thomas says with a bite to his tone.

No. I took her boxing and then when we got back to her house, I had the best sex of my life.

I raise my hands in defense. “Don’t look at me. I have no clue what she was doing that night,” I lie.

And fuck, I hate lying to them.

It’s the first time I’ve been questioned and forced to lie. If I tell them everything now without her here, it’s going to piss her off. It’s going to pissthemoff.

“We’re going to murder you, ya know?” Marc jokes.

This time, I don’t have it in me to throw a joke back.

“I think I’ll head out guys,” I tell them, standing from the chair.

“What? It’s your birthday. Have another drink with us,” Oliver says.

“I worked last night and barely slept today.”

Because I stayed up late to kiss your sister good luck before her exam.

“Okay, that’s a valid excuse.” Oliver laughs.

The three men who are like brothers to me stand and hug me for my birthday and to say goodbye.

After that, I head home with only one Ford family member on my mind and wanting to see before the end of the day.

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