Page 47 of The Breakaway

I let out an exasperated sigh. “I helped you clean toilets!”

He laughed and walked up the path to the front door and turned the key in the lock. “The toilets were for the violin. You have nothing on?—”

He stopped mid sentence, and I ran into the back of him. “Rob, what—” I froze when I caught sight of something—someone—over his shoulder. “Logan?”

Chapter

Seventeen

I steppedthrough the front door, dirty and dishevelled. Logan sat on the couch, arms crossed, face stormy. My stomach dropped.

"Where the hell have you been?" he snapped. "I've been waiting for hours."

Logan was here. In our house. I blinked, wondering if all the cleaning chemicals had gone to my head. “How—I’m sorry, you’ve been here for hours?” I glanced down at my grimy clothes, suddenly self-conscious. Great first impression after not seeing him for weeks. Rob brushed past me, kicking off his shoes.

Logan tensed. “So you two are just hanging out now?”

I motioned to my clothes. “Does it look like we were hanging out?”

"She left her violin in the arts centre. I had a key,” Rob explained with a shrug before ducking into his room.

I hung up my coat and took off my shoes. “I helped him with his shift because he was doing me a favour. The Outlaws have conditioning assessments tomorrow.”

Logan barely acknowledged our explanations, his jaw working.

I walked closer and stopped in front of him. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were coming. You should have told me." I tried to keep the accusation out of my voice. Apparently not very well.

"I wanted to surprise you!" Logan threw his hands up in exasperation. "I got in late last night, had stupid press releases all day, then showed up here at eight o'clock to an empty house. Surprise!"

The sarcasm stung. I bristled. "Well if you’d let me know, I would've made sure to be here." I put out a hand, resting it on his shoulder. “I love surprises. I’m sorry I was an idiot and left my violin on campus.”

Rob made a noise behind us, but thankfully, Logan didn’t notice. The room to his door was still open.

Logan ran a hand through his blond hair, deflating slightly. "I just missed you so much, Shar. I couldn't wait to see you and now . . ." He gestured vaguely.

My anger faded, replaced by guilt. Here he was, so eager to please. And I welcomed him by picking a fight.

"I missed you too." I slipped my hands around his waist. He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close. I breathed him in, but couldn’t fully relax. Not with Rob standing right there.

Rob reappeared and shuffled around the living room, obviously trying to make himself invisible. When he crossed behind us toward his bedroom again, Logan cleared his throat.

"What, no warm welcome? Afraid you'll miss your beauty sleep, Thompson?"

Rob paused, his jaw clenching. I rested my cheek on Logan’s chest and braced myself for a dig. To my shock, he simply shook his head.

"Conditioning at the crack of dawn. Then an exam in physics." Rob's tone remained neutral. "Sorry I can’t be around."

"Sure, man. You do you." Logan wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, and I almost flinched.

Rob’s eyes flared, his jaw tightening. “I’m assuming press means you didn’t get cut.”

I shot him a sharp look.Was that really necessary?He just shrugged, unrepentant.

Logan chuckled. “Nope. We leave for Europe on the third.” His energy returned like he’d just gotten a jolt of caffeine. “Can you believe I get to play there?” He ran his thumb over my skin. “Insane.”

Rob was so still, I forgot to breathe. "Insane.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Congrats, bud. Glad it’s working out.” He turned and stalked to his bedroom, and I exhaled, finally sinking against Logan.

"You didn't have to snap at him like that," I chided gently once Rob's door clicked shut. "He's been helping me out. Cut him some slack."

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