Page 113 of Just Say Yes

Better up close, actually.

I groaned, pouring myself a glass of wine and sinking into a chair. “Can we talk about literally anything else?”

“Fine,” Annie said, sitting with a dramatic sigh. “But just know we’re coming back to this.”

The conversation shifted to more general gossip—who had pranked whom, the latest drama at the historical society—but the teasing glances didn’t stop entirely. As the conversation around me turned from books to town gossip, I found myself zoning out, their voices fading into the background.

Logan had been gone for a few days now, the team gearing up for some big away game. He’d mentioned it before he dropped me off the other night, something about extra practices and being “all in” for the season.

I had nodded, pretending to understand, but the truth was, I hated the way my chest felt hollow without him here.

The thought made me snort quietly into my wine.

What was wrong with me?

He’d been gone for only a few days, and here I was, acting like I didn’t know how to function without him. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way he’d left—casual, easy, like maybe it didn’t weigh on him the same way it weighed on me.

And why would it? Logan had a life so much bigger than this tiny town. He had rugby, a career, a future. Guys like Logan didn’t stick around.

I knew that. I’d always known that.

And yet I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he looked at me—like I was more than just a woman with fucked up family baggage and a shitty ex-boyfriend.

It terrified me, the way Logan made me feel like I could be myself.

Like that was more than enough.

But then there was Trent’s text sitting unanswered in my pocket like a stone I couldn’t wait to throw away. It wasn’t until later, when the group had splintered into smaller clusters, that I found myself sitting with a few of the women I trusted most.

“Okay,” I said quietly, setting my glass down and glancing around. “I do have something I need to get off my chest.”

Emily perked up immediately. “Finally.”

“It’s not about Logan,” I added quickly.

Her face fell. “Boo.”

“It’s about Trent.”

That sobered them up instantly. Annie set her wine down, leaning in closer. “What happened?”

I hesitated. “He texted me the other night. Said he wanted to talk. That he’s sorry and he’s changed.”

The table erupted in groans and expletives.

“Oh, please,” Emily said, rolling her eyes. “That man couldn’t change if his life depended on it.”

“Did you respond?” Annie asked.

“Hell no.”

She pointed a finger at me. “Good. Don’t.”

Emily smirked. “You should send him a list of ex-boyfriend etiquette tips. Rule one: Don’t text your ex at one a.m. unless you want a restraining order.”

That got a laugh out of me, one I desperately needed.

I’d spent too long letting Trent’s words shape me, letting the doubt he planted take root. But with Logan it was different. I didn’t need to be a better version of myself. Whatever I already was seemed to be enough.

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