“No, you didn’t. Logan…” Her voice softens, like she’s trying to reach me. The real me. “Youloveher. You’ve always loved her. Don’t deny it. I could see it every time you looked at her.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does! You love her, and she loves you.”
“It doesn’t matter, Tesla.” My voice is steel now, hollow and final.
“Itdoesmatter! What the hell are we even doing on this planet if it doesn’t?”
I lift my head. “You’re my family, Tesla. I’m never going to stop taking care of you, so don’t ask me not to.”
She blinks twice. Her anger has burned away, replaced by something sadder, something heavier. “It’s that simple, huh?”
“Yes,” I say. “Maybe I did love her. Maybe I’ll hate myself every day for the rest of my life for what I did to her. I can carry that. But Ican’tlose you.”
Tesla swallows hard, her eyes lost somewhere between us. “You should’ve told me,” she says after a minute.
“You would’ve stopped me,” I say.
“Well,duh.”
I hang my shaking head. “It’s done, Tesla,” I say. “It’s done.”
She doesn’t argue anymore. Just sighs.
Then, gently, she reaches for my hand. I let her have it, allowing our calloused fingers to coil together.
She rests her head on my knee. “You should have told me,” she says again.
I don’t reply.
35
KATRINA
Jordan
EMERGENCY BAND MEETING TOMORROW MORNING. GUEST HOUSE. 7AM.
Knox
seriously?
Jordan
Yes.
Knox
is that really necessary
Jordan
YES, KNOX. THE LEAD SINGER GETTING INTO A FIST FIGHT WITH THE BASSIST IN FULL VIEW OF THE PAPARAZZI REQUIRES A BAND MEETING.
Addison
Just us or everyone?