Page 58 of Love in Pieces

“Where are we going?”

“To talk to Dallas. He knows more about all of this than I do.”

***

“Logan?” Dallas callsfrom behind the bar. “What are you ... Abby? What’s going on?” He pauses all movement, concern lacing his features.

“Wow. Really, Dal? You’re supposed to be working. Not socializing.” The girl at the other end of the bar folds her arms. I’ve seen her here a few times. I’ve probably gotten a few drinks from her before, too. Though, I have noticed the looks she shoots me when she likely thinks I’m not looking. I’ve ignored them.

“Aubrey? Not. Now.” Dallas cocks his head in her direction, not quite looking at her. His jaw clenches after each word. He turns back to look at us, incredibly annoyed. “What’s wrong?”

“Can you take a break?” Logan asks, resting his elbows on the bar. I remain a few feet behind him, hands gripping my purse strap tightly. Dallas looks back at Aubrey. She shakes her head but waves a hand at him and storms off in the opposite direction. He drops the towel on the bar before coming around to the front. Logan nods toward the parking lot and I’m thankful he has enough consideration to prevent the entire bar from hearing about my drama.

Once we turn the corner of the brick building, Dallas pivots quickly, arms folded, and it takes everything in me to not run from his body language. He’s mad, and I can’t quite tell if it’s directed at me, Logan, or Aubrey.

“So?” Irritation drips from that single word.

“First of all, if you’re having a bad day, taking it out on us is not an option. So, get your head out of your ass.”

Dallas licks his lips as his hands drop to his sides, clenched in tight fists. “Sorry. Aubrey’s getting under my skin today.”

“Unfortunately, that’s going to have to wait.” Logan leans a shoulder against the brick while I remain a few feet back from where they stand.

“Why?” he asks, calmer this time. He glances at me, searching for answers.

Logan pulls my phone out of his pocket, handing it to me to unlock. Dallas watches me curiously. Logan takes the phone again, looking at me for the okay. I nod and focus on Dallas as Sam’s voice plays again. I thought it would get easier each time I heard it, but it feels like I hear another layer of anger and irritation with each playback. I know it’s a slippery slope until he finds me again.

Dallas grits his teeth before pounding a fist against the red brick building. “When did he send this?” Dallas asks, almost too calm.

I finally speak. “Maybe an hour ago?” I focus on my breathing, taking deep breaths trying to keep myself from breaking down again.

Dallas hangs his head, shaking it slowly. “I’m going to kill that fucker.”

***

Logan and I have spentthe rest of the day in the apartment mostly watching movies. I think he’s trying to keep my mind busy. I’m not complaining, but it feels like he’d rather be doing anything other than this. He’s not much of a movie person, that much I’ve gathered. We haven’t talked since we got home. Dallas couldn’t leave work early. So, it’s just been us, on opposite ends of the couch, watching romcom after romcom. He’d asked what my favorite movie was, and when I told him it wasThe Princess Bride, he stuck with the same genre all day long.

The silence, aside from the characters on TV, finally breaks when Dallas walks in at almost midnight. Logan had fallen asleep hours ago, but I couldn’t sleep. I wouldn’t let myself sleep. Not when the tiniest sounds shake me to my core and the only thing that calms my nerves again is to force myself to focus on something, anything, other than the what-ifs.

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