Page 124 of Riding the Sugar High

“I’m sorry,” she whines. She throws her head back, groaning loudly. “I like you so much, Prim, but I have to do this. You get it, right? Do you get it?”

“Uh...yes?”

“If I don’t, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

What the hell is she talking about? Is this about the case?

I close the door behind her as she nearly trips over the couch. “Wait,” I call as she darts into the corridor. Once I hear the bedroom door open, I groan into my hands.

The piglets.

Lola trots over and throws herself at my feet. I don’t know how, but I know she’s telling me Josie disturbed her nap, and could I please get her the fuck out of here?

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, leaning down to cuddle her. I can only hope Josie is too drunk to remember this tomorrow. Or, I guess, that her testimony won’t count. I rub under Lola’s chin, and her lips stretch as if smiling. “We’ll need to be patient tonight, okay? She’s...going through a rough patch.”

Lola keeps looking at me, her black eyes sparkling with gratitude, and with a sigh, I walk to the phone and pick up the receiver.

I open the notebook, look up Aaron’s number, and dial. As the line rings, I think about the last time I saw Josie. I’ve witnessed herthisdrunk on three separate occasions now. It can’t be by chance, and someone needs to help her.

“Hello?” Logan’s voice answers.

“Hey. Guess who showed up here?”

“Oh, thank god. Is she okay? Did she say what happened?”

“She just got here,” I explain. “I figured you should know immediately. But I’m not sure she’s in the right condition to talk.”

“Is she...?”

I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head. “Drunk, yes.”

There’s a long silence, then, “Give us twenty minutes.”

“Logan?”

“Yeah.”

“She said...she said she has to do something. That if she doesn’t, she’ll regret it for the rest of her life.”

There’s a moment of silence, then, “Okay.”

“Do you have any idea what she’s talking about?”

“Uh, yes. I think I do.”

Goosebumps spread across my skin, an ominous feeling settling in my chest.

Logan is a private guy. Closed-off, distrustful, and despite everything we’ve been through together, we only met thirteen days ago. He needs more than that to open up completely, and I’m sure whateverthisis about, it’s not as bad as I’m picturing. I’m sure he had his reasons not to share.

“Do you think...you’re ready to tell me?”

“Yes. Yes, I am. As soon as we get home, okay? We’ll sort Josie and Aaron out, then we’ll talk.”

See? Nothing to freak out about. He wants to talk and open up; he just needs time. Though we only have four days left, I’ll give him all the time I can get my hands on.

“Okay. See you soon.”

I walk into the corridor, only to notice the light in Logan’s bedroom is on. Josie is lying on his bed, her head hanging off the mattress and her body thrown across it. Her red hair, usually smooth, is now a messy nest over her head, and there’s a little drool on her chin.

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