Page 75 of Breathless

Bev turns back to me. “I’m thinking of expanding the garden. I can’t run around the way I used to, but maybe you’d like to help me? I’d pay you, ofcourse—”

“No, I can’t take your money. You know that. I can help because I love you and your garden.”And your son. Somuch.

She pats my hand. “Well, we’ll see about that. Anyway, Kat has me composting, but I’m not sure where to go fromthere.”

We talk about her plans for the next half hour, and I’m so happy to be included. I hadn’t realized how much I missed these moments. My extended family in Florida is wonderful, but I didn’t grow up with them, so it’s not the same. But I’ve always felt invested in the Carter ranch and in their family, ever since I was little. This feels like home. Like where I belong. And if Logan and I workout…

I stop myself from the fantasy because,hello, this is not my ranch or house or garden. But it gives me a vision for my life that I never truly thought was possible. Could Logan and I do something similar? Plant a garden in his backyard? Harvest everything for our family? Enjoy having our kids tumbling around in the fields, helpingus?

It seems almost too good to betrue.

30

Logan

The nameon my caller ID makes me do a double-take.

“Holy shit, dude. Where the hell are you?” I drop down on the steps of Ethan’s porch and strain to hear the voice on the otherend.

“A Bolivian cantina.” Isaiah Walker’s deep laughter sounds in my ear. As does loud music and female banter. No surprise there. That guy has always been the life of theparty.

I shake my head. “After that email you sent me, I was shitting my pants about your nextgig.”

This asshole forwarded me a copy of his last will and testament “just incase.”

“The Death Road is no joke. Didn’t think I should take anychances.”

And people said I had a death wish growing up. It’s nothing likeZey’s.

“Please tell me you’re done and headedhome.”

“And give up this glamorouslife?”

I roll my eyes. According to his emails, he’s living in a damn hut, eating nuts and berries, and shitting in holes he has to dig on the side of theroad.

I love this guy like my brother, but I get why Liberty broke up with him. Speakingof…

“Dude, did you talk to Liberty about that will?” God forbid something happens to Isaiah, she’s supposed to get everything. He’s amassed a small fortune in the last couple of years, but you’d never know it based on how helives.

“No. It’s a worst-case scenario type of thing anyway. She’s busy living her life. I don’t want tointrude.”

That’s the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever heard, but I don’t want to argue with him while he’s on the other side of the planet. Still, I can’t help but nudgehim.

“I’m sure she still cares about you. That was the whole point of why you guys broke up,right?”

“There’s a saying here.Me has llegado hasta la copete. It basically means ‘you’ve worn me out’ or ‘I’m tired of your crap.’ And yeah, Liberty might care about me, but she’s over my shit and has moved on.That’swhy we broke up.” He sighs. “Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you got that document. I need to focus on those trails, and I can’t if I’m worried about something thatbig.”

“Then I’m glad you called. I got your dumb will, and if you die, I will be one pissed-off motherfucker,asshole.”

We both chuckle. “So how you been? Still dealing withSamantha?”

I groan and look around to make sure I’m alone on the porch before I respond. “It’s worse than ever. I swear the more I do for her, the more shewants.”

Zey is the only person who knows about this situation. I tried to bury my sorrows in a bottle of Jack a while back when he came over and found me three sheets to the wind. And since he couldn’t remember the last time I’d been that drunk, he knew something was up and chatted my drunk ass up until I confessedeverything.

I fill him in on the last few months of drama. Until I get to the most pressing issue in mylife.

“Joey’sback.”

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