Page 94 of Breathless

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Joey

I’m lookingfor my clothes when the yellingstarts.

Gingerly, I walk toward the door and listen. The nurse got me out of bed to get me mobile last night, but I was too exhausted to do more than go to the bathroom and crawl back into bed. Since I’m being released soon, though, I’m trying to do more formyself.

“This is bullshit!” Logan’s voice booms from the hallway. “Joey’s my fuckinggirlfriend.”

I push open the door, shocked to find two security guards looking like they’re about to toss Logan out of the hospital. “It’s okay. Let himin.”

Now that I’m feeling better, I needanswers.

He rushes into my room so quickly, I have to take a step back. Then his hands are cradling my face, and Iwince.

“Shit. Did I hurt you?” He studies the stitches that run along my hairline where the psycho apparently laid me out with a baseball bat. At least, that’s what one of the nurses toldme.

I shrug out of his hold and sit on the edge of the bed, aware that I probably look like crap since I’m sporting neon-blue hospital socks, a gown with questionable stains, and greasy hair, but I can’t conjure the effort it takes to care. The only thing I need right now is thetruth.

Absentmindedly, I pick at the Band-Aid on the back of my hand where I had anIV.

“So tell me. Get everything off your chest.” My voice soundshollow.

Logan collapses in the chair next to my bed and drops his head into his hands. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to talk to you aboutthis.”

“Well, since everyone already knows your dirty secret, I’m not about to give you points for doing itnow.”

He shakes his head, his eyes squeezed shut. “Please don’t call Zach that. This isn’t hisfault.”

My heart pangs in my chest. Even now, even after everything, it still hurts to see Logan in pain. “I wasn’t talking about the boy, though, yes, he is shocking. I meant Samantha. I meant you living this whole other life and lying aboutit.”

“There’s really no excuse,” he admits before turning to look me in the eye. “I thought I was protecting my mom. She’s been through so much,and—”

I cut him off because I’m confused, and he’s starting to piss me off more. “What does Beverly have to do withanything? Please tell me you’re not blaming the way you hid your child on your mother.” I’m about to go on a rant about having character—maybe after I knee him in the balls—but the expression on his face stopsme.

“Mywhat?”

That gets him a hard eye roll. “Your. Child.The one you had with Samantha.Zachary. The kid you’ve been hiding forseven fuckingyears.” In the span of a heartbeat, my temper is volcanic. Gone is the canyon of loneliness and despair. Now I want to scorch theearth.

Logan has the audacity to gape at me like this is shocking news, and then he’s out of his seat and trying to grab my hand. “Fuck, baby.No—”

“Don’t call me baby. And don’t touchme.”

I go to move off the bed, but my legs are weak, and I start to stumble. Logan’s arms come around me, and I try to push him off, but he’s too strong, and my limbs feel likesaplings.

His voice is low in my ear. “Calm down. Don’t hurt yourself over this. Zach’s not myson.”

He kisses my temple, the one that didn’t get bashed in, and I close my eyes before I cry. I’m so frustrated and upset, and I hate myself for being in love with Logan when he’s been this deceitful. I wish it didn’t feel so good to be in his arms. I want to scream and break shit and demand that life stop trying to screwme.

“Stop lying!” I choke out. “Tell me the truth foronce!”

He doesn’t let me go. “Listen to me.” He shifts me in his arms until we’re practically nose to nose. “Zach is not my child.” I’m about to scream in his face that he’s a filthy fucking liar, when he shocks the hell out of me. “Zach is mybrother.”

“He’s your… Wait.What?”

“My brother.” A long sigh leaves his lips. “Well, my half-brother.” He gently kisses my forehead, and I’m too shocked to protest. “Maybe we should sit down forthis.”

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