Page 98 of Breathless

She pokes Ethan. “Did y’all know Logan’s been working nights? All those times we teased him about carousing, he was putting in hours at the Stock Yard so he could pay for child support when it wasn’t even his kid? So he could pay for my medications and procedures. Don’t you give him grief on top of everythingelse.”

Bev kneels down next to me. “Honey, I wanted to let you know that I’m good with Silas. He’s apologized for being a jackass, and I’ve accepted, especially after he jumped in to help y’all the way he did, but the truth is he’s one of the reasons Logan didn’t tell you what was going on. He was afraid your brother would read your texts like he did a few years ago. That he’d learn something he shouldn’t and blab it around town to hurt us like he did in the past. You know what a hothead Silas was when he got messedup.”

Huh. That does makesense.

I nod slowly, embarrassment over my messed-up family creeping up on me. Of course Logan was afraid to tell me anything with my doped-up brother always in my business. “I hear what you’resaying.”

Ethan pulls his mother up off the sidewalk. “Cool down there, Ma. I get all that, but no one told Logan he had to go italone.”

Bev smacks his chest. “Did you hear what I said? I made him swear he wouldn’t tell you about my medical situation. And then, well, everything avalanched afterthat.”

Logan makes his way closer, and he squeezes his mom’s shoulder. “It’s okay. I understand what Ethan’s saying. I should’ve been honest.” He turns to Ethan. “Bro, I swear I was gonna come clean after your wedding. It took you so fucking long to get to a place where you were happy, where you weren’t stressed out over the ranch and Allison’s demands, and I didn’t want to bring you down again. But you’re right—this is a big deal. I screwed up and nearly got Joey killed.” His voice gets rough, and he clears histhroat.

“I’m okay, everyone. Seriously.” I try to ease myself out of the wheelchair. Four hands land on my arms to steady me. “No one needs to be blaming anyone on my account, except maybe the lady who picked up thebat.”

Samantha was arrested, and at least I don’t have to worry about her stalking meanymore.

According to the police, who searched her apartment over the weekend, they found a notebook full of details about me—places I worked, where I hung out, names of my friends, and photos from my Instagram. I told them how I thought she was the woman who got me fired, and we discussed the likelihood that she’s also the person who vandalized my grandmother’s car lastwinter.

I rub my temple, wishing I was in a bed so I could curl up. “Really. I’mfine.”

The words surprise me. I don’t know I feel that way until the words are out of mymouth.

I mean, I am fine. I’m bruised, and I’m at the center of too much drama, but I’m alive. That has to count forsomething.

Looking back and forth between the brothers, I sigh. “Don’t y’all have better things to do than be upset with each other? Hug it out orsomething.”

Tori gives me a grateful smile, wiping her eyes. Strangely, I’m not crying at the Hallmark commercial in front of me when Logan and Ethan do that bro hugthing.

Mostly, I feel numb and disconnected and want to gohome.

I don’t even know where that’s supposed to be. Where is home for menow?

The one thing I do know is I don’t want to go home withLogan.

46

Logan

Low voicesin the kitchen come to an abrupt halt when Zach and I enter. Ethan gives me a nod. Tori gives me a halfhearted smile and pours me coffee. Yeah, we’ve been a hot mess since shit went down withSamantha.

I knew my brother would be upset that I’d kept so much from him, but it’s a painful realization to think I might have damaged something permanently in our relationship. He worshipped our father, so I’m sure the news that Daniel Carter was a womanizing playboy behind the backs of his devoted wife and family has hit Ethanhard.

I motion to Zach. “Hey, buddy, why don’t you go wash your hands so you can eatbreakfast.”

The kid has been staying with me, but I bring him to Ethan’s every day to play with Mila and Cody. The police let me keep him after I showed them the DNA tests I had done when Samantha initially brought him around. I’m supposed to check in with Children’s Protective Services, but since Samantha is probably going to prison for the foreseeable future, my lawyer says they won’t care who gets the kid as long as he’s withfamily.

It’s a depressing thought, the idea that we could shuffle him around like a chess piece and no one would give a shit. I told Ethan I want to petition for custody, so Zach knows I want him. Ethan is supportive and says he plans to be in Zach’s life every step of the way and help pay for whatever heneeds.

And Joey? She’s staying at Kat and Brady’s. She says she needs time to think, so aside from talking to her at the hospital, I haven’t seen her since. Not for almost a week. It’s fucking killingme.

She’ll return my texts, but she doesn’t carry on conversation. Just answers my questions. I stop by there every day and drop off flowers. Sometimes a stuffed animal or some pie from the diner. Things I hope she likes. Mostly I want her to know I’m thinking about her and sorry as hell I hurther.

Kat and Tori are worried about her. They tell me she doesn’t say much. That she was pretty shaken by the attack and doesn’t seem like herself even though the bruises arefading.

A knock at the front door makes me turn. “You expecting anyone?” I call out. Not sure why I ask because I’m opening the door before I hear theresponse.

Solemn gray eyes stare back atme.

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