Page 26 of Hypothetical Heart
We’re all laughing now becauseit’s so obvious. Genevieve wouldn’t stand outside trying to light charcoal on fire if she had a gun to her head.
“So, Jameson offered to do it for you, and you accepted,” Eloise states, like we should have known all along.
“Well then, let’s go sit by the fire,” I say, pulling my shoes on and heading for the back door.
Later that night, we reverted back to our easygoing nights in, with no plans of clubbing in sight.
After it started raining and our fire went out, we brought our half-eaten burgers inside and all took seats around the living room. Eloise, Luke, and I are sitting on the floor around the coffee table, Logan is in the recliner behind me, and Jameson and Genevieve are on the couch.
Some type of murder documentary is playing on the television, but I’ve barely glanced at it. I would rather not have nightmares tonight, thank you.
Eloise and Luke have been going back and forth arguing about the best way to get away with murder, and occasionally Genevieve will butt in on why exactly their plans wouldn’t work.
It’s quite entertaining.
I feel Logan’s foot press into my back as I take the last bite of my burger, and I turn to find him holding out a hand for my plate. “I’ll wash dishes tonight.”
I stand. “I’ll help.”
I’m not even sure anyone else notices us get up and make our way to the kitchen because of how intense their best-way-to-get-away-with-murder conversationhas gotten.
“You wash, I’ll dry,” I say, collecting the rest of the dishes and dumping them in the sink.
We wash dishes in silence for a good amount of time, the only sounds traveling through the kitchen being the sink running and Logan scrubbing the plates.
“Do you ever wonder what our lives would have been like if our parents didn’t become friends in high school?” Logan breaks the silence.
“No…” I reply. “Honestly, it’s something that I really don’t want to think about. I couldn’t imagine not having four built-in best friends growing up.”
“I think we all still could have become friends.” He shrugs. “It seems unlikely that we would have never met, and we all get along so well.”
I laugh. “You’re kidding right?”
“You don’t think so?”
“Logan, we would have never been friends without our parents.” I thought that much was obvious.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He turns toward me, and my attention catches on the way his hands flex in the hot water, his muscled forearms covered in soap as he scrubs the dishes.
“We’re all so…” I pause, looking for the right word. “Different.”
“That doesn’t affect the way we get along now, does it?”
“No, but it was our parents’ fault we were together so much when we were younger, which is the only reason we found ways to get along.” I grab another dish from him, wiping it dry before putting it in the cupboard above me. “If we would have just met in school, we wouldn’t have given each other the time of day to really see if we’d get along. We’d just admit we’re all different and go on with the rest of our days.”
“You might be right.” Logan's head tilts, thinking. “But I’d still like to believe that we’d be friends in every universe.”
Then he turns to face me, and the look in his eyes makes me melt. It’s endearing, really, and it almost makes my heart ricochet out of my body toward him. He truly believes the two of us, and the rest of our friends, would have found our way to each other no matter the circumstances.
“That’s a nice thought.” I smile, my hand falling on top of his on the counter. “You should see what everyone else thinks. They might surprise you.”
“I would bet serious money I could accurately guess what every one of them says.” Logan smirks, washing the last plate.
“Money means nothing to you.” It’s a known fact the Callaghan family is one of the richest in Fairwood. Logan betting money serves no risk to him.
“My kidney, then.”
“You’d bet your kidney?” I know he’s exaggerating, but he’s also that confident.
