Page 20 of Shattered
I took the bag from her and pretended to look through it, way too afraid of making eye contact. "Yeah, I just need to sleep the rest of whatever this is, off." Wasn't that the truth?
"Uhm…okay," she didn't sound convinced. "I'd stay but with Dawn not there-"
"Go," I interrupted her by placing my hand on her forearm. "Thank you for getting Flynn to school and back. I swear he'd rather give up his superhero collection than miss a day."
Lizzy patted my hand and hesitated for a second before saying goodbye and bounced down the steps. Once the door was locked, I headed for the kitchen expecting to find the morning's dishes.
It was spotless save for a paper bag with a note attached to it. I approached the damn thing as if it contained a bomb and by the way my heart was thundering, it thought so too.
Placing Lizzy's food next to it, I cautiously pulled the bag toward me, reading the note first.
Sugar, you need to eat and take two of these,
then back to bed with you.
Call me if you need anything.
Logan.
That silly flutter-ache was back. I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or cry at this man's sweetness. Why wasn't he making it easier for me not to want him?
When I opened the bag, I found a bottle of acetaminophen, two bottles of apple juice—one labeledfor Flynn—and another note that said there was food in my fridge.
Still holding the second note, I rushed to open the fridge and sure enough soups, and fresh fruits lined my middle shelf. I closed the freaking thing faster than I opened it. This should feel like an enormous invasion of my privacy, but all I felt was this wave of emotion rushing over me.
My heart hurt, it genuinely ached. It scared me that all I wanted to do was curl into Logan's big chest and just be. It scared me even more that that feeling didn't lessen during dinner or Flynn's bedtime story.
It was absolutely terrifying that I was blankly staring at whatever was playing on the television and wondering what Logan was doing and who he was doing it with.
Just as a frown pulled my brows down, a knock sounded from the door. It was so sudden and unexpected it caused me to jump. A quick glance at the clock hanging above the TV told me it was just after 8 pm. Lizzy wouldn't show up before calling so who the hell was at the door.
I was careful not to make a sound as I tip-toed to the window next to the door. All the breath rushed from my lungs when I saw Logan. Legs spread wide, one hand rubbing the back of his neck and the other planted on the frame.
There was no way I could face him in this state. My defenses weren't strong enough. So I just stood like a coward and prayed he didn't see me when he knocked again. My heart stopped when his gaze flicked to the window where I was hiding.
Those dark brows of his formed a deep v above his eyes but then he slowly backed away and left.
If only these feelings were just as easy to shake, I'd be fine.
Harper was avoiding me.
I'd seen her shadowed silhouette at the window a few minutes ago. Why was she avoiding me? Did I intrude by leaving her the medicine and food? Should I have left it on her porch instead?
Shit!
These thoughts were driving me insane and sitting alone in the dark wasn't helping matters much. With a frustrated groan, I pushed to my feet and grabbed my jacket before I rushed out of my house.
I hunched into the leather as I dragged the zipper up and eyed my bike. I wasn't going to need it. I planned on getting drunk off my ass.
If she wouldn't leave, I'd drink her out of my damned brain.
With every step I took, Harper's unguarded eyes flashed before me. Why did she keep those six-foot walls up all the damn time? I came to an abrupt halt as a thought struck me. Was she guarding her heart because someone had hurt her? Was that the reason why Flynn's daddy wasn't in the picture?
More damned questions. I needed a reprieve.
As I pulled the door to Joe's bar open, I made a vow to myself: I'd drink until I was too far gone to think about Harper and her son. The bar had been here for as long as anyone could remember. The owner, Caleb, had inherited it from his uncle and didn't see any reason into changing the name, or the décor for that matter.
The off-white floor beneath my boots had seen better days as did the light-wood bar that ran the length of the building. In the furthest corner from the door stood three pool tables and an old jukebox. The rest of the space held a few tables and chairs that were rarely occupied as everyone was either seated at the bar or busy with a game.
