Page 46 of Shattered
Suddenly just tired, I scraped my palms over my face and let out a sigh. "I'm in no mood for your antics, so why don't you just go do the job you get paid for."
I should've known my friend was not going to let things go so easily. Still, I was shocked when he grabbed one of the crates and plonked his bulky frame on it. "Lemme guess: a certain dark-haired woman has got your panties all up in a bunch. What happened?"
Propping my ass against my workbench, I inhaled deeply through my nose before I said, "Things were going perfect, she was letting her guard down and then something happened with Eli and just like that-" I snapped my fingers. "-she clammed up again. She said some things that I know she didn't mean and then got in her car and drove off."
Brett folded his arms in front of his chest and frowned, "And you're sure that whatever she said held no truth to it?"
"Positive." I wasn't going to tell Brett that Harper had shared her body with me or that I felt it meant as much to her as it did to me. What happened at the creek was between me and Harper, alone.
"Okay," my friend studied me for a while and then asked, "You said something happened with her and Eli?"
I bit down hard on my back teeth before I said some things about my brother that I could never take back. I'd already gone a step too far when I had accused him of being the reason Molly didn't have a momma anymore. I was just so pissed at him for chasing away the only good thing in my life and then pretending he didn't know why she left in the first place. Momma had sent me home before I got physical with my brother again. I had to admit, I wished she waited till I'd landed at least one punch before she intervened.
"Logan!"
I snapped out of my trip down memory lane and found Brett staring at me as if he was waiting on an answer.
"What?"
Brett shook his head and then repeated, "Eli and Harper. What happened?"
"Hell if I know," I dragged my hands through my hair and tugged at the ends. "We were having a good time when I spotted them having, what looked like, a heated conversation. I've seen Harper in her defensive mode and she was definitely ticked off about something Eli had said. But when I cornered her outside, I could've sworn her eyes were filled with fear." I could still see that look on her face right before all the emotion drained from it entirely.
"You think she's scared of your brother?"
"No," I let out a long breath. "I don't know, man. Something is just…off. And Eli, the bastard that he is, isn't shedding any light on the situation."
Brett unfolded his arms and dropped his elbows to his upper leg before resting his chin on his laced fingers. Cocking his head to the side, he regarded me with narrowed eyes. His behavior was freaking me the hell out and I was about to say as much when he spoke.
"Chicken-shit!"
Were my ears playing tricks on me? "Excuse me?"
"You heard me; you're being a little chicken-shit." My frown deepened while his grin just grew wider. "You sit here and whine about how the woman your heart sings for, walked away from you, but have you given chase yet?"
Biting down on my teeth again, I gritted out, "She's made what she wants pretty clear, it ain't me."
My ass of a friend snorted loudly. "If you're already giving up on her, she means nothing to you. I'm sorry, but if you genuinely care for someone, you'll fight for them until the breath leaves your lungs."
The truth of his words were as sobering as stepping into a cold shower. I knew how I felt about Harper and I had an inkling that she was on her way to feeling the same about me. So why in the hell was I not fighting for the family I wanted?
Pushing off of the workbench, I grabbed a rag and haphazardly started cleaning my hands. I nodded my head in the direction of the door. "I gotta go." Then I started toward the exit.
As I did, my walk turned into a jog and I heard Brett yell, "Atta boy!"
Of all the days for the clinic to be crazy busy. Maybe it was a good thing because with all the running around and tending to emergency patients, I didn't have time to think about the Jackson brothers or my annoyingly correct friend.
Feeling utterly exhausted—lack of sleep combined with busy mornings have that effect—I sank into my chair and huffed out a breath. My moment of rest was short-lived as the little bell above the door chimed for the hundredth time. I scanned the waiting room and wondered where on earth the newcomers were going to sit.
I rubbed my palms over my eyes and prepared myself to tell yet another pet owner that we'd get to them as soon as possible. Just as I opened my mouth a large shadow fell over my desk, effectively not just stealing my words but the air in my lungs too.
By the looks of him, Logan's night had been just as rough as mine. Through his tiredness, I saw a whole lot of determination etched on his face, though. Honestly, I should have known he'd come looking for answers, I just couldn't deal with it now.
After squaring my shoulders, I tilted my chin and met his stare head-on. "Things are beyond hectic here today," how I managed to keep my voice level was anyone's guess. "Whatever you have to say is going to have to wait until much later."
Logan cocked his head and twisted his body as he scanned the waiting room. That determined look was back when his eyes landed on me again; I had to swallow down a lump of air.
"This won't take long, Sugar." The words had just been uttered when he moved around my desk and gripped my arm. All it took was one tug and I was face-to-chest with the man that always seemed to send my heart on a wild gallop.
