Page 25 of Chance of Romance
“And I thought he was a little impulsive, a risk taker. I mean because he left a good job with Jake to start his own company. A safe stable job for a start-up. They almost always fail. He had to sleep on Ben’s sofa for a whole year.” Ben had kept his full-time job that first year, only working nights and weekends with Logan, whose work was the basis of their entire company. “But now I’m thinking I got it all wrong. He’s got this amazing stable family and all those honorary brothers, so that would’ve mitigated the risk of starting his own business, you know? He had support.” She smacked her forehead. “Jake probably would’ve given Logan his old job back if Checkin failed.”
Claire nodded, her gaze sympathetic.
It suddenly occurred to her that Logan remaining loyal to his college girlfriend also showed signs of risk aversion. He hadn’t chanced another serious relationship, staying with what he knew had worked. And his immense commitment to Checkin made him seem much more stable than she’d first thought. How could she have gotten it so wrong?
Sabrina sucked in air, gesturing wildly. “My diagnosis was completely off base, and now it’s too late!”
Claire raised a hand. “I gotta say—”
Sabrina was on a roll. “I built up this idea in my mind of why Logan was definitely not relationship material. Maybe because I feared he wasn’t into me like I was into him lust-wise and now so much more, you know?” She glanced at Claire, who was smiling with her lips still sealed. “I don’t know why I was so far off. I’m usually much more insightful. Maybe lust interfered with my thinking. But then he does this amazing thing showing up for me onSunshine America, the only one to show up for me—”
“I wanted to—”
“I know. It was a tough time and location for anyone to show up for, but he did, and I just opened up inside, you know?” She placed her palm over her heart. “Like all warm and gooey. And then and then…” Her voice choked.
“What?”
She guzzled some wine. “He’s involved in a long-distance relationship with his college girlfriend. That he never mentioned! He kept it all to himself, even though we talk every freaking week! And I don’t mean a passing hello, I mean we sit down, have lunch, and really talk. He’s planning on moving to San Francisco permanently to be with her if the investor meetings go well, which I’m sure they will. He’s leaving and he never said shit!”
“Omigod, he’s moving for a woman!” Claire set her glass down on a nearby end table. “Jake didn’t know any of this or I would’ve known. I can’t believe Logan kept his relationship from everyone. When did they get back together?”
“Six weeks ago, well, I guess it’s seven weeks now.” Sabrina swallowed hard. “I thought we were so close. Now he’s leaving, and I missed my chance.”
Claire gave her a sympathetic look. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I had no idea he had that stuff going on.”
Sabrina nodded. “I screwed things up for him too. I feel terrible about it.”
“What’d you do?” Claire asked eagerly.
“I didn’t know about his girlfriend, so after I implied he was my boyfriend on TV, she got really mad. He says she’s the jealous type, even though he explained we were just friends. And there was that article that looked like we were fighting, which made it sound like we were having a lovers’ spat.”
“Ha! You? The most calm, composed, kickass communicator on the planet had a breakdown in communication with the most easygoing guy on the planet? Ridiculous! I’m sure if you actually were a couple, you’d talk everything through without even raising your voices.”
Sabrina pressed her lips together. It sure hadn’t gone down that way. “Yeah, well, he was pretty mad I implied he was my boyfriend.” She huffed. “And I was legit mad he’d hidden this important part of his life from me.”
Claire slashed a hand through the air. “That is it. She’s out; you’re in.”
Her head jerked back. “Claire, you can’t break them up.”
Claire’s eyes flashed. “I don’t like her.”
“You’ve never met her.”
Claire ticked off Olivia’s sins on her fingers. “She’s jealous, mistrustful, unforgiving. Nope. Not for my little brother.”
Sabrina laughed. “Little brother? He’s only a year younger than you.”
“Don’t care.” She eyed Sabrina’s outfit. “Come on, let’s go to my closet. I’ve got something in mind for you for tonight plus some summery clothes for your interviews in LA.” Claire was a little shorter than Sabrina, but her clothes still fit. Although some of the dresses ended a little high on Sabrina’s legs.
Sabrina stared at Claire in her super-casual outfit. “Why do I have to change for tonight? Do I look underdressed for the party? You’re dressed casual.”
“I’ll change too.” She smiled mischievously. “Besides, you’re not underdressed enough for what I have in mind. We’re going to unbutton you a bit, make you more approachable.”
“For what?” Realization dawned. “Don’t you dare say anything to Logan.”
“I won’t have to. Your smoking hot bod will do all the talking for me.”
She glanced down at herself with her modest curves. “Err…”
