My Best Friend's Ex(85)

       
         
       
        

His eyebrows pull together and I'm a little surprised by his reaction. I thought they got along. "Huh, I didn't think you were interested in him. I thought he's your best friend's ex-boyfriend. Isn't that against girl code or something?"

Well, there's the splash of ice-cold water I DIDN'T need to wipe the happy smile off my face.

I don't know what to say. How does one really react to another person blatantly calling them out? So I just shrug and sift through my book. All the words blend together, forming one giant sentence that makes no sense.

Isn't that against girl code or something?

Stupid Logan and his logic. I've been so caught up in Tucker that I haven't even thought of the outside world, of the people around us, of the repercussions of our coupling.

"I don't mean to upset you." Yeah, right! "I guess I was just caught off guard, that's all," Logan says, placing his hand over mine. As has been his habit, his thumb caresses my skin in what I've always considered a reassuring way.

"You didn't upset me." I try to think of how to respond and instead just go with honesty. "I really didn't think about anyone else besides us. It just happened so fast, and I guess I haven't sat back to think about what it all means."

"Is it serious?"

To me it is. To Tucker, I really have no idea.

"We haven't really had that conversation. We've just been, you know, seeing where it all goes."

Logan nods and puts his pencil down in the crevice of book. "Well, it seems like he makes you happy. It's hard not to notice the change in your demeanor."

"He does make me happy."

"And what about him? Does he feel the same way about you?"

I don't like Logan's questioning. "What kind of questions are these?" He's making me question Tucker's intent and I really don't care for it. Is that Logan's intent? To make me doubt Tucker? I don't want to think about us because the minute I start thinking about how Tucker feels inside, my gut starts to churn. As long as I've known Tucker, his heart has been Sadie's. It's always been Sadie and the thought of him still harboring feelings for her literally tears me in half, makes me feel physically ill. I can't think about it. I won't think about it. I refuse to. Didn't he say he needed to work through that before we slept together? Did we rush that? Did he simply give in to me because he was horny?

"I'm just concerned about you. I don't want you to start something that's going to break you later on."

"Why do you think he's going to break me? You barely know him and you haven't seen us together, so you don't see how he treats me." 

"That's true, but what I do know about him scares me. You've told me about his ex, about how he's felt about her, how he bought that house for her. And then there's that room, the room he won't let you in. And don't forget about . . . what is it? Rule number six? Don't talk about Sadie?" He strokes my hand again, concern in his eyes. "Come on, Emma, it doesn't seem like he's over her and instead of dealing with his baggage, he's covering it up with you as a distraction."

Ouch. That hurts and what hurts even more is that his comment seems to ring too close to the truth for my liking.

"Don't be mad at me, Emma," Logan says, tugging on my hand. "I'm just looking out for you."

"I know." I nod. "I, uh, I have to get going, though. I have somewhere I have to be." I start to pack up my things as quickly as possible.

"Emma, don't go. I'm sorry. I just don't want you to get hurt."

I try to catch my breath as I pack. "I know and I appreciate that. I just have to go."

Logan stands and stops me from putting a book in my backpack. "Don't just run away. Talk to me, Emma."

Irritation overwhelms me and I snap at him. "Talk to you? I just told you how happy I am and you go and throw a wet blanket over it. Why would I want to talk to you when you make me feel like crap?"

His face registers shock and I feel slightly bad for lashing out. "I'm sorry, Emma. I really was just looking out for you. I don't trust him and his intentions." Yeah, Logan. That much is obvious.

I snag my book from him and stuff it in my backpack followed by zippering it up. I toss the bag over my back and say, "Well, I'm a big girl, Logan, and I know what I'm doing. I appreciate your concern but please just stay out of it."

With that, I take off toward my car while I check my phone. There's a text form Tucker.

Tucker: When are you getting home? Racer is here and I want an excuse to kick him out.