“You trying to convince me or yourself?”
“You read the letter.” I blow out a breath. “Forget it. I don’t want to get into this again.”
It’s been five months. I haven’t heard from Luke in the last three, and only a handful of times before that. It started with a few texts I received from an unknown number, saying things like, “I miss you,” or, “When this is all over, I’ll explain everything,” and finally followed by, “Do you trust me?” I never replied to any of them, though a few times I came close.
Why the untraceable number? I didn’t know, but I definitely didn’t like it. The last one came around three months ago. Telling me he loved me—that it killed him to be away from me. I read it at least a hundred times, wanting to believe he had good reason for all of this. I needed to know the truth, and he wasn’t planning to give it … at least not anytime soon.
One day I received a package with no return address. When I opened it, I found a Taser gun wrapped in a bow with a note that read: KEEP THIS ON YOU. ASK LOGAN TO SHOW YOU HOW TO USE IT. IT’S IMPORTANT.
What the hell?
“Forget about the letter,” he groans. “He didn’t mean it.” He waves goodbye to one of our regulars, and I do the same.
“How am I supposed to forget it? I can’t.”
He shrugs. “Maybe I have more faith in him than you do.” Finishing what’s left in his mouth, he throws the wrapper in the trash.
“Faith has nothing to do with it. He wrote it, Logan.”
The letter said he was sorry for all that he had done, that he would always love me, but it was best we both move on. He wanted me to be happy … blah blah blah … and a person like him doesn’t deserve a person like me. It was the last time I’d heard from him. He had made his point pretty clear.
“Doesn’t matter.” He folds his arms. “There are things I know about him that you don’t. And you won’t until it’s over. Things aren’t always what they seem. Remember that.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
“Do you miss him?”
The question catches me off guard. “I don’t want to,” I reply.
He grins with a nod. “Good.” Jerk.
“Are you one of those people who secretly gets off on torturing animals?” I narrow my eyes.
“Nope.” He guzzles down a full bottle of water, then crushes the plastic.
“I’m not sure I believe you.”
“Believe what you want.” Glancing at the clock, I see there are only ten minutes left before his class starts. “You leaving?”
“Yeah, I just need to get my stuff.” I head to the counter, and he walks behind it.
“Do me a favor,” he says, grabbing my purse. “Tell Gia to wear the red one tonight.” He hands it over. “She’ll know what it means.”
Eww. “You couldn’t just tell her that yourself?”
His mouth tips up. “Thought it’d be more fun to have you do it instead.”
“I guess that’s my queue.” I turn around and wave. “See ya.”
“You planning to see loverboy again?” he asks from behind me.
I glance at him suspiciously. “Maybe … why?”
He shrugs. “You may need to defend yourself from him one day, and I’d be happy to help you with that. Just let me know.”
“Oh, I’m sure you would. Look … Sean’s been a good friend to me, but nothing more. Be nice, okay?”
He snorts. “Right.” He emphasizes the word. “A friend who’d love to get inside your panties.”
“Not all men are like you,” I retort, pushing past the door. “Good bye,” I yell.
“If you can’t see that this guy’s a bigger douche than I am, then you’re blind,” he yells back. I do my best to ignore him and crawl inside my car.
Sean’s and my friendship sparked at a time when I needed someone most. If I wasn’t drowning myself in work, I was spending much of my days alone. If that wasn’t possible, I was forced to be around Logan and Gia’s constant display of affection. Their relationship had blossomed, while mine had fallen apart. After months of making excuses for him, becoming everything I never wanted to be, I’d finally had enough. I’d climbed up to the rooftop to get some air. I’d only been there a minute when a familiar male voice called out to me. I peeked over the edge. Sean stood below, looking nervous as he stared up at me. I could see that he was carefully choosing his words.
“You expecting company?”
I contemplate turning him away like I’ve done before. Instead I reply, “No.”