I held on to it. Just in case.
It was a truly wild sensation, being in this big, fancy apartment with the sturdy, soundproof walls and endless storage space. Even still, Logan’s mere presence was so overwhelming and everywhere, it just didn’t feel like there was enough air for both of us to breathe. So, I held in what I could and prayed like hell that I wouldn’t suffocate.
It appeared that I may not have been the only one struggling during this total dive bomb of a greeting. Logan’s eyes looked . . . panicked? Definitely panicked. And his face was contorted into a display of utter discomfort. If I didn’t know him as well as I did, his expressions would have been entirely too subtle to be seen for what they were. But, I did know him—very well, in fact—and it was undeniably obvious to me that Logan was experiencing a very similar fight or flight response to seeing me.
I felt a swift bubble of irritation pop inside my mind at this. Enough to decide that the air around uswasworth breathing. He can suffocate, for all I care.
“Hey,” I said, with just a touch of hostility.
“Hi, Amelia.” His wide eyes still bore into my own. “I didn’t realize you would be here.”
I did my best to ignore the fact that his voice felt like soft velvet against my skin. “Well, here I am.” My attempt at a chuckle sounded forced and dry.
He nodded. “Can I come in?”
“Oh . . .” I quickly moved out of his way, remembering we were still standing at the front entrance. “Of course, come in.” He walked into the apartment, pausing just inside to turn back and look at me. His tall frame was slightly dizzying. “Adam’s still asleep, he had a shift last night. But he should be up soon. You can”—I waved toward the couch in the living room—“take a seat. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll just be a few minutes.”
He nodded again and dropped his bag down onto the hardwood floor before ambling toward the couch. I watched as his long body folded as he sat, sinking deep into the cushions.
Forcing my gaze back in the direction of my bedroom, I shuffled inside and closed the door behind me.
Okay, that wasn’t so bad. Was I awkward? Most definitely. Was Logan thrilled to see me? Didn’t seem like it. But if I were really honest with myself, I could admit that I didn’t like where things were between us. Logan had been in my life—in all of our lives—since I was practically born. Despite everything that had occurred between us, we were family. He was always going to be Adam’s best friend—they’d been thick as thieves since kindergarten.
And, truthfully, Imissedhim.
This upcoming Thanksgiving holiday in Breckenridge gave me an opportunity to right some wrongs, to admit to Logan that I’d been really naive and impulsive all those years ago. It gave me an opportunity to apologize. And maybe . . . maybe things could go back to the way they once were. All of us together.
I may not have Logan the way I’d once dreamt of but I’d moved on from that a long time ago, and not having him in my life at all was too painful.
So, it was simple. I wouldn’t let that happen. Not anymore.
Deciding I couldn’t hide in my room like this for too long, I finished packing the few remaining pieces of clothing that I’d laid out on my bed, and then zipped my duffle shut. I grabbed a warm coat and a pair of boots from the closet and made my way back out.
Logan was still sitting on the couch, facing forward and seemingly lost in his own thoughts. I took a long look at the back of his head before I put my bag and boots down next to his and laid my coat on the top of my bag. “So, how have you been?” I asked as I joined him in the living room. I felt him watching me as soon as I was in his field of vision, and suddenly remembered what it was like to carry his attention. The spark of electric energy that always seemed to make me so hyperaware of his eyes on me.
“Good, actually. Thank you.” His deep voice purred at my senses. “I’ve been good, really focused on the business.” I sat down on a stiff armchair opposite of the couch and looked up at him, noticing that the sunlight from the wide window had turned his eyes into a molten, burning amber. “How are you, Amelia?”
I almost shuddered at hearing my name on his lips again. “I’ve been . . . well—”My boyfriend cheated on me, I don’t have a place to live, and I’m feeling incredibly self-conscious with you right now.“I’ve been okay.”
A flash of concern overtook his face before he regained control of his features, settling back to a relaxed expression of . . . disinterest? Boredom? “Just okay?”
I gave him my best, noncommittal shrug. “How’s the shop?” Logan opened his own auto body shop over a year ago. For as much as he worked on cars as a teenager—which was practically every weekend—it was fitting to know that he was making a career out of it with his own business.
Logan let out a breath. “It’s good, thanks for asking. It’s really good. We’re slowing down a little bit because of the holidays, but it's been a damn good year.”
I couldn’t help but notice the pride in his expression, and I felt a warmth spread through my stomach in response. “I’m so happy for you, Logan.” I smiled at him. “I would love to come see it.”
There was a subtle pull at the right side of his mouth. “Nothing would make me happier.”
Oh.
I felt the flash of a flame thrum along my veins as Logan continued to pierce me with his gaze. Silence hung in the air around us.
Nothing would make me happier.
“Logan!” I heard my brother’s voice bound out from the hallway behind me. “You’re here. I hope you haven’t been waiting long?”
Logan’s eyes shifted past me to Adam as his mouth grew into one of his untamed smiles that almost knocked me out of my chair. “Hey, Adam. No, not at all . . . I’ve only been here for a few minutes.” His eyes skirted back to me. “Millie was a gracious host and kept me company. We were just catching up.”
