I finally got up and opened it to find Maddie, hair in a ponytail, eyes flashing. She held up theCalgary Heraldlike a cop flashing a badge, and my stomach clenched.
Front page of the City section, there was a photo of me and Logan at the warehouse, but not the one with the box on my head. I was in his arms, both of our faces thrown back and shaped by laughter.
The caption was in bold: BLIZZARD STAR LOGAN KEMP AND DOUGLAS UNIVERSITY STUDENT PITCH IN AS NEW GALLERY TAKES SHAPE. The subhead: ‘Young artist’ and Kemp’s girlfriend, Crystal MacMillan, leads the charge.
Maddie tapped her foot on the steps. “Explain.”
Chapter
Ten
TheCalgary Heraldlay spread on the coffee table between us, my stupid face squinched and laughing, and Logan’s grin making it look like we’re hopelessly devoted.
“Start talking.” Maddie tapped the paper.
I pressed my hands into my thighs until my fingers went white. “Do you remember how Logan mentioned Norman Marcus at the grocery store? When we were checking out?”
Maddie looked skeptical. She didn’t know the name, so it probably hadn’t stuck.
“He’s high up in the art world here, like everyone knows him, and Logan’s family has a connection. Did you know his mom is an artist? Professional artist. She has her work in galleries all over Alberta.”
“I don’t see how this has to do with you making out?—”
“We weren’t making out! I promise! Logan followed up after we went shopping, and he offered to introduce me to Mr. Marcus.” This is where the story became more difficult to tell. But Maddie had the most damning piece of evidence in front of her, so there was no point holding back. “He offered me ajob, which is huge because it could lead to an entry-level gallery position. That’s all I’ve ever wanted?—”
“I thought you were going to go get your master's?” Her face softened the tiniest bit.
“I said that because I didn’t think it was possible for me to get an in at a gallery, but I don’t want to do more school.”
Maddie nodded. “Yeah. I was surprised you were planning to do another two years.”
It wasn’t a dig, just the truth. I endlessly complained about homework, especially group projects, which was exactly what a master’s would look like. Maddie should know. “Exactly. But I didn’t realize that the only reason Mr. Marcus was offering me the position was because . . . he thought Logan and I were together.”
“Why would he think that?”
I sank into the couch, blowing out a breath. “We have no idea.”
“We?”
“Logan and I. I signed the contract because it seemed like if I walked out of that room, the opportunity would never come again, but it locked us in to attending these press events, and it turns out that Logan’s super lonely?—”
“Okay, but that’s his fault!”
“No, I know, but then I found out his mom may have been the one to insinuate that we were dating when she set up the appointment for me because she thinks Logan’s a man-whore?—”
“Which he is.”
I bristled at that comment. “I don’t know, Maddie. I think . . .” I shook my head, not sure how to say it.
“You think what?” Maddie’s face frowned in disgust.
We were supposed to hate Logan Kemp, and I didn’t want to break the girlfriend code, but Logan’s explanations made sense. I folded my arms, giving myself a preemptive hug in preparationfor what I had to say next. “I think people do things because they think it’s the only way to get what they want, even if it isn’t always right.”
“So you’re justifying what he did?”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “No. I’m saying I’m almost as bad.”
“Crystal—”
