He’s going to break my heart. That’s all I’m making out of what he’s saying.
He reaches for my hand and threads our fingers together. “But no, I’m not going to hide this. As far as people need to know, we’re dating. That’s all.”
I roll my eyes at him. “This is Whiskey Run. I’ve only been here a few months, but even I know that the rumor mills are going to be busy with this.”
He shrugs. “I don’t care what people think. As long as the two of us know what this is, that’s all that matters.”
I bite my tongue and nod my head.
He lifts my hand up and kisses my knuckles. “Now we’d probably better get back to work.”
I nod and back away. I grab my notepad that was pushed to the floor and then go to unlock his door. He stops me. “And Bree?—”
I turn and look at him. “Yeah?”
His voice is strained. “As long as we’re doing this, you’re mine. If you decide you want to be with someone else, you just need to be upfront and tell me.”
I open my mouth to argue with him. He still thinks I cheated on him, and I didn’t. Not like he thinks. Before I can get anything out, he walks over to his desk, sits down, and picks up his phone, dismissing me.
I wish I could tell him that I love him and I never stopped loving him, but he obviously doesn’t want to hear it. I walk out of his office, happy and sad at the same time. Happy that I get to be with him but sad that he’s already planning the end.
CHAPTER 13
LOGAN
This week has flown by. I adjust my tie in the bathroom mirror at work. Tonight is the night of the fundraiser, and I should have already been out the door. Bree left hours ago because she joined some committee to help with setup.
I can barely contain myself, excited to spend the evening with her. I’ve been a little on edge, and I’ve discovered it’s because I want the whole town to know she’s taken, and after tonight, they won’t have any doubt.
My phone rings, and when I see my brother’s name, I answer. “Hey, Penn! What’s up?”
He’s loudly whispering into the phone, “Where the fuck are you?”
My brother, the doctor, handles everything with ease, and nothing ever gets him rattled, so to hear him upset has me on high alert. “I’m at the office, why?”
In another hushed whisper, he says, “Because I’m here at the fundraiser with your date, and Aria didn’t come, so everyone thinks that I’m here with Katie. I’m telling you, Logan, you have five minutes to get here or I’m never fixing you up again.”
As soon as what he’s saying hits me, I know I fucked up. I completely forgot that my brother had arranged a date for me. “Fuck!” I scream and then again for good measure, I say it again. “Fuck!”
Penn is calmer now. “Logan, it’s fine, just get here.”
I’m already out the door. I lock it behind me, and with a rushed ramble, I tell him, “Oh my God, Penn, listen to me. Do not, I mean, do not, introduce Katie to Bree.”
The silence on the other end of the line is telling.
“Penn… did you hear me?”
“I thought you and Bree had broken up.”
I’m rushing down the sidewalk toward thecommunity center. “Penn, we were, but we’re not now. Just keep them apart.”
I hang up the phone and start running. I’m not sure how I’m going to handle this, but I have to do something. I see my other brother about to walk in the community center, and I scream his name. “Miller!”
He turns to look, and I wave like a maniac. I sprint toward him. “I need a favor.” I’m huffing and puffing. “Please, I’m begging you.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “What do you need?”
I grab his upper arms. “I have two dates tonight. I need you to take one of them.”
