I take in his buttoned up white dress shirt and crew neck sweater. Freshly cut blonde hair and clean-shaven face. What can she possibly see in this guy?
“Logan.” I raise my chin in greeting.
“Logan,” he repeats.
I watch him realize who I am. So, she’s talked about me. Good to know.
“Hannah didn’t tell me you were visiting.”
We both look at Hannah and she gives a weak shrug.
“It never came up.”
“Not visiting. I just moved home,” I say, still watching Hannah for a reaction.
The entire table is paying attention now.
“So, Logan…” Claire grabs my attention. “You have changed since I last saw you.”
She raises her hand and wiggles her fingers up and down. Hannah’s head snaps to where Claire is sitting and subtly shakes her head as if to ask her to drop it. It’s okay, I can handle Claire, I know what she’s doing.
“Yeah, I guess I have.” I lean back, run my hand through my hair and look down at myself.
I wasn’t a bean pole growing up but, I have definitely filled out in the last decade.
“A different career path as well I hear.”
The entire table falls quiet, and all eyes are on me now. I reach for a shot and down it before answering.
“You could say that,” I say with a laugh.
“I thought you were majoring in economics,” Ryan questions without malice. He’s genuinely curious.
“I was.” I nod. “I planned on becoming a stockbroker.”
I see Hannah shift in her seat uncomfortably. I don’t mind answering questions, but some answers belong just to her.
“Isn’t that what you are, Danny?” Carson asks, pointing his finger at the man.
“No, I’m an accountant.” He says furrowing his brow and shaking his head.
“Same difference. You are both number nerds,” Carson jokes, tossing peanuts into his mouth.
“Logan isn’t looking much like a nerd right now,” Beck mumbles.
I’m sure my ripped jeans and combat boots are a step away from Danny’s pressed slacks and oxfords. I wink at her, and she rolls her eyes in response.
“So, why the change?” Ryan asks, still trying to steer the conversation in a safe direction.
I shrug. “I fell behind in my classes and no longer qualified to start my internship that fall. I decided to take time off and then realized that being a ‘number nerd’ didn’t make me as happy as it should have,” I say with air quotes.
Nothing was making me happy then. My dad had pushed me towards economics because I excelled in math, and he thought it would give me financial security. I was no longer that interested in what my family wanted for me.
Hannah sits quietly, fiddling with her nails. Dickhead Danny keeps playing with her hair, looking far too comfortable to be her ex. They’re definitely still sleeping together. I shove that mental image aside and grab another shot that seems to appear out of nowhere. Tequila’s never been my drink of choice, but I need all the liquid courage I can get if I’m going to stay here.
“Tell me about yourself, Danny,” I say like I’m about to interview him for a job.
Hannah pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs.
