I take a closer look at his face. Something’s different. Logan’s eyes are…dull. They’re always so bright and brash, but not today.
“You look different,” I say bluntly.
“I’m fine.” He narrows his eyes at me in warning, but I’ve never been good at keeping my mouth shut.
“What happened out there?” I say.
His expression closes down. “I painted. Like I said I was gonna do.”
“Did something else happen?”
Instead of answering me, he hops on top of the bar, leans back to grab an empty glass, and presses it against the Lone Star tap to fill up, all in one motion.
“Every time,” I say. “It’s not sanitary to put your ass on the counter. And how often do I have to tell you I’m the bartender, not you?”
“I’m helping you out.” Logan reclaims his seat on the stool and takes a drink of his beer. “So how are things here?”
“Fine.”
“What about your novel?”
“No comment on that,” I say.
My plot of a ghost couple who fell in love but missed their chance at happiness over and over again when they were alive has potential. But I’m not ready to share that information with anyone yet.
“Actually, I wanted to ask you…” I start to say. “I mean, I’ve been hoping we could talk about…”
“How’s everything with your family?” he says before I can finish.
“Well, my father went back to rehab.”
Logan’s eyes whip to mine. “Is everything okay?”
“It is.” I fill him in on what happened.
Logan tightens his jaw. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here,” he says. “If I’d known…”
“I know,” I say quickly. “I’m happy you didn’t have to deal with it. You help me enough as it is. Freedom’s moved in with me for a while.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. She needed a break from Mama. And a little help with her English paper so she can graduate. Although she’s got this new paper now that she totally doesn’t have to write but is actually choosing to do this summer. Something about cosmic signs.” I smile. “She’s a little psychic nerd, that one.”
“Pretty awesome she got a full scholarship to UT.”
“I’m so proud of her.”
“Me too. It will be good for her to get out of here for a while. Broaden her horizons.”
“Sometimes, there’s enough stimulation right here in Darcy,” I can’t resist saying. “Especially now that you’re back.”
I leave the bar and walk around to give him a hug. He stands up off the stool and meets me halfway.
His arms go tightly around me, and I bury my face in the familiar scent of his chest. I pull back and look up at him. Something smells different, too.
Logan steps away from me. “Mace, I have to tell you something.”
“Okay.”
