She lied.
“You know what time she got off?” I asked, my voice tight, controlled, barely concealing the anger bubbling beneath the surface.
“She didn’t come in today.” The woman shook her head, completely unaware of the way my entire world had just tilted. “It’s a good thing too. That woman works way too much for her age.” She smiled like she wasn’t talking about the fact that Michelle had looked me in the eyes and lied to me.
Lied, just like she had two years ago.
“So, table or booth?” the woman asked, still cheerful, completely oblivious.
“I think we’ll come back another time,” Logan cut in smoothly, his voice calm but firm. He flashed her an easy smile, nodding toward the door. “Have a good night.”
“Oh, okay. Be safe out there.”
Logan didn’t give me a choice.
The second we stepped outside, he was already pushing me toward the parking lot. “Be pissed out here,” he muttered.
I yanked myself out of his grasp and started pacing, anger burning through me so fast I could barely think. My hands clenched into fists, my breathing heavy as I tried to piece together what the hell was happening.
“She fucking said she got called in.” My voice was sharp, barely contained.
“Yeah. I’m sensing she lied about it,” Logan said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the car. “Probably a good reason for it.
“Fuck.” I kicked at the loose gravel, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to calm the storm raging in my chest. “I don’t get it. Things seemed better this time.”
“I like her, man, I do,” Logan said, his tone level, rational, the way he always was when I was spiraling. “So maybe there’s an explanation for this?”
I let out a harsh breath, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Yeah, she’s flighty as fuck, and her past is messed up. I get it. But she promised me she wouldn’t just disappear like last time, and lying about work seems pretty big.”
“Call her.” Logan shrugged. “Maybe it’s not as bad as you think?”
I knew it was a weak excuse. He knew it too. But I was desperate enough to try
“I want to drive over there.”
“Might not be the best idea.” Logan winced, his hands slipping into his pockets. “Give her a chance to explain.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the explanation.
I wasn’t sure I could handle whatever she was hiding from me.
But I had to know.
Pulling out my phone, I called her.
It rang once. Twice.
Straight to voicemail.
My chest tightened, my jaw clenched, but before I could try again, my phone vibrated with a text.
Michelle: Hey, super busy.
My fingers tightened around the phone. I exhaled sharply, my thumbs flying over the screen as I typed.
Brooks: Oh, at work? The place where Logan and I are at to visit you?
Michelle: Brooks…trust me, please.
