I toss the soaked napkins in the trash, avoiding both their stares. "I don't want to talk about it."
"That bad?" Logan asks, his teasing tone replaced with genuine concern.
I scrub my hand down my face, suddenly exhausted. "The weekend was perfect. Everything after was a fucking disaster."
"What happened?" Trent asks, closing the door behind him and taking the seat next to Logan.
I hesitate, not sure how much to say. Not sure how much I can say without completely losing my shit again.
"Her ex showed up," I finally say. "The one she's been running from."
"Shit," Logan breathes. "Is she okay? Is the baby okay?"
"They're fine. Physically, at least." I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. "But I fucked up. Badly."
"How?" Trent asks.
I tell them everything, the photo I found on her car, my decision to hide it from her, Elliot's arrival, the confrontation in the parking lot, Sadie's fury when she discovered what I'd kept from her.
"Jesus," Logan mutters when I finish. "What a mess."
"Yeah, no shit." I rub my eyes which burn from lack of sleep. "I was trying to protect her, give her one night without fear. Instead, I made everything worse."
"You screwed up," Trent says bluntly. "But your heart was in the right place."
"That doesn't matter," I argue. "I took away her choice. Her right to know what was happening in her own life."
"It's what any of us would have done," Logan says, leaning forward. "We're protectors, man. It's in our DNA."
"That doesn't make it right," I argue, the guilt sitting low in my stomach. "You didn't see her face when she realized what I'd done. She looked at me like… like I was him."
They exchange glances, and I can tell they're trying to find the right words, something to make me feel better about royally fucking up the best thing that's happened to me in years.
"Give her time," Logan finally says. "She's dealing with a lot right now."
"Time is exactly what we don't have," I say, checking my watch. "Her flight to Oregon is tomorrow. And now Elliot knows exactly where to find her when she gets back."
"Maybe you should go with her," Trent suggests.
I laugh, the sound hollow and bitter. "She won't even answer my texts. I doubt she wants me on a plane with her."
"Then what's your plan?" Logan asks.
I pull out my phone, showing them the text from the PI. "Information. Leverage. Anything we can use against this asshole to make sure he never threatens Sadie or Poppy again."
Logan whistles low. "You hired a private investigator? That's… intense."
"It's necessary," I snap, defensive even though I know how it sounds. "This guy is dangerous. Not with his fists, but with hismind. He's the type who knows exactly how to use the system against her."
"And what are you going to do with whatever dirt this PI digs up?" Trent asks, his voice carefully neutral.
"Give it to Sadie," I say firmly. "It's her life, her fight. I'm just providing resources she wouldn't otherwise have."
They nod, seemingly relieved that I'm not planning vigilante justice, though part of me still wants to handle Elliot personally.
"We'll help however we can," Logan says, standing. "Just say the word."
"Thanks," I mutter, genuinely grateful despite my foul mood.
