Chapter 23
Jasmine
My tears fall as I lean my head back against the shower wall, the water spraying over my head, washing away the tears.
I know I shouldn’t be in here, I mean, I vaguely heard Logan mentioning the stitches are waterproof, but not to drench them, but all I could think – did he sleep with her before he came to rescue his daughter and me?
Did he go back to her?
Do I have a right to feel heartbroken over his decision to move on after I left him?
I bite down on my bottom lip as I squeeze my eyes tightly, trying my hardest not to let out a sob but more tears fall as my body shakes.
I’ve been in the shower for around twenty minutes, and my mind has been going around in circles. I woke up alone, yetagain, my body hurting like a bitch, and Ais singing away in her room with her dollies, and I don’t know, I guess I felt defeated.
How can a guy like Logan, who was built to protect, get over the fact that I didn’t trust him enough to keep us safe, and I left without a word? Because that is the truth of it, isn’t it? I didn’t trust him to go against his mother because I grew up watching Brady kiss my mama’s ass just so he didn’t get the basement treatment as I did.
I don’t know how to let Logan go, though, even with the lack of trust on his part.
I’ve spent the past six years living day by day, struggling, always keeping Logan in mind. He became the reason why I breathe, but I hurt him, I-I…
I drop my forehead to my knees, trying to breathe through the gut-wrenching sobs that want to come out.
Eight hours, that is how long he’s been gone, or how long I’ve been awake anyway, and he hasn’t called, he hasn’t come home, or read his daughter a book before bed time, nothing.
We’re over, but I guess we’ve been over since I ran, and I just didn’t want to realize it.
The bathroom door opening vaguely enters my hearing before there's a rustle, and the shower door opens letting in a cold draft.
“Pretty sure I told you not to get your stitches soaked, buttercup,” Logan whispers as his warm touch wraps around my calves, instantly soothing me and my thoughts, and I look up at him, our eyes connecting.
“They’re technically covered,” I rasp, and he shakes his head as he moves one hand and cups my face, his thumb gently rubbing over my jaw.
“What’s on your mind, buttercup?” he asks gently, and I lie, “I’m just sore…”
“Liar,” he calls me out, “you saw, didn’t you, this morning before you were ambushed at the park, you saw Chanel.”
I swallow before whispering, “It’s none of my business, Lo…”
His eyes race between mine before he sighs as he stands and just when I think he’s about to turn around and leave, he bends and suddenly, he’s lifting me up, making me gasp, and out of instinct, I wrap my legs around his waist as he presses me up against the shower wall.
“Logan, your clothes…” I gasp, and he mutters, “Fuck my clothes, buttercup. When are you going to finally fight for me?”
His words shock me, and my eyes shoot to his.
“Logan,” I choke, “I’ve always fought for you, it’s why I left…”
“That wasn’t you fighting for me, Jas, that was you taking an out to finally be free from your mother,” he accuses, and my mouth parts in shock.
Surely he doesn’t think that is why I left? That I would keep his daughter from him just so I can live freely?
The truth shines back at me and I shake my head but before I can open my mouth and deny, he demands, “Fight for me Jasmine, like I have fought for you since the day we met…” he places his forehead against mine, “You saw Chanel throw herself at me and believed what you wanted to then ran from me yet again. I haven’t touched her, Jas. I haven’t touched one woman. Not the cougar, not Nell at the hospital, fucking no one, I have always and only wanted you, even after you left me heartbroken. You were the only one I wanted. You took in a situation and ran with it when you should have walked inside that garage and demanded an explanation.”
“I didn’t deserve to have an explanation,” I choke, and he groans.
“Fuck’s sake Jas, it’s been six years, surely if I’d have moved on I wouldn’t have forced you to come home, I wouldn’t have locked you in the house,” he snaps forcefully, “Fucking fight for me like I fight for you, show me that you do love me, show me that you regret not confiding in me, that you regret not trusting me tokeep you both safe. Buttercup, if you had told me that day, Sara would have been in the ground way before today.”
My eyes widen at his insinuation, and he confirms my thoughts as he says, “Bruce, Kate, and Sara are gone. I went for a ride with Trigger to clear my head after calling off my nightshift, that is why I went radio silent, and Vincent has been outside the entire time until I got home.”
