“Oh,” Shelby blinked. “So, she’s real.”
His neck ached. He longed to crank it back and forth to relieve the tension.
“Despite what Danielle may or may not have told you,” His fingertips dipped into Brooke’s waist. “Brooke is real, and we couldn’t be happier together.”
“Great to hear.” Shelby pressed her lips together for a second. “I guess I’d better let you go. It was nice seeing you again. Maybe I’ll see you around.” Then she swiveled quickly and headed in the opposite direction before he had time to say goodbye.
He stared dumbfounded as he watched Shelby grow smaller and smaller on the sidewalk.
Brooke exhaled. “So, that’s the famous ex.”
“Yeah.” Logan unfolded his arm from around her. Then he rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s her. Do you think she bought us being together?”
He hated how much he wanted the answer to be yes. Would he ever be rid of this grip she had on him?
“Totally.” Brooke smiled. “You’re golden. She was definitely jealous. That’s why she took off so fast.” She patted him lightly on his chest. “You’re welcome.”
A calm washed over him and soothed the knot out of his stomach. “That’s a relief.” He plunged his hand into his pocket and retrieved his keys. “Thanks again. You played the part perfectly.”
“I know.” Her eyes glinted with mischievousness. “I guess I’m a better actor than I thought.”
Logan fidgeted with his keys and stared back in the direction Shelby disappeared. He wondered if she’d replay this conversation on repeat in her mind like he would.
“You’re still hung up on her,” Brooke stated.
He snapped his head back to face her. “No,” he replied far too quickly. His keys jangled in his hands. “Ugh, okay—she’s still beautiful, but she’s still Shelby.”
“Okay—” Brooke paused then slowly nodded. “I’ll help you come up with a plan to win her back. We can make this work for you.”
“I didn’t say that was what I wanted.” Logan avoided her gaze as he stared down at his keys. He swung one key around the ring over and over again. “But I’d be lying if I didn’t say she still did it for me.”
“Exactly.” Brooke slid back into her seat and buckled her seatbelt. “Now, let’s get out of here. I’ve seen your parents peek out of the front window three times. We need to go before they start to think there is something wrong. You’re into Shelby, and I’m going to help you win her back. Wasn’t this the entire reason I came?”
“No.” Logan shifted to glance back at his house. Immediately, the curtains swooshed back into place. “I brought you to get my family off my back.”
“Right, but now we have a new plan.” She playfully nudged him. “Let’s go. I’m freezing.”
Logan fisted his keys in one hand and shut her door. By the time he rounded the car and slid into his spot Brooke’s teeth chattered loud enough for him to hear. He started the engine and cranked up the heat to full blast. They waited as the windows defrosted. She shivered then resorted to rubbing her hands together to bring some heat to her icy fingers.
“Here.” Logan cupped his hands around hers. He rubbed his hands over hers, attempting to warm them up. “Your hands are freezing.” He commented like an idiot.
“I’ve always had cold extremities. My mom used to say it was because I was cold hearted.”
Whoa, that was some deep layer messed up stuff. He mulled over how to respond. His words needed to incite trust rather than push her away.
“I think your mom was completely wrong.” He continued to rub her hands. They warmed bit by bit. “Maybe she was the one who had the cold heart.”
Brooke wiggled her hands out of his. “You don’t have to pretend anymore.” She shoved her hands into her pockets and leaned back in her seat.
“Pretend what?”
“That we’re together,” she peered out the passenger side window, “and that you want to touch me.”
His stomach twisted. The lines between real and fake smeared together. He liked being with Brooke and enjoyed having her visit his family. He even for a minute imagined them in a real relationship with real feelings. Then, he saw Shelby. Everything tumbled back into place quickly. His years of self-work gone in a snap. He hated himself for it.
He desperately needed to move the conversation in a better direction, but he didn’t have the bandwidth to figure out how. Instead, Logan shifted the car out of park and merged onto the road. The sounds of the radio spilled out of the speakers and filled the silent void. A trendy pop song with a catchy beat matched the staccato pump of his pulse. The trees which lined his parents’ neighborhood slowly faded behind them and the entrance to the expressway appeared.
“For what it’s worth,” he broke the silence, “I’m glad you came today.” He directed his car onto the on ramp.
