Shelby huffed. “There’s no need to get defensive.” She whipped her hair over one shoulder. “Even you have to admit you were an idiot back then.”
“How so?” Logan flipped on his blinker. “What would have given you the indication that I didn’t have high aspirations for my life? I had good grades. Please enlighten me.”
This evening was a mistake. He hated himself for being persuaded to go out on this date. Sure, Brooke wanted him to. Danielle had certainly championed it, but he hated how many years he had yearned for a woman who was nothing like the person he imagined in his mind. Years wasted with longing when he should have been wise enough to step back and come to see her breaking up with him had been a blessing. A blessing which kept him from spending years with the wrong person.
“I don’t know—” her voice trailed off. She peered out her passenger side window. “I never thought you would have it in you to go do that much schooling. I figured you’d drop out and move back home and live in your parents’ basement.”
The words stung. But the truth stared back at him. Shelby never believed in him, and he needed to be with someone who would love and champion every part of him, someone like Brooke.
“But I did make something of myself despite your utter lack of confidence in my abilities. And now you’re interested in me.”He made a sharp turn into the parking lot of the restaurant and found a spot two rows back. “I wasn’t enough for you then but now?—”
“I’m sorry I brought that up.” Shelby squeezed his bicep. “I think you’re getting me wrong. This doesn’t need to be some harsh rehash of the past. I’m impressed with what you have accomplished. Isn’t that enough?”
“Maybe it isn’t.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and shifted to face her. “Is that why you dumped me? Because you didn’t believe I had a future?”
“No.” Shelby dropped her hand from his bicep. “I dumped you, because—” She shook her head then fidgeted with the ends of her hair. “It was a long time ago. The past is in the past.”
“I’ve wondered for years. One minute we’re dancing at prom, planning our lives together, and the next minute you dumped me. Then you fled town with no explanation.” He shifted to get a better view of her. “You didn’t even respond to any of my calls or text messages. How could that not affect someone?”
Shelby spun some hair around one of her fingers. “But it was years ago.”
“And yet here we are.” Logan rubbed the back of his neck. This entire evening had been a huge mistake; one he promised to never make again. This was the first and last time he let his family interfere with his relationships. And this is the last time he ever wanted to think about Shelby. Maybe this date was a good idea. “Honestly, you owe me a reason. So, I’ll wait.”
Shelby took a deep breath then ran her finger across the condensation on her window. “I made out with Grant Sullivan after the final basketball game.”
His blood ran cold. Grant Sullivan. They had been best friends through high school, but Grant pulled away from him toward the end of their senior year. He turned down severalinvitations Logan offered to hang out. The missing puzzle piece dropped into place.
“You had gone to some sort of family reunion that weekend.” Shelby traced some more on the window. “I don’t know why I kissed him. I always knew he had a thing for me, and so when he walked me to my car and leaned in, I kissed him back. It wasn’t a huge deal. I had already decided we were done.”
“So, everyone knew but me.” Logan stared out the windshield. “Thanks for telling me.”
“Really?” Shelby questioned with far too much hope in her voice.
“Yeah, thanks.” His neck ached. “I can lay that part of my life to bed.”
Shelby shifted closer and leaned over the center console. “Does this mean you’re ready to give us another go?”
“No.” Logan fidgeted with his keys then removed them from the ignition. “I never said that.” He sighed. “I know we’re better off as friends.”
“Because you’re in love with Brooke?” Shelby offered.
Love. The word ricocheted back and forth in his mind. He waited for the panic to set in, the urge to argue with her, but instead he let it land and settle. Did he love Brooke?
“I might be.” He folded his arms and leaned his back against the seat.
“I knew it.” Shelby shifted. They stared across the parking lot toward the restaurant. “I saw the way you looked at her. You used to look at me that way, and I was too dumb and naïve to appreciate it.”
Logan didn’t argue. Instead, he started the engine and said, “I think I should take you home.”
“Yes,” Shelby said. “Please take me home.”
CHAPTER 18
The right side of Brooke’s stomach throbbed. Her late-night Taco Bell run had come back to bite her. Sweat lathered her brow and trickled down her temples. She halted in the hospital hallway then placed her palm flat against the wall and forced herself to take a few deep breaths as the pain increased.
A nurse walking by stopped next to her and asked, “Everything okay?” She placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You look really pale.”
Brooke peered up at her. “I’m not sure.” Another wave of pain hit. “I think I might have food poisoning.” She breathed in and out, in and out.
