She narrows her eyes instantly. “Okay. What happened.”
I ball the wrappers in my hands and walk to the kitchen to toss them.
When I come back, she’s leaning against the couch, patting the space beside her. “Tell me.”
I rub my forehead, unsure of what to say since not even Simone knows what really happened last year, just that Logan messed around with a client not what I did in retaliation. “Nothing happened. I just said something about Mackie.”
“The assistant?” she asks.
I nod. “Turns out she’s not flirting.”
Simone lifts a brow.
I laugh weakly. “She’s really not. She’s actually a nice girl. But Logan got weird about why I didn’t say anything when I thought she was.”
“Eesh,” she mutters.
I sink back into the couch. “He was just… so hurt.”
Even saying the words makes my heart ache.
“That’s not your fault,” she says immediately.
I sigh. “Don’t start.”
Simone never really understood why I forgave Logan so quickly. With her being married to his brother, I couldn’t put her in the middle by telling her why.
She lifts her hands. “Sorry. Forgot it was a no-go topic.”
“Simone,” I warn.
She exhales. “I just don’t get it. You were furious. You told me therapy wasn’t working. And then suddenly you forgave him. You even stopped marriage counseling.”
Her voice wavers. “And ever since then… I’ve watched the light dim out of your eyes.”
My throat tightens painfully.
“Where is this coming from?” I ask.
She turns fully toward me; concern etched into her face. “I’ve known you since we were ten,” she says softly. “You’re my best friend.” She gives a small, sad smile. “And you’re hiding something.”
I look away. Honestly… I expected this conversation a long time ago.
“Come on,” she says, squeezing my hand. “Just imagine how good it’ll feel to get it off your chest.”
Staring at Simone’s understanding eyes, I’m tempted to just tell her. Rip off the bandage.
But I can’t.
That bandage is the only thing keeping me from bleeding out.
Logan
“Mackie, hold my calls,” I say into the intercom after finishing the last call.
Grabbing my phone, I step away from the desk, already dialing.
The line barely rings before Darren’s groggy voice comes through.
