He sighs. There’s a pause.
“Alright,” he says finally. “Well. Get some sleep. Get a workout in if you can. I’ll text you when I’m on the way to bring you back to Riverbend tomorrow.”
“Copy that.”
“Thanks for letting me crash with your sister, by the way.”
“It’s fine. She’s going through a breakup, anyway. She’ll appreciate having someone else in the house. Just…be cool, okay? Don’t be a menace.”
“I’m always cool.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Do I, though?”
“Logan, I have a good side. And you stay on it most of the time. I believe in helping people out. But I also know people. People who don’t think twice about helping me out.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, you know. If I need to murder you, for instance?”
I swallow. “Um, what?”
Jackson cracks up. “Logan, I’m joking, bro! Chill out. Anyway, looking forward to having you in Riverbend. I can’t wait.”
He hangs up, and I set the phone down, staring back into the mirror.
Cool. Right.
I’ve got a promising spring and summer coming.
So why do I feel like I just got hit by a pitch straight to the chest?
Why does her laugh keep replaying in my head? Why does the sight of that empty space beside me make my gut twist?
Of the few one-night stands I’ve had in my life, they’ve never been likethis. I didn’t think twice about them once I walked out the door.
I blow out a breath, grab the towel, and try to shake it off.
Oh well. It was one night.
It was never supposed to be more.
I head back into the room from the bathroom to gather my stuff—shoes, phone charger, whatever dignity I have left, which isn’t a lot.
That’s when I see it.
Tucked half under the bed, right next to the toy bag we never zipped back up: a pair of panties.
Not just any panties.Herpanties. Pale blue. Soft-looking. The kind with that little bow in front. Delicate.
I freeze.
For a second, I just stare at them. Like they might disappear if I blink too hard.
I reach down, slowly, and pick them up. They’re warm from the sun filtering through the window. Still smell faintly like her perfume. Or maybe that’s just in my head.
I glance at the toy bag next.
