I nod because what else can I do?
Bree leans toward me. “I’ve been meaning to tell you. Logan should probably be the one apologizing, but I’m sorry too… for what happened at the fundraiser.”
I shake my head in confusion, and then I remember that she’s talking about the night after Miller and I had our first date. That feels like eons ago. “Oh…” is all I can mutter before she continues.
“Trust me, I let Logan have it when I found out he had two dates. It ended up working out, but I know that wasn’t fun for you at all.”
Curious, I ask, “So how exactly did he have two dates?”
“We hadn’t told the family we were back together, and his brother Penn—have you met him yet? Well, he fixed him up with another woman. Luckily, Miller helped out, but I know he didn’t want to and has regretted it ever since.”
I have to ask. “And you were kidnapped that night? Is that right?”
A look crosses Bree’s face, and I instantly regret asking.
I hold my hands up. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked, but when Miller told me the story, I thought…” I let my voice trail off and then tell them, “Well, I thought, I dunno, I honestly had hoped he would have come to see me that night and explain, but I didn’t see him until the next day. I convinced myself that he spent the night with his date and …”
Bree wraps her hand around mine and squeezes. “He didn’t. Logan and his brothers were all saving me.”
I gasp. I knew it. At least a part of me believed him, but another bigger part of me was scared to face the truth. “All this time… I thought… I didn’t answer his calls… I…”
My voice trails off, and I’m watching Miller across the field. He’s talking on his phone, and Guy and Ozzy are standing beside him. I need to apologize.
I look over at Bree. “Thank you for telling me.”
Aria is smiling at me. “Aria, I haven’t met your husband, Penn, yet. Is he at the hospital?”
Something flashes on her face. “Uh, yeah, he said he was going to try to be here, but it looks like he’s going to miss it.”
The way she looks away tells me she doesn’t want to talk about it. I look at my new friends. “Thank you for coming tonight.” I swallow, thinking about my sister. “I wasn’t looking forward to sitting here by myself, so I appreciate you all showing up.” I suck in a ragged breath. “Tammy would have liked you all.”
Skyler holds one hand, Bree the other,and Aria smiles at me. “I’m sure we would have liked her too.”
My gaze travels across the field and finds Miller, phone back in his pocket, staring at me. I lift my head at him because even from here, I know he’s asking me if I’m okay.
For the first time, I’m beginning to think I may just survive this.
CHAPTER 14
MILLER
Lindsey is overseeing Eli’s bath, and I’m fixing a quick snack for us to eat. I’m humming to myself, feeling a contentment that I haven’t felt in a long time. I love having Lindsey and Eli with me.
There’s a knock at the door, and when I look at the clock, I realize that she’s early. I should have talked to Lindsey about all this, but we haven’t been alone since we got home from the ball field.
I walk to the front door, and after checking the camera, I open it. “Mrs. Cantrell, thank you for coming.”
She walks briskly into the house, briefcase in her hand. “You’re welcome.”
I point upstairs. “Uh, Lindsey is helping Eli and?—”
Before I can finish, Lindsey and Eli come into the living room. Lindsey stops short, her hands settling on Eli’s shoulders as her eyes move between me and Mrs. Cantrell.
It’s obvious that she’s wondering who the woman is. Even after everything, she’s still scared and unsure who to trust.
Instantly I cross the room and pull her against me and put a hand on Eli’s shoulder. “Lindsey, this is Mrs. Cantrell. She is Eli’s guardian ad litem.”
Lindsey tenses as Eli asks, “What’s that?”
