Dani deserves a life without my shadows.
So I say the careful thing. “You don’t owe anyone an explanation,” I tell her. “Least of all me.”
Her brows knit slightly. “That’s not what this is.”
“I know,” I said. And I do. I just don’t know how to say the rest without unraveling everything.
Her voice levels, sounding more assured. “I told them I’m choosing what feels right.”
Something in me aches at that. Deep and sharp.
“You should,” I said, “Always.”
She studies my face again. “You say that like you don’t believe it applies to you.”
I huff a humorless laugh. “I’m not the example you wanna follow, Darlin’.”
Her lips curve faintly, but her eyes stay serious. “You’re allowed to want things too, Logan.”
Am I?The question echoes in my head long after she says it.
I think of Elena. Of promises I made at a graveside, I still visit. Of the way moving forward has always felt like betrayal.
I think of Harper. Of how careful I’ve been not to disrupt her world.
And I think of Dani: bright and alive and far too good to get tangled up in my mess.
“I just want you to know,” I say instead, choosing my words like they’re glass, “that whatever they said… it doesn’t change how I see you.”
Her bright brown eyes soften and hold mine for a moment before she nods.
“That helps,” she says. “More than you know.”
I nod once. “Get some rest, yeah?”
She gives me a small, tired smile. “You too.”
The screen goes dark.
I sit there long after, phone still warm in my hand, chest tight with things I won’t name yet.
I hate that she cried.
I hate that I couldn’t fix it.
And I hate, absolutely hate, that a part of me believes this only proves what I’ve known from the moment I met her.
That I had no business being involved with her.
That wanting her might mean hurting her.
And I don’t know if I can live with that.
Chapter 28
Dani
The next morning, I made a conscious decision not to think about lunch the day before.
