The house was too quiet, most of the lights off, and there were no scents coming from the kitchen, which meant he was on his own for dinner.
“Have you heard from Logan?”
Sam’s voice drifted toward him from the darkened living room. He set his computer on the kitchen table and walked toward her. He saw her sitting on the couch, her elbows resting on her knees, her back bowed as though she was holding herself together from the position alone.
“No. He’s not with you?”
She shook her head. “Deanna said he went out of town.”
Elijah stepped down into the living room. “I didn’t realize he was supposed to.”
“He wasn’t. She said it was a spur-of-the-moment thing.”
“You haven’t talked to him?”
Her head lifted, and he noticed her eyes were red-rimmed, as though she’d been crying. “I left him three messages. He hasn’t called me back. I think he hates me.”
Instantly, he was at her side, pulling her against him, holding her because it made him feel better to console her. “Logan could never hate you.”
“You don’t know that.”
It was futile to argue with Sam. She was the type to insist on getting the last word.
“Did Deanna saywherehe went?”
Sam shook her head, relaxing against him.
It was strange behavior for Logan, that was for sure. Then again, this entire year had consisted of strange behavior between all three of them.
“I pushed too hard,” Sam whispered against his neck. “I asked for something he didn’t want.”
There was an uncomfortable pull in Elijah’s chest. He wasn’t sure what to think about Logan’s abrupt departure, but if he knew anything about the man, he knew Logan didn’t make decisions like this lightly. Wherever he went, whatever he was doing, he had a good reason. Or at least he believed he did.
“Would you like me to make dinner?” he offered.
“No.” Sam nuzzled closer. “Could you just sit here with me for a while?”
“Anything you need,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple.
Elijah put his arm around her, pulled her close to his side, and let her warmth and her proximity soothe him.
An hour later, after Sam had gotten up to go change into her pajamas, Elijah pulled out his phone, dialed Logan’s number. The call went right to voicemail, which meant he’d turned his phone off. He didn’t bother leaving a message.
Now he was damn curious about what thatgood reasonmight be.
