I grab my laptop, push past Julian, and leave.
I take my bookbag and sling it over my shoulder, and I get out of the apartment as fast as I can, not looking back at my brother. I take the stairs down fast and out on the street, I duck down into the subway below ground.
The train comes quickly.
Once I’m above ground again, I’m right by the Bellwood. I pull out my phone, ignoring the 12 unread messages I have from Jules.
Chase
Your hotel room is empty, right?
Logan
Unfortunately. We’re already on the road trip up to the Catskills. Hi, by the way.
Please say yes to the question I’m about to ask you. Also hi.
Yes, yes, yes, to whatever it is.
Fuck, I hate how good he is.
A stormcloud of deeply held guilt is still kicked up inside me from everything my brother said, but when Logan treats me as kindly as he does, some small fraction of that seems to settle.
There’s an edge to it now that I hate. A seed of doubt that Jules planted in me, making me question fucking everything.
How long will Logan be that kind to me?
There’s no fucking shot he’d cut me off and just go back to LA like last year, right?
I try to push it out of my mind, finally responding to Logan.
You wouldn’t be deeply opposed to me using my employee card to get into your room while you’re gone, would you?
I need to edit the photos, and I just need a clear head.
I can’t be in my own apartment right now.
Use my suite for anything you’d like.
Thank you. Fuck, thank you so much.
Is everything okay? You can’t use your studio, either?
No.
Julian knows where that is, and I don’t want to see him right now.
My phone rings and I only see Logan’s name on the screen for a split second before immediately answering.
“Is everything really okay? What happened with Julian?” Logan asks right as I pick up.
“God, I hate how good your voice sounds, even on the phone,” I murmur.
“Yours sounds good, too. I don’t hate it.”
“Yeah. I don’t actually hate it at all, either.”
“What’s happening there, Chase?”
