Page 76 of Abandoned

“See you in a bit.”

She watched Will cross the dining room to go after Logan.

She redirected her attention to movement to the left. AJ was coming toward her. Zara waved.

“Hey. Where’s your partner and his, I mean your boyfriend?”

“Logan ran off in a huff after I said something stupid.”

“Got his police panties all in a twist?”

“AJ!”

She took a deep breath. “Sorry, not very nice or Christian of me. I shouldn’t talk that way, especially about Logan.” She shook her head. “But enough about him. How are you? Everything go okay with the detectives?”

“Yep. Simply clarifying my statement. No big deal.”

“Good. Can I join you?”

“Absolutely.” Zara held her tongue. She really wanted to get AJ to tell her more. But today wasn’t the day.

Chapter Twenty-One

Will broke free of the conversation he’d gotten snagged in on his way out the door. He went to the door, but before he pushed it open, he glanced back at Zara. She was talking to AJ. At least she was with a friend and would be fine. But he hated leaving her there.

But she was a strong, independent woman and was with a friend. She would be all right.

Logan needed him right now.

Will walked out into the parking lot and scanned for Logan. But AJ’s words from this morning still stung. He had chosen to stick with Logan rather than her. He wasn’t doing that to Zara now, was he? He didn’t mean to. His friend needed him. Logan had always been one to bottle things up and often needed someone around to keep him from fixating on the problem.

Will wandered down to the creek and looked up and down the path. Where had Logan gone?

Will picked a direction. Maybe he should have told Zara more. She needed to know the complicated past of her two friends. He should probably at least tell Logan or AJ to just tell her already. Maybe it was time to tell his friends to sort it out. But it wasn’t that simple. If it was, he would.

Down by the water, he spotted Logan. His fists were clenched so tightly his arms shook.

Will called out, “Hey.”

Logan turned and gave a slight up nod.

Will walked up beside him and stood in silence for a few moments then said, “She doesn’t know.”

“That’s my fault. But you know how I feel about talking about the past.”

“Yep.” Did Will need to tell Logan to suck it up? Probably, but he kept his mouth shut.

Will didn’t need to ask Logan what he was thinking or feeling. Not much needed to be said between friends.

But was that true? Maybe his friend did need a good rebuke. He was bitter and unforgiving. But was he ready to hear it? Give me wisdom, Lord.

“Wanna go back to the party?” Will asked, knowing full well Logan’s answer.

“You know me better than that. I need to blow off steam. Basketball?”

“Sure.” Hopefully Zara wouldn’t feel abandoned. But she was the one who told me to go after Logan.

Zara stepped out of the sand volleyball court and slid her sandals back on. It had been fun to play a game after they’d eaten dinner, but her heart really wasn’t in it. It had been an hour and a half since Will went after Logan, and he hadn’t come back. Where was he? Hadn’t he indicated he would return? How upset could Logan really be over her stupid comment?