Page 16 of Betrayed

Chapter Five

Logan’s hands shook as he held the handlebars of his Honda Shadow. He’d heard her harsh intake of breath at his never comment. But he was so angry. Why did he always bite at her with his words?

In all honesty, if he never talked to her again it would be too soon. No. That wasn’t true. He missed her, never had stopped loving her even after all these years. She was his first love, and he’d never love another.

With the flick of his right wrist, he opened up the throttle and pushed his luck with the speed limit on the country road that led around town toward his house. He’d write himself a ticket later if he had to.

Slowing as he entered town, Logan maneuvered the streets at a more reasonable speed. A block from his house, he spotted Miles getting out of his rental car. Logan pulled to a stop at the curb. “Hey, Miles.”

He walked over to Logan. “How goes it?”

“I was going to ask you the same. You were the one in a car accident. Nothing broken I take it.”

“A concussion and some bruises. Nothing that won’t heal easy enough.”

“Excellent. It could have been a lot worse.”

“For sure. Haven’t heard the kid’s excuse for running the stop sign, but I hope he has good insurance. Thankfully, I wasn’t carrying a load of supplies in the car.”

“Pharmaceutical sales, right?”

“Yep. Keeps me busy and traveling.” Miles ran a hand through his hair and winced. Must have hit his injury.

“A bright point was seeing AJ’s face when I came to after the accident.”

Logan kept his groan internal and smiled. “No doubt.”

“I still don’t understand how I missed the opportunity for something more with her after homecoming sophomore year.”

Logan wanted to laugh but kept it to himself.

“Maybe I should see what she’s up to.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“Still hold a candle for her, huh?”

“Trust me. Find someone else.”

Miles raised an eyebrow as if he hoped for a further explanation.

“I’ve got to get my groceries home. I’ll see you around.” Logan revved his motorcycle to avoid hearing anything Miles said, waved, and drove away.

He turned the corner and spotted a teenage boy taking off from his carport. What on earth?

Logan accelerated and followed the kid, but he cut through a yard and into the woods.

There was no way Logan would catch him there. He stopped and contemplated what to do. He could drive around and see if he spotted the kid coming out on the other side, but there was a creek back there, and the boy would be able to follow it and come out anywhere. Better to go home and see if he stole anything or caused any damage. Too bad Logan hadn’t gotten a better look at the teen.

Back at home, he didn’t find anything out of place.

Once the groceries were put away, Logan poured himself a glass of whiskey and sat at his kitchen table. He slammed the whiskey back and poured a second glass. He normally kept it to one glass, but it didn’t numb him enough anymore.

At work the next day AJ had done nothing but stew in her frustration with Logan for three solid hours. She’d cleaned the kitchen at the fire station from top to bottom. She’d remained cordial to everyone who talked to her, firmly cementing a wall to hold herself up and keep her emotions inside. She was going to need a nap soon though. She hadn’t been able to sleep at all after the definitiveness of Logan’s never last night at the store.

She put the cleaning supplies under the sink, and her phone dinged.

A text message from an unfamiliar phone number.