Page 24 of Betrayed

Chapter Eight

Eleven and a Half Years Ago—May

Back home for the summer, AJ unpacked her last suitcase after a very lonely sophomore year. In breaking up with Logan, she’d lost her closeness with Will too since he’d stuck by Logan’s side. And no matter how much she tried to connect with the girls in her dorm, it always fell short. She didn’t know how to be friends with girls. They were boring and only wanted to braid each other’s hair. Well, not really, but that’s how it felt sometimes. Instead she dove into her studies. But she was out of gen eds now. She needed to actually pick a major.

She felt so lost. Her only ambition in life had been to be Logan’s wife and stay home and raise a zillion kids. With a plop, she sat on the edge of her bed. She missed Logan sneaking in her window when Dad was asleep and crawling into bed next to her. The snuggling was the part she missed.

Jesus, I need You to be my all in all. We’ve grown closer this year now that Logan and I aren’t sinning all the time, so why do I still miss him so much? Lord, help me to focus on You.

She laid back on her bed and picked up the stuffed panda Logan had given her for Christmas when they were only ten years old, and she hugged it tight. Everything in her room reminded her of him.

Crying was not an option. She wouldn’t let herself.

Tomorrow she had to find a job. She’d work all summer and keep herself busy.

The screen door slammed. Dad must have changed the spring again.

A gentle knock sounded on her bedroom door.

“Yeah?”

“You’ve got company outside.”

“Thanks, Daddy.” Who would be here? Maybe it was Will.

She slid her tennis shoes on and strolled to the front of the house.

In the driveway, Logan sat on a motorcycle.

She ran to him but stopped short. “You got it!”

“I did. You like it?”

“It’s awesome.”

“I thought you’d appreciate it. Wanna go for a ride?”

She glanced at the house. Her dad leaned against the porch post at the top of the stairs.

He nodded. “Be careful.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison.

Logan handed her a helmet. “I made sure I had a second one.”

She strapped it on then slipped onto the back of the motorcycle behind Logan. After finding a spot for her feet she loosely held Logan’s sides.

He revved up the bike. His nearness revved up her heart. He took off and drove around town and then out to the country roads. The longer they rode, the farther around him her arms reached, until she laid her head on his back and hugged him tight. The tears threatened again, but the rush of wind in her face dispelled them.

Logan stopped at a small waterfall off the road a bit. A place they had always enjoyed going together. He removed his helmet and, once off the motorcycle, offered his hand.

He stood frozen as if holding his breath, waiting for her to respond.

Accept or reject?

It felt like the weight of their entire futures hung on her response to that hand. What was she supposed to do?

In the last year she’d tried to go on a few dates, but that fell even flatter than her attempts to get closer to the girls in her dorm.