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“Logan, thank God. How’s Hagan?”
He takes a sharp breath that I hear through the phone. “He just ordered everyone out of the house. He said he’d leave if they didn’t. I told him it was my fucking house and I’m staying. He slammed the door to his room. I think everyone needs to give him some time. He’ll be better once he hears that Joe’s going to have surgery.”
I guess I’ll be staying with my dad. I would have rather stayed with Hagan. “Archer said his family is renting out the penthouse floor of the new boutique hotel downtown, beside the job site you two are working on. Archer wants you with them and your dad is welcome too.”
“Me?” Why am I surprised? They’ve treated me like part of their family form the moment we met. It’s calming and comforting, knowing I have people fighting for me. And for mine and Hagan’s relationship.
“Yeah, he said he was texting you.”
“Logan, if Hagan will listen, will you tell him I love him? He isn’t returning my texts or calls.”
“Sure will, Little A. Umm is Harper with you? Archer said she left mad. I want to make sure she’s okay.” He clears his throat. “For Archer and Hagan.”
“Yeah, we’re together.” All I can think of is how Hagan has made every person in my life more meaningful.
Logan went from an annoying friend to the matchmaker behind the scenes to the only male other than Hagan that I can talk with about my personal life.
Joe went from someone Ginger was hooking up with—to an animated decoration in our apartment—to a friend.
And Hagan’s family is not just worried about him, but me too. Harper and Archer are here with me.
“Good. I’ll keep you updated. Don’t hesitate to call if anyone needs me.”
ChapterForty
Hagan
Never in a million years,did I expect to break my own heart. The events I put into motion have shattered my world. How can I ever look anyone in the eye or expect them to love me? When Adalee stared at me with disappointment in her eyes, I felt the crack getting wider. And Joe might die. Ginger and my teammates will never forgive me. I’ve lost Adalee, my friends and baseball.
I threw my phone out the window. The calls. The texts hoping I’m okay. Do they not understand that Joe is the one fighting for his life? Why are they wasting their time on me, the guy that put him there?
I demanded everyone leave the house and leave me alone. Logan told me to fuck off. That did make me chuckle inside. We all pay rent, so I have no right asking anyone that lives here to leave. But Pearse was gone anyway, and Mac said he was going to stay with a friend for a night or two.
Laying on my bed, I throw a rubber baseball against the wall. Thump and it’s back my hand. Thump and it comes back to me again. Over and over until it’s dark outside. It’s peaceful without a phone. Without all thesorrytexts.
There’s a knock on my door. “Stay out.”
The asshole doesn’t listen and comes in anyway. He leans his six-foot-five body against the door jamb, barely fucking fitting under it. “Do you need a dictionary on what the wordsstay outmean?” I snap. I start throwing the ball again.
“Your coach called. Joe’s tests came back as a positive candidate for surgery. The surgery is scheduled for Wednesday.” Logan’s voice holds a genuine concerned tone.
“Thanks.”
He turns to leave but instead says, “I talked to Little A.”
“Moving in already. That was fast.”
He hits the wall with his palm. “Wow. I did everything you asked to help you snag the girl of your dreams. Don’t let her go. And by the way, she asked me to tell you that she loves you. She’s staying at The Waterford with your family.”
“Why isn’t she at her apartment?”
“Do you care? Cause if you do, here’s your phone. Call and ask her.” He throws my phone onto my bed. “I’m here to talk if you need someone other than your family or Adalee.” He knocks the wall twice and leaves.
I haven’t slept since Sunday. We woke up at six a.m. to head home from Chicago. It’s close to midnight on Monday night, so at least thirty six hours. I’ve thought about everything Logan said but I can’t bring myself to look at my phone. I saw forty nine notifications before I threw it out the window.
Family. I love my family but I’m angry and ashamed. I shouldn’t have meddled in Adalee’s family life. I’m no better than her dad. I can’t face her.
By three a.m., I’m still not asleep so I pull on my sweats and sweatshirt and run to the baseball complex. It wasn’t my intention, but something guided me here. I jump the fence and go into the dugout. I sit on the back instead of the seat because Joe and I always sit this way.
