Page 72 of It Should Have Been You

It hits me then. I was in such a rush to get out of the gallery, I hardly heard a word Claire said, or they didn’t sink in until now. Logan… the houses… Claire wanting to introduce me to someone. He’s the friend she was talking about.

What is my life and how the fuck did I end up here?

“I don’t plan on staying in the city. I need…” The right word eludes me, but he seems to understand.

“An escape,” he finishes.

Not the word I would have chosen, but he’s right. I’m running. I've been doing a pretty good job of that these past few years.

This time, I don’t feel guilty about it. I need to run… for my girls and my sanity, from reporters determined to dredge up a past I’m fighting to bury.

I grip my clutch bag, needing to stay grounded. “Something like that,” I whisper.

Is this it? Do we just say goodbye again and that’s it for another ten years?

I wish I knew what to say. I wish he wasn’t looking at me like he’s trying to figure me out—or worse, like he already has.

“Thanks for the lift home.” I cringe inwardly. “I better get inside…”

“I might have it.” He runs a hand through his hair, shifting on his feet.

Confused, I simply blink at him. “Have what?”

“The escape.” My throat closes. “Fuck, I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he mutters, and I’m sure I wasn’t meant to hear that part. “If the escape you’re looking for is two hours north, in a small, but busy town.” He’s saying it like he can’t believe the words are coming out of his own mouth.

“Logan, that’s…”Amazing... Exactly what I’m looking for… Thank you.All of those would be great replies, but fear has me rooted in place. He arrived tonight like he appeared from thin air and now he’s offering me somewhere to live.

“Why would you do that?” I meant it when I said we don’t know each other. He doesn’t owe me anything.

I watch as his throat bobs on a swallow before those eyes implore mine. “It’s what I do for…” he trails off, jaw clenched.

“For who?”

“For women at the shelter. I’ve got some houses they use.”

I look back at my house. “This isn’t yours, is it?”

Please don’t say yes.

“No.”

I blow out a relieved breath.

“Jake asked if I could help a friend. A friend of Jake’s is a friend of mine,” he adds. “And I know what it’s like to need a fresh start.”

I open my mouth to respond when the front door swings open, revealing Kim in her pink fluffy bathrobe. “What are you doing ho… Holy shit.” Her eyes fall to Logan and almost fall out of her head. “I know you? I do. I know you.” She looks at me. “That’s Logan King.”

I’ve noticed.

He simply raises his hand in a casual salute, as if this is a normal occurrence. Poor Kim looks bewildered.

“What… What’s happening right now?”

“Logan is a friend of Jake’s,” I explain, practically crawling out of my skin. “He gave me a ride home.”

Her eyebrows almost reach her hairline, getting her message across without having to say it.

Oh, did he now?

Source: www.allfreenovel.com