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“Do you haveanyidea what you put her through?”
My chest tightens at the obvious concern in her voice, and I hate myself for hurting the first person I’ve ever loved. “I…”
“How about you give Dani a call?” Dylan says, giving me a small smile. “And once you’re done, get dressed and we’ll meet you in the lobby cafe.”
My eyes lock with his, and I see the understanding clear on his face. Nothing else matters except Dani right now. And he knows it.
I give him a smile and a nod as everyone files out of the room, with Cory the last to leave.
“Cory, I’m so sorry, I—”
She starts shaking her head as soon as I saysorry. “I’m just worried about you. I had no idea…” She trails off, and I see the hurt in her eyes. Pain that I never confided in her. Thing is, I never confided in anyone. It was Mom who told Summer. She was worried when I first found out and had to quit the surfing tour. She wanted backup. She wanted someone else knowing that something could go wrong at any moment. Summer and I rarely spoke about it after the initial conversation.
“I didn’t tell you because—”
“I know. Summer told us everything. I just wish I’d known. You know…to help in some way.” She smiles shyly as I open my arms for a hug.
“You’re one of a kind, Cory, and I’m so damn happy for you and Nate.”
“Thanks, I am too,” she says as she briefly hugs me, as if worried that I’m going to break. “Now, go and call Dani. You need to sort this out.”
My smile drops, and I can’t stop a frown from forming as Cory stands up. “I wish it was that easy, Cory. But I’m going to try. If last night taught me anything, it’s that I don’t want to even look at another girl…ever. In a room full of women, she’s the only one I see, even when she’s not there.”
Cory gives me a knowing smile as Nate pops his head through the door.
“Thanks, Cory. And congrats again, Nate.”
“Thanks, man.”
The second the door clicks shut behind them, my body sinks as the weight of everything crushes me.What the fuck happened last night?
Why can’t I remember any of it?
I reach out to the bedside table and blindly pat around until I feel my phone, bringing it up to my face. When I click on my recent calls list, Dani’s name is staring back at me in the top two spots—missed and dialed—and I feel light headed when I see how many times she tried to call.God, I’m an asshole.
Taking a deep breath, one that I hold, I call her number and wait. My heart slams in my chest, with apprehension this time, not for health reasons.
I hear the call connect and sit up, just as she speaks.
“Logan?” she says and her weary voice breaks my heart.
“It’s me,” I rasp, cringing when I hear her sniff, hoping it’s not tears. I don’t want her crying for me. “Dani, I’m—”
“Oh, Logan—”
We both pause after speaking at the same time, and while I know it’s customary to offer for the other person to go first, I can’t. I need to get this out.
“Can I go first?” I ask, before taking a sip of water to clear my croaky voice.
“Please,” she says, her voice coated with emotion.
“I’m so fucking sorry for scaring you the way I did. And though it’s true that I was out of my mind drunk, it’s no excuse, and I feel like absolute shit for hurting you. That’s something I never intended to do.”
I pause as I contemplate what to say next, but Dani gets in first.
“I’m not sorry you called,” she says, her voice now stronger than before. “Even though the medic gave you the all clear, I’m still glad you were checked out. And that wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t spoken. Plus, I’m guessing you never would have told me otherwise.”
I huff out a laugh because she’s probably right, but the sadness in her tone is gut-wrenching. “I’m sorry about that too. I should have told you. I just hate having this weakness. And talking about it only makes it real.”
