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He buried his face in his hands as the water sluiced over his back and shoulders, and groaned. This was a nightmare, and he couldn’t see any way it could end well.
* * *
Fortunately,Shane wasn’t the first to arrive at poker. It had been ridiculous to think he would be, considering he was almost always the last to turn up, but Logan’s mind hadn’t been rational as he tried to figure out how the hell he’d endure being alone with Shane without breaking the news. Somehow, he simultaneously wanted to confess everything to his friend but also never ever tell him. It was a strange dichotomy and he wasn’t sure what to make of it. When Kyle strolled through the door, Logan was so relieved, he almost hugged him.
“Hey, man. How’s things?” Logan asked, mixing a bowl of dip to keep his hands busy.
“Good.” Kyle looked at him strangely, and Logan wondered whether Charity had told him about the pregnancy. Couples told each other everything, didn’t they? But if she had, surely he would have mentioned it, or their mum would know and they’d have cornered him for an interrogation. “Is everything okay? You look stressed.”
“I’m fine.” Maybe if he said it enough times, he’d believe it. Or everyone else would, and they’d stop asking questions. He worried he’d crack the moment anyone pushed for details as to why he wasn’t his usual carefree self. Fortunately, at that moment Tione and Sterling walked in together, Sterling chuckling at something Tione had said.
“Ready to lose?” Logan asked, pasting a fake smile on his face.
Tione scoffed. “You wish.”
Sterling raised a haughty eyebrow. “I think we all know who’ll be taking the pot home tonight.”
Logan grunted. Sterling had a point. He did tend to come out on top. Occasionally, Logan or Michael would steal the win, but Tione played too conservatively, Jack was reckless, Shane was distracted, and Kyle didn’t have a killer instinct. Logan suspected Gray would give them a run for their money if they changed venues to his place. He suffered from extreme anxiety—although it was gradually improving—and being away from home consumed a lot of his focus.
Jack sauntered in and helped himself to a beer from the fridge, then passed out drinks to the others. Logan eyeballed his to make sure the lid hadn’t been tampered with. Jack wasn’t above slipping spirits into people’s beer to gain a competitive edge.
“Relax,” Jack said. “It’s just beer.”
“It better be,” Sterling grumbled, clearly recalling the first time he’d joined their game. Logan had sneakily refilled his glass each time he looked away. He’d been drunk off his ass, but he’d still beaten them.
They sat around the table, greeting Michael as he entered looking every bit the school principal. Shane was right behind him, rumpled as always. The sight of him was like a punch to Logan’s gut. He sucked in a breath.
Tione thumped his back, and he coughed. “You okay? Sounded like you choked on something.”
Just my guilt.
“Went down the wrong pipe,” he croaked.
Michael and Shane took the two remaining chairs, then Shane pulled a container of carrot sticks and one of hummus from his backpack and placed them on the table. He was such a dad. Always making sure they had a healthy option.
Logan frowned. Damn, he was going to have to think of things like that soon too. It would be up to him to help ensure the health and safety of a helpless baby. He so did not have the right instincts. He’d be more likely to feed them sugary cereal and chocolate. Perhaps he’d ask for Shane’s advice—after he’d been forgiven, and who knew how long that would take?
Kyle dealt the cards and the game began. Logan tried to focus, and to behave normally, but he caught several of the men glancing at him, then catching each other’s eyes. Communicating silently. At least he knew that whatever was going through their minds couldn’t possibly come close to the truth.
“How’s Gabby?” Kyle asked Shane as one hand ended and Tione grabbed the cards. “Is she feeling better now?”
Logan forced himself to stare at his cards. If he raised his eyes, there was no telling what they’d see in them.
Shane dunked a carrot stick in hummus. “She’s still not herself. I’m starting to wonder if she’s going through a health scare but doesn’t want to tell us.”
Logan coughed. Sterling narrowed his eyes at him.
“Do you think so?” Kyle asked, his expression awash with concern.
God, how was Logan supposed to stay silent when they were so genuinely worried about her?
“Whatever it is, I’m sure she’ll tell you soon,” Logan said. “You just need to let her know you’re there for her.”
After all, she’d need whatever support she could get.
Shane smiled. “You’re right. I have to trust that she’ll let me know when she’s ready to talk.”
Thankfully, the conversation went in a different direction after that, and Logan managed to make it through the rest of the night with no incidents. When his friends had left, he sat alone at the table with a bottle of beer and contemplated the one-eighty his life had taken in only one day. His phone beeped and he checked the display.
