AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His mouth hardened. “Then maybe I should.”
Abby realized Logan was tired and impatient, but an angry retort sprang readily to her lips. “You certainly seem to have a lot in common with Patty—far more than you do with me.”
“The last thing I want to do is argue.”
“I don’t, either. My intention in coming tonight wasn’t to defend my actions while you were away. And yes”—she paused to compose herself, knowing her face was flushed—“I did see Tate.”
The area became charged with an electricity that seemed to spark and crackle. The atmosphere was heavy and still, pressing down on her like the stagnant air before a thunderstorm.
“I think that says everything I need to know,” he said with quiet harshness.
Abby nodded sharply, forcing herself to meet his piercing gaze. “Yes, I suppose it does.” She took a step backward.
“It was kind of you to come and welcome me back this evening.” A muscle twitched in his jaw. “But as you can imagine, the trip was exhausting. I’d like to go home and sleep for a week.”
Abby nodded, trying to appear nonchalant. “Perhaps we can discuss this another time.”
Logan shook his head. “There won’t be another time, Abby.”
“That decision is yours,” she said calmly, although her voice trembled with reaction. “Good night, Logan.”
“Good-bye, Abby.”
Good-bye! She knew what he was saying as plainly as if he’d screamed it at her. Whatever had been between them was now completely over.
—
“I expect you’ll be seeing a lot more of Logan now that he’s back,” Tate commented from her living room the following afternoon.
Abby brought out a sandwich from the kitchen and handed it to him before taking a seat. “We’ve decided to let things cool between us,” she said with as much aplomb as she could manage. Cool was an inadequate word. Their relationship was in Antarctica. They’d accidentally run into each other that morning while Abby was doing some grocery shopping and had exchanged a few stilted sentences. After a minute Abby could think of nothing more to say.
“You know what I think, Tate?” Abby paid an inordinate amount of attention to her sandwich. “I’ve come to the belief that love is a highly overrated emotion.”
“Why?”
Abby didn’t need to glance up to see the amusement on Tate’s face. Instead she took the first bite of her lunch. How could she explain that from the moment she realized how much she loved Logan, all she’d endured was deep emotional pain. “Never mind,” she said at last, regretting that she’d brought it up.
“Abby?” Tate’s look was thoughtful.
She leaped to her feet. “I forgot the iced tea.” She hurried into the kitchen, hoping Tate would let the subject drop.
“Did I tell you the bank approved my loan?”
Returning with their drinks, Abby grinned. “That’s great!”
“They phoned yesterday afternoon. Bessler’s pleased, but not half as much as I am. I have a lot to thank you for, Abby.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Abby said with a quick nod. “You’ve worked hard and deserve this.” Abby knew how relieved Tate was that the loan had gone through. He’d called Abby twice out of pure nerves, just to talk through his doubts.
Tomorrow afternoon they were going to attend the picnic together, and although Abby was grateful for Tate’s friendship, she didn’t want to give her friends the wrong impression. Logan had already jumped to conclusions. There was nothing to say the others wouldn’t as well. Tate was a friend—a special friend—but their relationship didn’t go beyond that. It couldn’t, not when she was in love with Logan.
“Abby,” Tate said quietly. “I’m going to talk to him.”
—
Sunday afternoon Abby was preoccupied as she dressed in shorts and a Twins T-shirt for the picnic. She was glad Tate was going with her, glad he’d promised to explain, but she hoped Logan didn’t do or say anything to make him uncomfortable.
Logan. The unhappiness weighed down on her heart. Her thoughts were filled with him every waking minute. Even her dreams involved him. This misunderstanding, this lack of trust, had to stop once and for all. From the moment Logan had left for Washington, Abby had longed for Tate to explain the situation and heal her relationship with Logan. She’d assumed that as time went on they’d naturally get back together. Now, just the opposite was proving to be true. With every passing hour, Logan was drifting further and further out of her life. Yet her love was just as strong. Perhaps stronger. Whether Tate went through with his confession and whether it changed things remained to be seen.
