AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I think Glenna’s trying to tell me to keep my mouth shut because it’s obvious you two want some time alone,” Abby’s father complained.
“I’m saying no such thing,” Glenna denied instantly as an embarrassed flush brightened her cheeks. “We were young once, Frank.”
“Once!” Frank scolded. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not exactly ready for the grave.”
“We’ll play cards another time,” Logan promised, ending a friendly argument between her parents.
“Double-deck pinochle,” Frank prompted. “Best card game there is.”
Glenna pretended to agree but rolled her eyes dramatically when Frank wasn’t looking.
“Shall we?” Logan successfully contained a smile and held out his open palm to Abby. She placed her hand in his, more content than she could ever remember being. After their farewells to her parents, Logan followed her back to her apartment, parking his car beside hers. He took a seat while Abby hurried into the next room.
“Give me a minute to freshen up,” Abby called out as she ran a brush through her hair and studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She looked happy. The sparkle was back in her eyes.
She dabbed some of the perfume Logan had given her to the pulse points at her throat and wrists. Maybe this would garner even more of a reaction. He wasn’t one to display a lot of emotion, but he seemed to be coming along nicely in that area. His kisses had produced an overwhelming physical response in Abby, and she was aware that his feelings for her ran deep and strong. It had been only a matter of weeks ago that she’d wondered why he bothered to kiss her at all.
“I suppose you’re going to suggest we drive to Des Moines and back,” Logan teased when she joined him a few minutes later.
“Logan!” she cried, feigning excitement. “That’s a wonderful idea.”
He rolled his eyes and laid the paper on the sofa. “How about a movie instead?”
Abby gave a fake groan. “So predictable.”
“I’ve been wanting to see this one.” He pointed at an ad for the movie she’d seen with Tate.
“I’ve already been,” Abby tossed back, not thinking.
“When?”
Abby could feel the hostility exuding from Logan. He knew. Without a word he’d guessed that Abby had been to the movie with Tate.
“Not long ago.” She tried desperately to put the evening back on an even keel. “But I’d see it again. The film’s great.”
The air between them became heavy and oppressive.
“Forget the movie,” Logan said, and neatly folded the paper. He straightened and stalked to the far side of the room. “In fact, why don’t we forget everything.”
Hands clenched angrily at her sides, Abby squared her shoulders. “If you ruin my birthday, Logan Fletcher, I don’t think I’ll ever forgive you.”
His expression was cold and unreadable. “Yes, but there’s always Tate.”
A hysterical sob rose in her throat, but Abby managed to choke it off. “I…I told you tonight that I loved you.” Her voice wobbled treacherously as her eyes pleaded with his. “Doesn’t that mean anything to you? Anything at all?”
Logan’s gaze raked her from head to foot. “Only that you don’t know the meaning of the word. You want both Tate and me, Abby. But you can’t decide between us so you’d prefer to keep us both dangling until you make up your mind.” His voice gained volume with each word. “But I won’t play that game.”
Abby breathed in sharply as a fiery anger burned in her cheeks. Once she would have ranted, cried, and hurled her own accusations. Now she stood, stunned and disbelieving. “If you honestly believe that, then there’s nothing left to say.” Her voice was calmer than she dared hope. Life seemed filled with ironies all of a sudden. Outwardly she presented a clearheaded composure while on the inside she felt a fiery pain. Perhaps for the first time in her life she was acting completely selflessly, and this was her reward—losing Logan.
Without another word, Logan walked across the room and out the front door.
Abby watched him leave with a sense of unreality. This couldn’t be happening to her. Not on her birthday. Last year Logan had taken her to dinner at a restaurant inside the Sheraton Hotel and given her—what else?—perfume. A hysterical bubble of laughter slipped from her. He was predictable, but so loving and caring. She remembered how they’d danced until midnight and gone for a stroll in the moonlight. Only a year ago, Logan had made her birthday the most perfect day of her life. But this year he was ruining it.
Angry, hurt, and agitated, Abby paced the living room carpet until she thought she’d go mad. Dano had wandered into the living room when she and Logan came in, but had disappeared into her bedroom once he sensed tension. Figured. Not even her cat was interested in comforting her. Usually when she was upset she’d ride her bike or do something physical. But bike riding at night could be dangerous, so she’d go running instead. She changed into old jeans and a faded sweatshirt that had a picture of a Disneyland castle on the front. She had trouble locating her second tennis shoe, then threw it aside in disgust when the rainbow-colored lacesnapped in two.
She sighed. Nothing had gone right today. Tate had been disappointed that she wasn’t able to meet him. Because of that, she’d been fighting off a case of guilt when she went to her parents’. Then Logan had shown up, and everything had steadily and rapidly gone downhill.
Ripping a lace from one of her softball shoes, Abby had to wrap it around the sole of the shoe several times. On her way out the door, she paused and returned to the bathroom. If she was going to go running, then she’d do it smelling better than any other runner in Minneapolis history. She’d dabbed perfume on every exposed part of her body when she stepped out the door.
