Chapter 7
Even years later, Logan knew he could pick up Shelby’s voice from anywhere. Crowded restaurant, yep. A sprawling park, absolutely. The whisper in the church pew four rows back, unfortunately yes.
Which was why his body nearly convulsed when she said his name. And he knew then he’d never be free. And he hated her for it.
“Shelby.” Sweat slathered his brow despite the wind chill seeping through his jacket. “This is a surprise.”
“Yes, a good one.” Shelby shoved her hands into the front of her puffy coat. “You look great.” Her hungry eyes roamed his body. “Have you been working out?”
“No.” His jaw locked and he tried to ignore his mounting blood pressure. “Did Danielle ask you to come by?” His brow furrowed.
“What?” Shelby shook her head. Her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders and across her back. “No, I was only out for a walk.” She peered past him to Brooke in the car.
Shelby looked the same as though she somehow mystically bypassed the challenges of time.
His stomach swooned without his consent.
He willed himself to stay in the present and remind himself of the pain she caused him.
Being attracted to Shelby had never been the issue, her treatment of him had been.
“Do you live around here?” Logan asked.
“I thought Danielle told you.” Shelby stepped closer. “I moved in across the street from her.”
What?
He nearly peed his pants.
“I thought she ran into you at the grocery store,” he countered.
“Yes, true.” Shelby removed her hand from her pocket and scratched her nose. “Then we figured out I had moved in across the street. I mean what are the odds?” She smiled.
His mind reeled. How could Danielle have failed to mention this huge bit of information? Every time he went to visit her, he’d wonder if he had a chance of running into Shelby again. Ugh. The thought made him nauseous. He ran a hand through his hair.
“It’s my first house,” Shelby added.
“You don’t say.” His back stiffened.
And so, the unraveling began.
“Sorry.” Shelby glanced over at Brooke and waved. “We’re being really rude. I’m Shelby.”
Duh, he’d completely forgotten Brooke had a front row seat to this train wreck of a moment.
Brooke climbed out of her seat and straightened her blouse. “I’m Brooke.”
He slid an arm around Brooke’s waist and gently brought her closer to his body. “Brooke’s my girlfriend.”
“Guilty.” Brooke placed a hand on Logan’s chest and smiled brightly. “Logan is all mine.” She scrunched up her nose and gazed up at him adoringly.
“Oh,” Shelby blinked. “So, she’s real.”
His neck ached. He longed to crank it back and forth to relieve the tension.
“Despite what Danielle may or may not have told you,” His fingertips dipped into Brooke’s waist. “Brooke is real, and we couldn’t be happier together.”
“Great to hear.” Shelby pressed her lips together for a second. “I guess I’d better let you go. It was nice seeing you again. Maybe I’ll see you around.” Then she swiveled quickly and headed in the opposite direction before he had time to say goodbye.
He stared dumbfounded as he watched Shelby grow smaller and smaller on the sidewalk.
Brooke exhaled. “So, that’s the famous ex.”
“Yeah.” Logan unfolded his arm from around her. Then he rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s her. Do you think she bought us being together?”
He hated how much he wanted the answer to be yes. Would he ever be rid of this grip she had on him?
“Totally.” Brooke smiled. “You’re golden. She was definitely jealous. That’s why she took off so fast.” She patted him lightly on his chest. “You’re welcome.”
A calm washed over him and soothed the knot out of his stomach. “That’s a relief.” He plunged his hand into his pocket and retrieved his keys. “Thanks again. You played the part perfectly.”
“I know.” Her eyes glinted with mischievousness. “I guess I’m a better actor than I thought.”
Logan fidgeted with his keys and stared back in the direction Shelby disappeared. He wondered if she’d replay this conversation on repeat in her mind like he would.
“You’re still hung up on her,” Brooke stated.
He snapped his head back to face her. “No,” he replied far too quickly. His keys jangled in his hands. “Ugh, okay—she’s still beautiful, but she’s still Shelby.”
“Okay—” Brooke paused then slowly nodded. “I’ll help you come up with a plan to win her back. We can make this work for you.”
“I didn’t say that was what I wanted.” Logan avoided her gaze as he stared down at his keys. He swung one key around the ring over and over again. “But I’d be lying if I didn’t say she still did it for me.”
“Exactly.” Brooke slid back into her seat and buckled her seatbelt.
“Now, let’s get out of here. I’ve seen your parents peek out of the front window three times.
We need to go before they start to think there is something wrong.
You’re into Shelby, and I’m going to help you win her back. Wasn’t this the entire reason I came?”
“No.” Logan shifted to glance back at his house. Immediately, the curtains swooshed back into place. “I brought you to get my family off my back.”
“Right, but now we have a new plan.” She playfully nudged him. “Let’s go. I’m freezing.”
Logan fisted his keys in one hand and shut her door.
By the time he rounded the car and slid into his spot Brooke’s teeth chattered loud enough for him to hear.
He started the engine and cranked up the heat to full blast. They waited as the windows defrosted.
She shivered then resorted to rubbing her hands together to bring some heat to her icy fingers.
“Here.” Logan cupped his hands around hers. He rubbed his hands over hers, attempting to warm them up. “Your hands are freezing.” He commented like an idiot.
“I’ve always had cold extremities. My mom used to say it was because I was cold hearted.”
Whoa, that was some deep layer messed up stuff. He mulled over how to respond. His words needed to incite trust rather than push her away.
“I think your mom was completely wrong.” He continued to rub her hands. They warmed bit by bit. “Maybe she was the one who had the cold heart.”
Brooke wiggled her hands out of his. “You don’t have to pretend anymore.” She shoved her hands into her pockets and leaned back in her seat.
“Pretend what?”
“That we’re together,” she peered out the passenger side window, “and that you want to touch me.”
His stomach twisted. The lines between real and fake smeared together.
He liked being with Brooke and enjoyed having her visit his family.
He even for a minute imagined them in a real relationship with real feelings.
Then, he saw Shelby. Everything tumbled back into place quickly.
His years of self-work gone in a snap. He hated himself for it.
He desperately needed to move the conversation in a better direction, but he didn’t have the bandwidth to figure out how.
Instead, Logan shifted the car out of park and merged onto the road.
The sounds of the radio spilled out of the speakers and filled the silent void.
A trendy pop song with a catchy beat matched the staccato pump of his pulse.
The trees which lined his parents’ neighborhood slowly faded behind them and the entrance to the expressway appeared.
“For what it’s worth,” he broke the silence, “I’m glad you came today.” He directed his car onto the on ramp.
She grunted an indistinguishable reply.
He continued, “I’m also positive in about ten minutes Mom will be calling to tell me how much she loved you.”
“I don’t think so.” Brooke folded her arms across her middle. “I saw your entire family watching the exchange you had with Shelby on the lawn. If your mom calls, it will be about her, not me.”
“Oh.” He scratched at the scruff on his jaw. “You might be right. But I know she’ll ask about you, too.”
“You’re lucky.” Brooke shifted in his seat to face him. “You have a whole house full of people who love you and want the best for you. I’m really glad you have them. It was beautiful to see a family who loved one another.”
“As much as they annoy me— I know I’m lucky.” He merged over lanes then set the car on cruise control. Another spell of silence filled the car. “Do you really think I made Shelby jealous?”
Brooke let out an exaggerated sigh. “Are we back to talking about her again?” She peered out her passenger window again.
“I know.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. It’s like my mind gets stuck on this Shelby track. I haven’t been on it for a long time, but here I am I see her once then bam I can’t shake the idea of her away.”
“I get it.” She unfolded her arms then clasped her hands together in her lap. “It’s hard to let go of the one who rejects us. Maybe this will be your chance to win her back or let her go for good.” Her shoulders drooped.
“Or maybe I can make her jealous. I could live with that.”
“Okay,” Brooke simply replied. “If that’s what you need.”
“The best would be if she accidentally sees us together again when I go to visit Danielle and Michael’s house sometime.”
This might work.
“I don’t know—” Brooke shook her head. “I agreed to one dinner in exchange for one wedding date. That was the deal.”
He saw it play out before his very eyes. Shelby would finally regret her rash choice when she saw him and Brooke being ridiculously happy, she’d finally regret letting him go. Yes, this was his chance to make her feel the sting..
“Please, will you go on another fake date with me?” Logan flashed her a crooked smile.
“Why?” Brooke asked flatly.
“Because we’re friends,” he offered.
“Right, friends.” Brooke rested her head against the headrest and stared out the passenger side window. A long lull weaved through the car. Her jaw tightened a smidge. “I’ll do one more fake date for you.” She held up a finger. “But it’ll cost you.”
“Sure, anything.”
He straightened his back as excitement raced through him.