Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Logan
Our first show goes off without a hitch.
The engines scream and the crowd cheers. Heavy bass bumps through the speakers, but the only thing I can focus on is the knot in my chest. Taylor and Christian are nailing every trick flawlessly as if they were born for this—like they completely trust each other. Wish I knew what that felt like.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have treated me like a dirty little secret our whole relationship.”
“You want a good little wife? Find someone else.”
Each of Salem’s words hits me like a punch to the chest, again and again. I feel like a cracked mirror standing on the sidelines, trying to piece myself back together without anyone noticing.
Taylor hits a jump, rotating his bike in the air before sticking the landing, and Christian follows, small cannons raining confetti over their fans. Where the hell did Salem even find those? How did she plan all of this on her own?
I should be cheering. I should be proud.
Instead, I feel like a fucking failure.
“Didn’t think I’d have to come all the way to Nashville to get you to talk to me,” says a quiet voice to my left, and my shoulders tense.
Turning slowly, I meet Huck’s guarded gaze, his dark eyes flashing in the floodlights. "I’ve been busy."
It sounds weak, even to me.
Huck snorts and blows a blond curl out of his face. "Busy ignoring me, maybe."
I glance away, focusing on the ramp where Christian narrowly avoids smashing into Tay, intersecting with their bikes mere inches from each other. They really are amazing to watch. It's like art, the way they operate their dirt bikes together. “Not ignoring, just… processing.”
Biggest understatement of my life.
“Processing what? Her?” He jerks his stubbled chin to where Salem moves around the stands, taking pictures from different angles, red strands blowing behind her like wildfire. The sight rips at the open wound in my chest.
“Yeah. Her.” Licking my lips, I rub the back of my neck, debating whether to tell him more. Admit my shame, confess what I did and how I sunk so deep, I’ll never be able to claw my way to the surface.
If anyone would understand, it's Huckslee. His own stepbrother did unforgivable things in high school, and yet they’re fucking dating now.
Ultimately, I settle for half the truth because I'm a coward. “I'm adopted.”
He quickly whips his head toward me, lips parting in shock. “I… wait, what?”
“Yep.” With a shrug, I force a smile “Devon told me at Matty’s bachelor party. Turns out I'm not actually a Peterson.”
Huck just blinks at me like I’m speaking a foreign language. “Jesus, Logan,” he breathes, dragging a hand down his face. “That’s… a lot.”
A bitter laugh bursts out of me. “You think?”
His gaze softens, and he steps closer to place a hand on my shoulder. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me, man?”
Shifting my weight, I stare out at the stadium again as the crowd cheers. “I dunno. I guess… I didn’t want to make it real. Saying it out loud solidifies that everything I thought I knew is a fucking lie.”
Huck falls silent, watching the show. After a long moment, he nudges me with his elbow. “Doesn’t change who you are, though.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“Not to me. Not to us.” He pauses, studying me carefully. “Not to her, either, I bet.”
My throat tightens almost painfully as my eyes drift toward Salem again. She’s crouched near the base of the ramp this time, close enough to Christian's spinning wheels when he launches over her that my ass cheeks clench in fear. Jesus Christ. “I fucked up, Huck. Really bad.”
He lets out a long exhale. “Then fix it.”
Such simple words for such a massively twisted situation.
“I can’t,” I whisper brokenly, the words tasting like ash on my tongue.
“Why not?”
Because I’m not the person you think I am.
Because I lied.
Because I let Devon break me into something I no longer recognize when I look in the mirror.
Those aren’t the words that come out of my mouth, even though they likely should be.
Instead, I swallow around my burning throat and blink back tears. “Some things can’t be undone.”
Huck stares at me a moment, jaw working at the corners. “You’re right. Some things can’t be undone. But they can be forgiven.”
I can’t even look at him. My attention returns to the show as Taylor hypes up the crowd, standing in the middle of the dirt with his hands in the air.
Huck’s voice comes out softer this time. “She loves you, Loge. I know it. You think she’d be this pissed if she didn’t?”
I clench my teeth so hard they ache. “She deserves better.”
And I believe that with every shattered piece of my heart.
“You don't get to decide that for her,” he sighs, but I shake my head as I step away.
Because I already have.