Chapter 29
OLIVIA
I saw a quote last week that said:
“When you’re a good swimmer, people don’t realize you’re drowning.”
I didn’t understand it then. I do now.
—Olivia’s Secret Thoughts
Jasper holds the door open for me, but I stand, stuck in place and staring at Logan, who hasn’t moved.
I’m not sure I’ve ever been so frustrated with someone while simultaneously feeling like I seriously fucked up before. And honestly, it all makes my heart hurt. “Can you give me a minute?”
“I’m not an Uber, Adler,” Jasper warns, but his bark doesn’t hold any bite.
Not anymore.
“I’ll be right back.” I smile and dash over to Logan. “Hey.”
He turns, but I swear it’s like he’s looking through me.
“I hate that we’re fighting, and I’m so sorry you feel like you didn’t matter. I promise you that’s not true. Maybe I should have told you first, but I’m not used to having to do that.” I blink away the raindrops that cling to my lashes.
When he finally brings his eyes to mine, he looks utterly exhausted. “That’s a pretty shitty apology, Olive.”
“Yeah well, I’m still figuring this all out. I’m not sorry I didn’t tell you first, Logan. I’m just sorry I hurt you by doing that.” I press a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, and you can yell at me more then, okay?”
“Liv . . .” He grabs my hand and tugs. “This isn’t over.”
“Nope. It’s not. Just let me grab Serena, and we can fight all night if you want.” Fighting sounds awful, but I can think of more than a few fun ways to make up afterward.
I look down at where his hand holds mine, and this man just shakes his head. “Your car is in the shop.”
“Jasper said he’d drive.”
He drops my hand and walks ahead of me. “Then let’s go get Serena.”
Umm . . . okay.
“What the fuck, brother?” Jasper asks when he climbs in the front seat of the king cab.
“Liv’s legs are shorter. She can have the back,” my husband snaps.
“Seriously. Not an Uber,” Jasper growls and slams his door as I climb in. “You two work your shit out?”
“No,” we both answer at the same time, and I bite back my smile and settle into my seat.
“Do I want to know?” Jasper grumbles as he pulls down the long, tree-lined driveway. The sky in the distance looks angry and dark. Guess we’re in for a storm.
“I doubt it,” I answer as Logan groans.
“Liv quit her job.”
“Not seeing what the problem is there. You hated that job.” I’m pretty sure he’s addressing Logan, not me. Because as much as I disliked parts of my job, I far from hated it.
“I did quit, but I didn’t hate it. And I should have told you my plans,” I admit to Logan and ignore the sharp whistle from Jasper that’s nearly drowned out by the rain as the sky opens up. “I didn’t think—”
“Damn, Livvy. You didn’t tell him? That’s harsh.” Nosey fucking brother-in-law.
“It’s not. Not really. I’m not like you guys. I don’t tell everyone everything. I never have,” I argue, defending myself from both the overgrown ogres in the front seat. “Some habits take time to break.”
“Am I a habit, Olivia?” Logan asks without turning around, and I lean forward and force his face to mine, hating the hurt I see and the fact that I put it there.
“No. You’re my reason, Adler. You and Maggie. You’re my why. You have this uncanny ability of putting us first without asking for anything in return, and I wanted to do the same,” I admit softly, worried it’s not enough. “I have a plan.”
“Shit, brother. Sounds to me like you fucked up.”
Wow. I think that’s the first time Jasper has ever been on my side.
“I choose you.” I look at Jasper and roll my eyes. “I choose this entire fucked up family.”
“Hey,” Jasper laughs, but I ignore him, too busy watching Logan’s anger thankfully fall away.
“You’re not a transaction, Logan. You’re my world. I—”
A scream is torn from my throat as the world spins around me, and my body slams against the window of the truck.
In the movies, they say your life flashes before your eyes . . .
That in those last few moments of consciousness, your life becomes a highlight reel.
But as my world darkens, there are no scenes.
There’s only Logan’s arms wrapped around Maggie and me as the three of us lie together, wrapped in warmth and the safety of my favorite place in the world.
And then, there’s nothing.
Logan
The deafening crunch of metal against metal rattles my brain before the truck rushes for the edge of the bridge.
I don’t see it coming because I’m too busy looking at Liv.
My Olive.
Her face drains of all color before her body slams against the side of the cab and we’re sent spinning.
Gravity forces my body back as the tires fight for purchase on the wet asphalt.
What did we just hit?
What just hit us?
And as if in slow-motion, I watch it happen.
Jasper’s F-450 truck barreling toward the edge of the bridge.
The seconds where gravity decides whether we’re going to stay flat or tip down.
The weight of the 9,000-pound truck forcing us over the edge, like there was any chance it could happen any other way.
And then we’re flying.
Falling.
Crashing through the surface of the river and down into the depths faster than my brain can keep up with what’s happening.
“Olivia—” I yell as her head slams against the roof.
Fuck. Why doesn’t she have a seatbelt on?
“Logan—” Jasper yells, our eyes locking. “We’ve got to get out.”
Blood trickles down the side of his face as water rises around us.
In the fucking cab of the truck.
“Liv . . .” I say her name while I unbuckle my seatbelt, and pain shoots through my thigh as I try to get to her. “Liv, wake up.”
“Logan—” Jasper stops me. “I’ve got one of those bars. The ones that shatter the window. Grab it from the glove box. I can’t reach.”
His words are heavy in my foggy brain, but I find the black metal tool. “I’ll break it as soon as I have her. Be ready, brother.”
Jasper nods, his blood soaking his shirt.
Fuck. “How bad are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. Get her.”
I climb into the back and gather Liv in my arms. “You’ve got to wake up, baby. Please wake up.”
“Logan—do you have her?” For the first time, I hear the fear in his voice.
“Yeah. I’ve got her.” The water is halfway up the cab of the truck now. Soaking us to our knees. I lift the tool. “You ready?”
I don’t take the time to check her injuries.
Not now.
Not yet.
Not when all I can focus on is getting her out before she drowns.
“Listen to me . . . You get her out of here and you don’t come back down. You hear me?” he yells over the sound of the rising water and the creak of the weight of the vehicle.
“You’re coming with us,” I tell him, confused, as I hold Liv tighter.
“My belt’s stuck,” he says without a note of fear as he stares at me. “Get her out.”
“Wait. You’ve got to have a knife in here somewhere.” I turn, but half the cab is submerged under the dark water, and I can barely see. “Jasper—”
“Listen to me, little brother. I’ll be right behind you. Just get her out and promise me you won’t come back down.”
“Fuck no. I—”
“Shut the hell up. You have to go.” The water is up to our chins, and Liv’s head is barely above it now. “You tell Rafe and Waves I love them. And make sure Maggie knows who bought her favorite fucking stuffed cows. And don’t let Pops work himself to death.”
My heart fucking cracks as the dark water passes my lips, and Jasper stops yelling.
“Get her out, Logan. Then never let her go. You’re never gonna find anyone else who gets you the way she does.” His words are quiet as he tilts his head up, water spilling from his lips. “Now break the fucking window.”
“Jasper . . .” I hold Olivia against my body and stare in disbelief at my brother. A million memories of growing up, getting in trouble, of him protecting the rest of us, taking the blame, and keeping us safe flash in the forethought of my mind.
“Do it now before you can’t,” he yells and sucks in a breath before the water goes above his mouth.
Liv’s face dips under the water, and I don’t hesitate.
I shatter the window, then kick it out with my feet and propel the two of us up with every ounce of strength in my veins.
Up through the blackness surrounding us.
Holding Liv’s limp body that grows heavier with every kick of my feet through the icy-cold water.
Until we finally break free and I’m dragging the two of us onto the stoney shore.
The cold rain pelts us as high-pitched screams pierce my brain.
“Olivia . . .” Serena screams, and she drops to her knees. “Oh my God, Logan.” She reaches for Liv’s throat, searching for her pulse as I gasp for breath.
“Breathe, baby,” I plead, holding her face in my hands. “You’ve got to breathe.”
“I’ve got a pulse,” Serena screams. “She’s breathing.”
“Fuck—thank you, Lord,” I whisper and look out at the rain beating down against the raging river. “Did you call 911?” I ask Serena as I stand.
“Where are you going?” she screams, her eyes wide and her face ashen. “Logan—”
“Did you call 911?” I yell.
She nods and pulls Liv’s body into her lap.
“Tell her I love her.” I suck in a deep breath, clearing my lungs before filling them again. “Tell her she’s the best thing that ever happened to me, and I wouldn’t trade a minute of my time with her.”
“You tell her,” Serena sobs as she watches me take the first few steps into the river. “You fucking tell her, Logan.”
I want to.
I want to tell her that every fucking night for the rest of my life. Fuck. For the rest of hers.
I want to tell her that when we’re old and gray and teaching our grandkids how to ride horses at the ranch.
But the brightest fires always burn out too damn fast.
“Tell her I chose her.”