Page 128 of Riding the Sugar High

I flip around and stare at him, all my anger dangerously close to the surface. “You know, at first I thought that you and your brother...That it was a sibling thing. Then I thought that maybe you were right about him being a terrible person, and I couldn’t see it. Never once did I consider that you were pissed off because she chose him over you.”

“That’s not what happened.”

“Then what happened?”

“He stole her from me.”

I look in the distance, unable to process my emotions. “It’s funny.”

“What is?” he asks, his hand reaching forward to touch me before I duck back.

“How you can’t say a word when it comes to us. You stare at me with that scared, confused expression of someone who’s been busted. You don’t find the words, you don’t fight for us.” A sob racks my body. “But when it comes to her, there’s not a moment of hesitation.”

He takes a step closer, reaching for my face, but I again move away. The last thing I want is for him to touch me. I’ll never forget how it feels to be touched by Logan Coleman.

“She’s lucky,” I say softly. She’ll tell him she loves him sometime soon, and then have him for herself. And Logan is so good in so many ways. He cares so viscerally, like it’s an instinct he can’t turn off no matter how hard he tries. They’ll be so happy.

“What, because she chose him?”

I laugh, but it carries no amusement. “No. She’s lucky to have someone who loves her this much.”

He shakes his head, his hand reaching for me once more. “Please,” he chokes out.

“Bye, Logan.”

I walk, phone in hand, to call an Uber. I need to step away from this situation and, most of all, from him. If I stay, I’m afraid I’ll let him convince me. I’ll believe that he didn’t tell me because of his own issues, and not because of how he feels about Josie. Then it’ll hurt again when she tells him there’s still a chance for them to be together.

No. I’m out of here.

I’m done looking like a fool.

you’re worth losing everything for

Logan

“What is wrong with you?”Aaron asks as he joins my side. “Go after her.”

Shoulders dropping, I watch Primrose disappear at the bottom of the driveway.

I knew it was just a matter of time before I fucked up. Before the reclusive, closed-off, anxious part of me would get her to throw in the towel.

This is it. Once again, I’m a letdown, and even someone as patient and loving as Primrose can’t deal with it. Eventually, they all leave, because I can’t open up. I can’t face those ugly emotions that have kept me submerged in darkness for so long. Not even with Primrose, who’s all light and fresh air.

“Logan? Do something, for fuck’s sake.”

Aaron’s voice feels distant, my heartbeat deafening to the point where I can’t hear anything else. Only my heartbeat and Primrose’s disappointed voice.

Why didn’t I tell her before? Yes, it’s humiliating, but it’s not like she hasn’t seen me at my worst, weeping during my panic attacks. Why wasn’t I honest from the beginning?

I can’t follow her. What for? Whenever it’s time to speak, I freeze. I look at her like some mindless idiot instead of pouring everything out like I should.

She’s right to leave. God, she’d be stupid if she didn’t.

And if I can’t fight for her, then I don’t deserve her.

“Will you react, Logan?” Aaron insists, grasping my shirt in his fist.

As I slump forward, my eyes finally meet his, and swallowing hard, he relents. I might need time to react, but he knows me well enough to imagine what will happen once I do.