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Chapter Two

Fifteen Years Ago—October

Seventeen-year-old AJ tossed the air horn to Will as they ran up the steps of the old insane asylum. Logan might need to be admitted after what they had planned. But what she really hoped to come from this little joke was mending a bit of the rift that had formed between them over the last couple of months. He always loved dishing out practical jokes. Now it was his turn to be at the butt of one. She wanted this to end in them laughing, wrapped in each other’s arms.

After he’d kissed her two years earlier in this very place, they’d gotten serious-ish. But six months ago, when her mom had moved out, AJ had gotten self-consumed. She hadn’t meant to push Logan away, but life got busy. He was playing baseball and was always at practice or games. She was busy navigating whose house she was supposed to go to when.

In the lobby of the asylum, Will removed his backpack and took out a white sheet, a pulley system, and some rope. They hung it up so it would fly down the stairs as Logan came through the front door.

AJ checked her watch. They were running low on time. “Hurry, Will.”

“I am.” He tied off the rope, and they darted down the hall and set up another similar contraption.

She took a speaker and old Walkman out of her backpack and set it up behind a door.

Will walked past her and peeked out the window. “He’s here.”

They finished their setup and hid. Armed with the air horn, AJ ran to the end stairwell and up to the top of the stairs.

It didn’t matter how many times they got yelled at for sneaking around this place, they continued to do so. Other than that time she fell through the floor, no one had gotten hurt.

Will had gone to the basement. Whichever way Logan went to find the promised prize, he’d run into one of them eventually.

AJ leaned over the half-wall and watched for Logan. She heard him screech, most likely at the flying “ghost” in the front. He hollered Will’s name and hers.

She waited. It was simply a matter of time before he walked down that hallway and into this stairwell. They’d laid out the clue to bring him this way.

Biting her lip, she prayed. God, help Logan and me figure things out. I hate the weirdness that’s been between us. We had talked about going to the same college next year. Does he even still want that?

Last week she’d seen a flier for a different college sticking out of his notebook in English class. She’d wanted to ask him about it at lunch, but as he’d come to the table with his food, with a smile meant just for her, some of his baseball friends had pulled him aside. And the conversation didn’t happen.

She fiddled with the air horn, holding it at the ready for when Logan walked through the door below.

Something touched her side and snaked around her waist.

She screamed.

Her hand clenched the air horn, and it blared.

The canister plummeted over the railing.

Arms tightened around her waist and the familiar scent of the boy she loved met her nose as he nestled his chin between her head and shoulder.

“Gotcha.”

She grunted. “You didn’t follow the puzzle.”

“You know I hate riddles.” He tightened his arms. “I’ve missed you.”

She hugged his arms and sniffed back the emotions that threatened. “Same.” Spinning in his arms, she raked her fingers into his hair. “Why do we keep letting life get between us?”

“I don’t know. But I’m still yours. Always.”

“I love you, Logan Jackson. Are we still going to the same college?”

“Of course.” He stepped back from her. “Why would you ask that? Did you apply to Gardner Webb?”

“Yeah, did you?”

“Duh. Will did too.”

“Good.”

He fiddled with the hair falling in her face. “Then what’s the problem?”

“You had a Duke flier in your notebook last week.”

“The recruiter was at school. I told him I’m going to a Christian college.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“With my girl.” He winked.

She relaxed and stepped toward him, closing the gap he had created. “If I’m still your girl, make sure we spend some time together.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” She went up onto her toes, a more necessary task than it had been even a year ago, and met her lips to his.

When they drew out of the kiss, he touched his forehead to hers. “Let’s go convince Will this place is haunted.”

She giggled. “I like the way you think.” She took his hand and led him down the stairs.

Present Day

Logan tried to shake off his irritation at Will as he walked out of the locker room and onto the deck around the country club pool. He hadn’t wanted to come to this ridiculous event, but two minutes after he’d poured himself a glass of whiskey, Will had shown up on his doorstep and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Logan needed that whiskey after seeing AJ save that boy this afternoon. But he didn’t want Will to see it, so he hid the glass in the cabinet and popped a breath mint before answering the door. Now on the pool deck, Logan glanced around at who all had come.

AJ sat on a lounge chair talking with Emily and Jenna, sisters whose parents owned this pool and hosted the first-responders party every August.

AJ’s muscular-yet-feminine body looked amazing in a swimsuit, as always.

He really needed that whiskey.

Logan put his bag on a chair as far from AJ as he could manage.

“Hey, Logan!” Ty called from the pool. “We need some more cops to wallop in a game of water volleyball. Get in here.”

At least a game would distract him. Hopefully. He needed to keep his thoughts in the here and now. “Sure.” He kicked off his flip flops, removed his t-shirt, and jumped into the water.

The game got off to a good start, and the country music blaring in the background did the trick.

Brennan spiked the ball, and Will missed it, sending Will underwater. When he came up, Brennan was laughing. “Too many donuts, Cooper!”

Will wasn’t the beanpole he had been in high school, but the man did not overconsume donuts. Even Logan had to laugh at the jab.

Will splashed him. “Whose side are you on?”

The game continued, as did the razzing. As much as cops and firefighters always had one another’s backs, they thoroughly enjoyed acting like squabbling siblings.

After the cops pummeled the firefighters in the first game, someone shouted for a rematch.

Logan’s competitive side took over. “You’re on.”

One of the firefighters hopped out of the pool. “I’m out. AJ, take my place.”

“You got it.” She jumped in on the side of the net opposite Logan.

He avoided eye contact and spotted Jenna sitting nearby. “Jenna, you want to play? I can give up my spot.”

“Nope. I’m good.” Jenna waved the idea away. She was, after all, sitting there in cutoff jean shorts and a baggy t-shirt.

Logan was stuck. Focus on the game. It’s fine.

So he tried. Yoda would be disappointed.

Pretend like she’s not there. AJ made his blood run hotter than hellfire.

Megan served for the cops. The ball went straight to AJ. She passed it to Ty who hit it over the net to Zara. The volley continued until Logan was able to jump and spike it down right on AJ’s head.

“Ha!”

“Jerk.”

“Oh, come on AJ. It’s a beach ball. You’re fine. Should have used your head.”

She snarled at him.

“Didn’t take a long enough nap at work today?”

Will shoved Logan to his new spot as their team rotated for serving. At least AJ wasn’t right in front of him now.

The game continued and the insults flew. Wise cracks abounded—cops were better than firefighters and vice versa.

Eventually, Logan and AJ ended up back in their starting spots across from one another.

She came to the net. “You’re going down, Jackson.”

He met her there. “To Chinatown? I could go for some Chinese food.”

“You know what cops and firefighters have in common?” she asked. “They all grow up wanting to be firefighters.”

He rolled his eyes.

Will and Zara laughed.

AJ knew Logan never dreamed of being a firefighter, but he wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of laughing at her ridiculous joke.

“You know why God made cops?” he asked.

She glared at him.

“To give firefighters heroes. Today proved that.”

She shoved him. “That little boy would have died if I hadn’t seen him outside.”

“And you both would have died if I hadn’t pulled you out.”

“I’d have been fine.”

“You keep telling yourself that.”

She grabbed the net. “I have to. It’s not like you ever told me.”

“I’m sure Daryl told you all you wanted to hear.”

“Let go of the past.” She released the net.

“Hard to when it flaunts itself in front of me day after day.”

“I flaunt nothing.”

Every muscle in Logan’s body tensed to the point of snapping. “You’re here, aren’t you? Every time I turn around.”

“Why do you have to be such a selfish jerk?”

“I’m the selfish one? Seems like you’re the one who—”

“Knock it off,” Will yelled. “Play the game or get out of the pool.”

Logan smacked the water, splashing AJ. “Fine by me. I’m out.”

He was done. He didn’t care that it was nearly eight miles to walk home or that it was over ninety degrees even at six o’clock. He needed to get away from AJ.