Page 91 of Break the Barrier

Thea blinks. “I’m so confused right now.”

“She’s…growing up.” My throat, damn it, starts to clog with unwanted tears and emotion.

“Oh honey,” Thea says consolingly. She pulls me into her arms, and I let her, then she whispers in my ear, “So, she didn’t start her period, right?”

I rip away from her, horror threatening to seize me. “Dorothy!” I scold under my breath. “No!” Oh god, that was coming…

“Well.” Thea shrugs. “That’s what becoming a woman means, Logan.”

I rest my hand on my knees and breathe. Thea lays her hand on my back and just rubs it until I can breathe again.

I’m not sure I can handle this.

32

thea

For the pastcouple of weeks, things have started to calm down a bit. Lue was done with her play now and was already gearing up for the next one. She also turned fifteen, and we threw her a very fun slumber party for all of her friends.

I was surprised at how much she wanted me involved in that, but also thrilled that she’d taken to me being so entrenched in her life so well.

She was completely fine with my staying at their house, even though I was in the guest room.

It was almost weird to not sleep in Logan’s room with him, but more often than not, I found him coming into my room and holding me close while we slept each night.

We didn’t want to push Lue or make her uncomfortable. But there were nights I would go to bed early and head into the guest room, and she would look on in confusion, like my sleeping in there wasn’t quite right.

She was much more perceptive than we knew, I think.

I was currently sitting at the bar, planning out breakfast meals that could be easy for us in the mornings. Most mornings when I wasn’t opening the restaurant, I would make breakfast for everyone before work.

School starts next week, but Logan takes Lue to work with him most mornings, and, in order to get them a decent breakfast before they head out, I have to be up early to do so.

“Whatcha doing?” Annmarie’s voice right beside my ear makes me jump where I sit at the bar.

“Don’t do that, you nearly made me knock over my coffee.”

“‘Quick and Easy Breakfast for Back to School.’” She hops up on the chair next to me and gives me a once-over. “You’re now planning back-to-school breakfasts…and you’re living with Logan.”

“I’m staying with Logan, my apartment has mice.” It was the lie we came up with to answer why I was at Logan’s now. It wasn’t my best lie, but it seemed to be keeping the intrusive questions at bay.

“Right…or you’re living with him because you’re in love and want to live with him.”

I turn to my sister, my expression schooled.

Or so I thought.

“Oh my god, you’re in love with Mr. Cowboy?”

I sigh in silent defeat. “You must think I’m stupid,” I say, rubbing my forehead with my index finger.

Annmarie has never said as much, but I suspected she didn’t approve of Eric from the get-go. When I started bringing him around, it was easy to see it on her face, but her unfailing loyalty toward me was always there.

“Why do you say that?” She reaches over, grabbing a toothpickand sticking it in her teeth, her long blond hair slung over one of her shoulders.

“I’m not the best at picking good partners.”

She scoffs, and I turn to look at her. “Man, I really hate Eric. That asshole did a number on you.”