Page 109 of Logan

Inviting Johnny here was a terrible mistake. I wanted Logan to be jealous, and it worked better than I thought. But Iused Johnny for it, and that’s not right. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of him like this.

I don’t want him back, and I never did. It’s not fair that I misled him by allowing him to think we had a chance. I have to end this and make it clear to him that nothing will happen between us.

What was once between us is dead and won’t return. It was a mistake to allow him to get close to me again, and a further mistake to invite him here.

The night drags on, but, blessedly, it’s time to leave. Johnny escorts me to the front door of my apartment, his hand heavy and unwelcome on the small of my back. I’m vibrating with tension, rehearsing the words over and over in my head.

“I had a nice time tonight,” he says when we reach my door, turning to face me with a smile. “Maybe we could do it again sometime?”

Oh God. He’s going to make this even harder than it needs to be, isn’t he? I take a deep breath, steeling myself. “Johnny, I?—”

But before I can finish, he’s ducking his head, his lips aiming for mine. Panic flares hot in my chest, and I turn my head at the last second, his kiss landing awkwardly on my cheek.

He pulls back, confusion and hurt warring on his face. “Sloane? What’s wrong?”

“I can’t do this,” I blurt out, the words tripping over themselves in their haste to escape. “Us. I thought I could, but...I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“It’s because of him, right? Your boss? I knew he was looking at you weird. Tell the truth.” He grabs my arm a little too hard. “You fucked him today, didn’t you? Got a taste ofmoney and now I’m not good enough? You’re fucking for money?”

“Ouch! Johnny, you’re hurting me.” I pull my arm back and step away from him. “This has nothing to do with him. We’re not a match, you and me. We were never a match. It’s not for nothing that you were cheating with Kelly. You were missing something in our relationship because we weren’t meant for each other.”

Nothing justifies the cheating and the humiliation he put me through, but I understand now that we never had the passion I have with Logan, and Johnny was probably missing something, too, even if we didn’t understand that at the time.

“Pfft,” he snorts. “You have someone else. I know it. Too bad you’re not brave enough to tell me to my face.”

“Because you told me to my face? We were together, and you went and slept with Kelly behind my back. Everyone knew but me. So don’t talk to me about bravery.”

“I knew it! I knew there was someone else. You love to look down on me, to show me how much better you are, but you’re no different from me.”

“Except we’re not together, and I never cheated on you.” I go inside and slam the door behind me.

Chapter Thirty-One

SLOANE

Ipull my phone out of my pocket and dial. My heart is about to burst from excitement. It’s going to happen.

“Sloane.” His low voice sends a shiver through me. “I’ve been waiting for your call all evening. I can’t wait to see you, but I had to go to the office to deal with an emergency.” He sighs. “And I won’t be able to make it.”

“I can come to you. I mean, if you want.”

“How long will it take you to get here?”

I smile. It’s nice to hear he’s just as impatient. “Twenty minutes.” There’s no traffic at this hour.

“I’ll meet you in your office in ten.” He hangs up.

I grin.

I gaze at my reflection in the mirror. “Damn. How did I even think someone like Johnny would choose a dress like this for me?” I run my hand over the rich fabric that hugs every curve of my body. I need to hurry.

I don’t have much time, and I’ve already wasted five minutes.

The guard at the building entrance doesn’t even look up as I hurry to the elevator and press the button as if he sees women in evening gowns entering the office every day.

I sniff my armpits just to be safe. I think I’m sweating from the stress, and I don’t even know why I’m tense. This isn’t our first time. But something about this moment feels momentous, like our future hinges on what happens now.

I enter the dark office and reach for the light switch but stop at the last moment. If there’s a light blazing on this floor, someone might come to check. Better not. I walk down the familiar hallway to my office and open the door.