Page 27

AMY

I grip the steering wheel, my heart racing as I turn onto the familiar street in my hometown. Six years ago, I left Crestview with dreams of conquering the corporate world, feeling sure I’d be back in six months as a failure. Not so…instead, success became my prison, each promotion another bar in the cage that kept me from returning to the small-town life I’d known and loved. Now, as I pull up to the curb, I’m a stranger in my own hometown, about to face the best friend who’s only existed in pixels and phone calls for far too long.

As I park outside Lisa’s house, I feel like a tourist in my own past. We have not seen each other physically in the six years since I left Crestview for college, and then stayed in the city in search of big opportunities. I know there isn’t a lot I can do to make up for my years away, but a surprise early arrival will hopefully help.

I take in the scenery around me as I stroll toward her front door. A lot has changed since I was last here; even the trees seem taller. A wave of nostalgia and nerves hits me as I approach her door. The last time I was in Crestview, Lisa was living at her parents’ house. Now, she is a teacher at our old high school and has her own place.

I ring the doorbell, my chest buzzing with excitement. I hear footsteps. The door swings open.

“Surp–” My words fizzle out. It’s not Lisa.

I take in the sight of the tall, strikingly handsome man before me. He looks oddly familiar.

“Amy Kennedy? No way. Is that really you?” he asks, flashing a grin full of dimples.

Dimples.

That strikes a chord. Logan Mason. Lisa’s only sibling. Memories of Lisa’s stories about her brother’s wild college days.

As a teen, I silently crushed horribly on his good looks, not that he ever gave me the time of day. Now? He has grown into something that has me completely off balance.

“Logan?” I finally managed to close my gaping mouth.

“Took you long enough,” he teases. “Lisa isn’t expecting you until tomorrow. She hasn’t stopped talking about you coming all weekend.”

“Is she home?”

He nods. “She’s upstairs. I’ll take you up. Sorry for ruining your big entrance. Please, come on in.”

“No, no, it’s fine. I’ll just yell ‘surprise’ again. It’s no big deal,” I laugh as I step into Lisa’s comfy living room.

“Shhh.” He places his index finger on his lips. “Thin walls,” he mouths, then motions me to follow him upstairs.

“Logan!” Lisa’s voice calls from upstairs. “Who’s at the door?”

“Would you believe me if I said an angel just fell on your front porch?” he answers, taking slow steps.

I can imagine Lisa shaking her head at his cheesy response.

“Angels are terrifying creatures, Logan. Who is there?”

I bite back a laugh, and Logan just shakes his head.

“Here we are,” he whispers once we arrive at her bedroom door. “She’s going to be so thrilled to have you back. It’s good to see you again, Amy.”

“Y-you too,” I stutter as he leaves.

During all of our marathon calls, Lisa somehow forgot to mention how polite her big brother had gotten. Not that I blame her—siblings are usually the last ones to notice when someone grows up.

I shove any thoughts about Logan out of my head for now. I’ll let them creep back in later, probably in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep.

I twist open the doorknob and poke my head into the room.

“Does this angel look terrifying?” I peek with furrowed brows.

“AMY!!!” Lisa yells. “You’re here!!!”

We embrace in a soul-crushing hug, with me towering over her mop of amber curls.

“You said you were coming tomorrow.” I can hear the excitement in her voice.

“I wanted to surprise you. I’ve missed you so much, Bestie.”

As Lisa pulls me into her room, chattering excitedly, I glance back at Logan. He’s leaning against the doorframe, a small smile on his enticing lips. Our eyes meet briefly, and I feel a flutter in my stomach that has nothing to do with Lisa’s bear hug.

Lisa walks to her door to shut it. “Shoo,” she gently shoves her brother out.

She turns, arms open wide. “Tell me everything.,”

I laugh. “Not much has changed since the last time we spoke, Lisa. And if I recall correctly, that was only about four hours ago.”

Lisa giggles. “Yeah, when you were selling your lie about coming tomorrow .”

“Yes, ma’am, I just wanted to surprise you. I am glad it worked even though Logan nearly ruined it.”

Oh… I shouldn’t have said that.

“Logan,” she scoffs. “I hope he didn’t bother you much.”

I raise an eyebrow. My curiosity piqued, and I can’t hold myself back. “What did he do this time?” I ask.

“Nothing new. Just the usual Logan.”

“But I thought he’s changed?” I ask hesitantly, not needing any more thoughts of Logan to ruminate over. “If I’m being honest, he seems very different from the picture you’ve painted of him all these years.”

She sighs, her shoulders dropping. “He’s my brother, Amy. No one knows him better than I do. He may claim to have changed, to be this whole new person, but I don’t trust it—at least not yet. Let’s not talk about my brother anymore,” she groans.

“I… of course,” I stammer.

Back when we were teenagers, Lisa would go off about how her brother was the most annoying, irresponsible person on the planet. I’d just sit there, listening and doing my best to console her. At the time, I didn’t really get it. Growing up as an only child, I had no clue what it was like to have a sibling—let alone one who seemed to constantly push all the wrong buttons.

But now, listening to Lisa’s tone as she speaks about her brother, I can’t help but wonder if there is more to him than meets the eye.

“Okay, so tell me about your crush at the office,” she gleams.

“Not until you tell me why you have a crush on the school principal. A bit old, ya think?”

“He’s forty!” she says defensively. “He’s not that old.”

“Remember how disgusting we thought it was to see our young history teacher, Miss Kate, and our principal in a relationship?”

Lisa groans. “We were fifteen, Amy. We didn’t know anything about mature relationships.”

“And now, you’re living their life,” I point out. “The irony!”

“Ok! Time to change the subject!” She practically yells, jumping to her feet and shuffling through her dresser. “Come on, I’ll show you the new park I told you about. Then later, I’ll take you to my parents’ house. They ask about you at least once a month.”

“Wow, bestie, you’ll do anything to change that subject.” I tease her.

“Oh, just hush!” She tosses a shirt at me.

I mimic zipping my mouth, grateful that at least Logan is not the topic at hand.