Page 28 of Somewhere Without You

Twenty Seven

From it’s grimy windows, to its peeling paint, Connie’s Diner wasn’t much to look at.

The faded neon sign flickered intermittently, casting a weak glow over the cracked pavement.

The parking lot out front was littered with eighteen-wheelers and a few scattered cars, their hoods dusted with remnants of the afternoon rain.

It was the kind of place people passed by without a second thought—quiet and forgotten.

Another pit stop along a road that never really seemed to go anywhere.

Inside, fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, underscored by the clatter of silverware and thelowhum of conversation.

Across the table, Logan licked grease from his fingers before devouring another bite of his burger. I nudged a piece of lettuce from one side of my plate to the other.

“What’s with the salad?”he grunted, mouth full.

“I like salads,”I said, spearing a tomato.

“Nobody likes salads,” he snorted.

I shrugged. “I do.”

“No. . . you don’t,”he argued, flagging down the waitress.

A weathered woman with a permanent scowl and a voice held hostage by years of cigarette use shuffled over.“Yeah?”She croaked, hands on her hips.

“Can Igetanother burger?” he asked, his eyes lingering on me with quiet amusement.

She snorted, muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like “ bottomless pit, ” then turned on her heels and shuffled back toward the kitchen.

“Another one?”I asked.“Do youevenknowhow many calories are in one of those?”

“No, but I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”He smirked.“Besides, it’s not for me. It’s for you.”

“I’m not eatingthat,”I replied sharply.

He ignored me, pushing away his plate as he leaned back into the vinyl booth. His eyes met mine.“Why are you here?”

I stared at him, confused.“You said you wanted to eat here.”

“No.” His voice dropped. “I mean why are you here . . . in Windhaven?”

My fork clinked against the plate.“Gran died. I thoughtthatwasobvious.”

“Igetthat,” he said. “What I don’tgetis why you’re still here.” I stared down at my plate—atthatlonely scrap of lettuce I couldn’tevenbring myself to eat. “If you came back to bury Gran, where’s your sister?” He leaned in. “And your husband—shouldn’t he be here too?”

My head snapped up. “How did you know I was married?” I asked, frowning.“Have you been keeping tabs on me?”

Logan shrugged, like itwasthe most natural thing in the world.“I might have checked in on you once or twice.”

I blinked, bitterness rising on my tongue. “How da—”

“Can Igetyou anything else?”the waitress cut in, sliding a plate between us.

Logan shook his head, and she trudged off.“Eat up,”he said, his gaze locked on mine.

I shoved the plate away. “I lost my appetite.”

“Seemsyou’ve lost more thanthat,” he shot back.

I sighed.“What do you want from me, Logan?”

“The truth would benice,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.

“I told you already,” I mumbled, tired of repeating myself. “I came back for Gran.”

It wasn’t a lie. Not exactly. But the way his eyes narrowed told me he wasn’t buying it—and I hated how that made my stomach twist.

“You expect me to believe that?” he asked, shaking his head.

My jaw tightened. “I didn’t ask you to believe anything.”

Logan rolled his eyes. “You always were a terrible liar.”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The truthwastoobig, too raw. I traced the edge of my plate with my fork, avoiding eye contact.

“Itwasn’tperfect,”Ifinallyconfessed. My throatfelttight, as if a fistwereclenchedaround it.“I. . . I couldn’t stay. Not anymore.”My voice cracked. I wanted to run—to disappear under the booth.

“What happened, Em?”

My heart lodged itself in my throat. What would he think of me when he learned the truth? My hands trembled as I drew in a breath.

“Jacksonwasabusive,”Ifinallysaid.“Emotionallyandphysically. This last time. . . he almost killed me. As awful as it sounds, Gran’s deathwasmy way out.”

Silence fell between us. I shut my eyes, cheeks burning with shame. HowhadI let itgetthis far? HowcouldI have allowed myself to become so broken?

Logan’s hand settled over mine, and the ease of it surprised me. My first instinctwasto pull away, to retreat behind the wallsI’dspentthe last few weeks building.Butinstead I let him comfort me.

Fora while, neither of us spoke. My confession hung between us like a fragile piece of glass, threatening to break. Part of me wished Icouldtake it back.Butthe other part, the stronger part,finallyfeltrelieved.

“Say something,”I whispered.

Logan stared at the untouched burger,thenat me—his expression a tangled mix of shock and concern. I waited, bracing myself for whatever came next.

“Oh Emily. . .”His voicewassolowIcouldbarelyhearhim.

“Iknowit’s a lot,”I admitted,feelingthe need to explain.“ButI don’t want you to think less of me, or worse,thatI—” my voice faltered “—thatI deserved it.”

His grip tightened.“Icouldnever think less of you.”He let go of my hand, and for a moment, Ifelta quick sting of disappointment.Then, without warning, he slammed his hand against the table.“Thatmotherfucker!”he hissed.

I flinched. Around us, heads turned.

Logan’s face softened the second hesawmy mine.“Shit. I’m sorry. Ijust. . . I didn’tknow.”

“Howcouldyou have?”I asked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.“Besides, it’s my own faultanyway.”

“Howcouldyouevensaythat?”He asked, his voice still slick with anger.“None of this is your fault. Do you understand? None of it. He’s an asshole and he deserves whatever’s coming to him.”

I let out a dry laugh.“Isthata threat?”

“Maybe,” he shrugged.

An unsettlingfeelingwashed over me.“You don’t understand. Jackson’s untouchable. He does what he wants, when he wants, to whoever he wants.”

“Everyonehasa weak spot,”Logan repliedstiffly.

“Please don’t,”I pleaded, realizing nowthatLogan mightactuallybeseriousenough to do something reckless.

“I mean it, Logan. Heprobablyalreadyknowswhere I am, so it’s only a matter of time before he shows up here.

I have nowhere else to go, nowhere else to hide.

Please don’t make this worse than it already is. ”

“Emily, I can’t—”

“Promise me,”I begged, cutting him off.“Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”

Iwatchedas his confidence shattered, replaced by a flicker of something I couldn’t quite place.

Logan nodded.“I promise.”

Andsomehow,thatwasenough.Fornow, itwasmore than enough.