Page 41 of The Player Next Door

“You sure?”

“Of course. I’ll help you get a character together this week.”

The knot of pressure in his chest eased, and he grinned. “Then count me in.”

“Is there something going on out there?” Sam asked sharply.

Logan jerked his head away from where he had been peering toward Clare’s apartment. Devi had left a few hours ago and now someone else was there, a woman with platinum blonde hair who was curled up on the couch watching TV with Clare.

“Hmm?”

“You’ve barely watched the game.”

“I’m watching.”

“Uh huh. What’s going on?”

“We’re losing.”

“Lucky guess. By how much?”

On the TV, the game cut to commercial before he could check the score and Logan flopped back on his couch, sighing heavily. He covered his face with his hands so he didn’t have to see Sam’s sharp look. “I’m an idiot.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“No, I mean, I really, really am.”

“No argument here.”

He dropped his hands and glared. “You’re going to make me tell you everything, aren’t you?”

Sam’s eyes lit up and she folded her legs under her. “Oh, this is going to be good, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s bad.”

“Bad as in embarrassing, or just bad?”

“Just bad. Don’t look so thrilled, Jesus.”

“Let me have this.” She tossed her ponytail over her shoulder and straightened. “Okay, shoot.”

“I took Clare to the hospital.”

“Yeah, I know, because I was left standing like anassholeoutside this very building forforty minutesuntil you deigned to respond to my texts and calls.”

“I know. But I stayed with her.” Sam had been texting him while he was in the hospital with Clare, but he had let her believe he left after he drove her there, not willing to handle the avalanche of shit he was going to get from her then. Logan had refused to drive Sam to the airport once three years ago, and he still hadn’t heard the end of it. Sam knowing he spent the night in the hospital with Clare was going to give Sam way more information that he was willing to hand out. But the avalanche was coming, so he might as well trigger it now.

“. . . in the hospital?”

“Yeah.”

“Overnight?”

“Yeah. And the whole next day.”

“Like you were a couple. But you’re not.”

“No, of course we aren’t. Or, I mean, she doesn’t want to be.”