Page 37

Crystal

Streamers in pink and blue twisted between the old wooden beams of Ranchman’s. Sharla was perched on a stool opening presents. She looked beautiful—round-bellied and flushed. Rob stood behind her like he was her personal guard dog, grinning each time she turned to put a baby item on display.

The night had been perfect. Food, laughter, and a game of pin the cord on the belly button. Axel made the point that the goal was to remove the cord after birth, but Rob told him the goal was steadiness of hand then proceeded to spin him ten times before letting him loose.

It was perfect. Which was why, after taking a small piece of cake, I was ready to head home.

I made the rounds, embracing my friends. I spent a little time chatting with Maddie and Chase, who had decided that after so much time apart, they no longer wished to stop touching each other, then made my way to the street.

My car was parked a half a block down. I held my purse tight and started toward the crosswalk, but didn’t make it.

The truck in front of me was familiar. I paused, staring at it, then jumped when the driver’s side door opened.

Holy shit.

“Hey, Logan.” I crossed my arms, trying not to show my shock. What was he doing here? Why was he sitting out here in front of Ranchman’s in the dark?

“Hey.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck.

My shoulders dropped a centimetre. “She would’ve wanted you to come in.”

He shrugged. “Felt weird. I’m happy for her and Rob, don’t get me wrong?—”

“No, I get it.” I put myself in his shoes. He’d only been gone six months and his ex was engaged and pregnant. Ouch.

Logan glanced at the Ranchman’s sign. “Why are you leaving so early?”

I scoffed. “Baby showers aren’t exactly ragers.”

His mouth curved at the edges, and I was glad for the moment of normalcy between us. I hadn’t ever hated Rob, but I didn’t like who Shar was when she was with him.

“Maddie has a boyfriend?” Rob asked.

I exhaled. Well. He cut right to the quick. While I’d loved being with my friends, in the last week, I’d become their fifth wheel. It was better to take off before it was so obvious it became embarrassing.

“How long are you in town for?” I asked, ignoring his question. If he wanted more details, he’d have to walk through that door.

“Uh . . .” He gave a nervous smile. “Indefinitely. I’m playing with the Blizzard.”

My jaw dropped. “You . . . what?”

He smiled, and a little of the old Logan sprung to life. “Yep, kind of exciting. I wanted to tell the guys, but it seems like they’re more of a package deal now.”

Logan took a step back toward his truck. “Will you let me know when the baby comes? I feel weird asking Rob, but I wanted to get them something. ”

Something in my chest tugged. “Mmhmm. Sure.” I pulled out a pen from my purse. “What’s your number?” Logan rattled off the numbers, and I wrote them on my palm.

He thanked me, then gave a little wave and got in the truck. His taillights blinked red, and just as he pulled away from the curb, the door opened to Ranchman’s.

“What are you doing?” Maddie yelled. “She’s about to open your gift!”

I groaned internally. What was I supposed to tell her? That I’d left and decided to walk so slowly to my car, I was still directly across the street? “Just getting some air.”

Maddie pushed the door further, waving for me to come back in.

I glanced up the street, but Logan’s truck was long gone. I started back toward the door, taking one last look at the numbers on my skin and slipping the pen back into my purse.

I wasn’t going to tell Maddie or Shar about seeing Logan, not tonight. It could wait for the next girl’s night.

“I think you’re too independent with your own car,” Maddie teased. “How are we supposed to force you to stay longer than you want?”

I laughed. “Looks like you’ve still got it figured out.”

Maddie threw her arm around me and pulled me back into the pub.