Page 61 of Ruined

I love the contrast between us. Him big and me small, him older and me young, his tan skin and dark hair to my paler complexion. We look nothing alike. No one can possibly think we’re father and son, even though our age difference implies otherwise.

The cold wind cuts through my jacket and sends me shivering, and the lack of underwear chafes a bit. My cheeks heat when I think of what happened in the fitting room. I can’t believe I came in those pants.

Holding Logan’s hand tighter, I gaze up at him, smiling. I find it hard to believe that he’s here with me, and more than that, I can’t believe the sort of relationship we have now. Sometimes, I need to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. Simply walking with him, holding his hand and feeling his warmth, seemed impossible only a few weeks ago.

Further along the trail, two young men are embracing by a railing. Their silhouettes draw my eye, and their lingering hug is too intimate, making them seem like more than friends. The first guy is lanky with black hair and pale skin, while the other is taller; bulkier, with short brown hair and an intimidating aura.

A jolt goes through me. Lane and Mason. What are they doing here?

Shit, shit, shit.

My hand tightens around Logan’s as I try to decide what to do. If I do nothing, we’ll pass them in a few seconds, and they might see us. It would be weird to turn around and walk the other way, though. I know for a fact that Logan is far from ready to confront Mason, but if not now, it’ll happen in the future. It might be better to rip off the Band-Aid.

I keep walking as if nothing’s wrong, and Logan doesn’t notice anything until it’s too late. As we approach, Mason straightens up and spots us, turning to face me.

“Oliver?”

I stop, halting Logan with me. “Hi.”

Mason’s eyes flit between us and linger on Logan, recognition flashing across his face. When he glances down and sees me holding Logan’s hand, his nostrils flare.

“What’s going on?” His voice is calm on the surface, but I hear the undercurrent of anger underneath.

I know what this must look like. Mason didn’t even know Logan was back in town, let alone that we’ve reconnected, and especially not that we’re together.

Eyes narrowing, he turns to Lane. “Is this what you’ve been keeping from me, puppy?”

Lane fidgets with the sleeve of his shirt. “Um, yeah. I promised not to tell you.”

“Is that right?” Mason drawls, his intense gaze piercing through Logan and me.

Despite myself, I start sweating. Faced with my brother’s wrath, I’m not sure what to do. Maybe this was a mistake. I should’ve turned around. Logan isn’t ready to have this conversation, and neither am I.

Slowly, Logan lets go of my hand. “Mason…” His voice is calm, just like my brother’s, but the tone is one you’d use to calm a cornered animal.

Mason shakes his head, chuckling in disbelief. “No. No way. Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

Logan sighs. “I know what it looks like, but it’s not⁠—”

Mason takes a step forward, hands flexing. Anyone would back off, but Logan’s taller and bigger than him, and besides that, he used to be my brother’s stepdad as well as mine. We were a family, once upon a time.

“You have about thirty seconds to tell me what’s going on,” Mason growls. “After that, I’m beating your ass.”

“No!” I step between them. “Mason, it’s okay.”

“How can this be okay?” He glares between Logan and me. “I’d love to know.”

“We were going to this café down the road,” Logan says. “We can talk there.”

Mason sends Lane a glance, then looks back at me and Logan with a calculating frown.

“A café sounds good,” Lane says.

I don’t want to imagine what would’ve happened if he hadn’t been here. He calms some of my brother’s aggression, and I’m sure Mason wouldn’t want Lane to see him out of control.

Eventually, Mason sighs, and some of the tension in his shoulders dissolves. “Fine. We’ll talk. And you’re going to tell me that this is not what it looks like.” He points between Logan and me, teeth bared.

We start moving toward the café, which is thankfully within eyesight.