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“Jodie.” He put a few inches between them and turned to face her. “Does anyone else know? Have you told your mom?”
She shook her head. “Noah knows.”Fuck. She didn’t mean to let that slip.
“Why would you tell— Oh.”
“Yeah. He doesn’t want me to keep it.”
Logan shrugged. “Maybe he’s got a point. I mean… you’ve got big plans for the future. This will to throw a wrench in them.”
“It’s awho, not athis. And I don’t remember asking your opinion.” She couldn’t help the irritation that spilled inside.
He frowned. “I’m just saying... Look, if you need someone to go with you to the clinic—to drive you home after. I’m here for you.”
“You know what? Get the fuck out. You don’t have to care. This wasn’t your decision or mistake. That also means you have zero say in the matter, and you could show a touch of respect when it comes to my opinion.” She might be projecting her fears a little, but this was how she pictured this conversation going with everyone moving forward. Despite the bumps with Logan, she’d always thought he was supportive. He helped her get to Stanford, after all. But hearing him brush her decision aside, as if she didn’t know what she wanted, it hurt more than she expected.
“I didn’t mean—”
“You meant exactly that. Get out.”
When he was gone, she collapsed on the couch, hugging herself to keep from shaking apart. If things went this poorly with Logan, it was going to suck balls, telling their parents.
And who the hell did he think he was?
She didn’t know if she wanted to scream or cry. Maybe a little of both. She didn’t ever remember feeling so alone.
Chapter Eight
Logan tried to convince himself he didn’t give a fuck about the conversation with Jodie. If the first thing that came to her mind when she thought of him was that he tortured her as a teenager, pushing her away back then had worked.
And he didn’t regret his advice about the pregnancy. It was true it wasn’t his decision to make, but he didn’t want to see her throw everything away for a fling with an asshole roommate.
Which, speaking of, he was tempted to deck Noah, or worse, for tossing Jodie aside the way he had.
Logan drove. It was his standby when he needed to clear his head. He wasn’t sure how far he went. He was more concerned with what was in his thoughts than the road signs. He headed in all directions.
The sun was dipping near the horizon when he turned down a suburban street. It looked familiar. Why was he here?
He approached a familiar house, and the memories rushed back hard and fast enough he had to pull to the curb to process.
That was why he knew the place. At Christmas, their folks had decided since Logan and Jodie were in California, they’d rent a place up here for the holiday.
Logan had dreaded this family get together as much as any. He spent the first few days avoiding Jodie. That wasn’t an option Christmas morning.
When she came down to breakfast, she wore pajama pants and a T-shirt, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. It didn’t matter he saw her like that half the time when he dropped by her apartment. That day, with the lines of stress gone from her face and the teasing hint of a smile dancing on her lips, she was more gorgeous than he’d ever seen her.
She sat down across from him, and her mom placed a plate of French toast in front of her. “Thank you.” Jodie grinned at Megan and handed her a card. “For you and Duke. Merry Christmas.”
It had been a few years since they all gathered ‘round the tree and opened presents. Now their gift exchange consisted of envelopes and small, brightly wrapped packages passed out at the breakfast table. So Logan wasn’t surprised when Jodie handed him a gift-card sized envelope. His name was written on the front in her careful, flowing script.
“Merry Christmas.” Joy sparkled in her eyes.
He gave her the gift he’d gotten her. “Same.”
Jodie’s smile grew. “Open it.”
Her excitement was simple and contagious. Logan tried to be casual about prying the flap open on the envelope, but when it didn’t flip up easily, he gave in to curiosity and tore into the red paper.
He pulled the card out and, when he saw the generic wreath on the cover, raised his brows and looked at her.
