Beautifully Broken

“No. It’s not okay, Piper. Why are you here with him?” Logan growls holding a hand out at me.

I take a deep breath. Count to three in my head before exhaling. Try to think before I speak. All the things the counselor at my old school said to try to help keep my cool. His methods are bullshit. “Why do you care?”

“Logan, stop.” Piper’s voice cracks. She’s on the verge of tears again and he doesn’t seem to notice. Poor girl might be about to have a repeat of this morning and this prick won’t back down.

“Because she’s my brother’s best friend and practically my sister. And you’re a dick.” Logan barks.

Just because I don’t want to deal with the everyday drama of people that I don’t give two shits about doesn’t make me a dick. Logan on the other hand is practically a modern day Edward Cullen with his dark hair, selectively social ways, and overall fuck you attitude. “Says the biggest asshole in the room.”

“At least I don’t lead girls on. Fuck them and then purposely break their

hearts.” Logan’s voice is so loud it bounces off the walls.

Everyone in the room’s watching, but I don’t care. He started this war and I’m going to finish it on principle. Besides, I love a good fight. Words, fists, or feet, the messier the better. “The hell you don’t! You’ve tagged more pussy in the past four months than Hugh Hefner did in his prime.”

Logan’s face pinches together. “Who the fuck is Hugh Hefner?”

All this yelling is bound to set Piper off, and I don’t want to be that catalyst. I take another slow breath and give him the calmest most placating tone I can manage. “I’m not a player, Logan. Whoever you’re pissed off about knew long before she crawled into bed with me that I don’t date.”

“Exactly! And I don’t want Piper crawling in bed with you!” Logan yells.

Fuck being calm! I’m so mad I could punch Logan in the face. He’s lucky there’s a counter between us and a room full of people. Too many cameras. I don’t need another lecture from my dad’s publicist about my temper. “Well I don’t think anything Piper does is any of your business!”

“Enough!” Piper shouts.

Piper

I should have suggested someplace different as soon as I realized where we were going. Being Saturday, I thought— no, hoped—Logan would be in the kitchen today and not at the counter. It’s not often, but when his hangover is bad enough, he’ll cook and let Juan man the counter. I crossed my fingers and wished that he drank too much last night.

As usual, luck isn’t on my side.

Logan’s beady brown eyes stare at me. Judging me for my bright colors and for walking in with Rex. The little blue vein next to his right eye bulges, a tell-tale sign that there’s a storm brewing inside him. I wiggle my hand away from Rex and take a step back. Logan’s never seen me with anyone other than Cooper. This protective big brother thing he’s got going on mixed with his temper is a recipe for disaster.

I dig my nails into my wrist, hoping the pressure will stop the noose tightening around my neck. My scars hum, reminding me I’m weak and can’t even die when things get sticky. Even though I’m trying to move on with my life, every time things get hard my wrists scream: Try again. You’ll get it this time.

I cover my ears with my hands. There’s too much yelling—both inside my brain and out. I can’t take it anymore. It's too much. “Enough!”

Both boys stop arguing and stare at me.

Silence. Thank God. I lower my hands and cross my arms. My body trembles, the invisible noose so tight around my neck I can barely swallow my saliva, but I keep it together.

“I don’t want you hanging out with him, Piper.” Logan crosses his arms. “Dude’s trouble.”

Logan has no idea what trouble is. He thinks losing a game is the end of the world. Grow up playing in the streets with no shoes, in tattered clothes while your mama screws someone in your bed, then talk to me about trouble. “Weren’t you just at Rex’s house last night?”

“Yeah. And so were you,” Logan pauses. “Why were you there anyway? I thought you hated parties.”

I flick my hand at him. “It doesn’t matter, Logan. You’re out of line. Rex has been amazing today. You owe him an apology.”

Logan chuckles. He takes a small step forward and rests his hands on the counter. “Are you serious? What are you gonna do, Pipes? You’re all bark and no bite. Everyone knows it. You’re soft.”

So much for brother of the year.

Didn’t take long for the old Logan to show his colors. He’s been so sweet and caring the last eight months, I’d almost forgotten how much of a dick he could be. This was the Logan who hated me, the one who started the rumors.

I step closer, reach across the counter and grab Logan by the shirt collar. His gaze meets mine, his nose barely inches away. “Try me Logan. I’ve been through enough shit to give your nightmares nightmares. Just because you’re family doesn’t mean I won’t put you in your place.”

10