Logan Kade (Fallen Crest High 5.5)

unconscious dude. She stopped a few feet away and pointed. “Is that…?”

Taylor nodded.

Her friend’s arm dropped. “Oh.”

Nate laughed. “He walked into Logan’s fist.”

Mason grinned and added, “Twice.”

Taylor’s friend turned to me. I flashed her a grin.

“Oh.” I could see the wheels turning, and she got stars in her eyes.

I would’ve stepped back and held up my hands, but they were occupied. I could only shake my head. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m not some knight in shining armor. The guy had it coming.”

She turned to Taylor. “I’m not disagreeing with you, but whatever. It’s all over social media that the Kades are here tonight. You weren’t answering my texts, so I figured I’d see if you were with them.”

Mason frowned. “It’s on social media?”

Nate groaned, cursing under his breath. “Uh…” He gave us an apologetic look. “I might’ve posted that we were going to Pete’s tonight.”

“Why would you do that? All these people know our hangout now.”

Nate rolled his eyes. “Because unlike the new you, I want chicks to show up.”

My eyes narrowed. “I still feel like punching someone. You could be that someone.”

“Stop.” Mason threw both of us a warning glare. “Let’s deal with this guy, then hash out whatever is going on.”

“Taylor, stay.” I nodded toward Claire. “Talk to your friend. We’ll load him up.”

And once Eric was in my backseat, Mason shut the door and rounded on us in the parking lot. “Nate, what’s your problem?”

“Nothing.” He pointed through the window to my unconscious passenger. “Let’s head out. This guy is going to wake up soon.”

Mason held back, still watching me.

I gestured for him to go. “I’ll be fine. I mean it.”

“You sure?”

I nodded. “Get the fuck out of here. I’ve got an ex to interrogate. We can figure a plan later.”

Mason grinned and lifted his hand in a wave. As the two of them left in Mason’s car, I glanced back to the bar and saw Taylor heading my way. I walked over to meet her. I didn’t want her to have to see her ex any more than necessary.

“Jason’s gone,” she said before I could speak.

Good. “Really?”

“Claire’s been trying to call him, but he wasn’t answering. So she called his roommate instead. He’s completely gone, like he packed up and everything.” She stopped and tried to clear her throat. Her voice came out hoarse. “He said there were two letters left behind. One for me and one for Claire.” She looked over to my vehicle. “What the hell are you going to do with him?”

I shrugged. “I wasn’t thinking that far ahead, to be honest.”

“Logan.”

“What?” I grinned at her. “I’m being the supportive guy. I punched your ex for you. Punching’s my thing. It’s what I do.”

“I thought you were the talker?”

“That, too. Tonight it was punching.”

“I never asked you to.”

I tapped my head. “You were thinking it. I caught the vibe.” I winked. “I can read minds, too, didn’t you know?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “I can’t deal with this. Can you just drop Eric off somewhere where there are medical professionals?”

“He’ll be fine. Don’t worry. And you shouldn’t go to Delray’s place. Call his roommate. Have him meet you somewhere else, somewhere safe. Crime Boss Dickhead could be waiting there for Delray. You don’t want me to go with you?”

She shook her head, her smile fading. “No. I’ll go with Claire. And we’ll call. We’ll have him meet us somewhere safe. Can you just—”

She looked over my shoulder at my vehicle. “Why did he come back?”

“Look at me. I’ll find out why he’s here.”

“You won’t hurt him?”

I flashed her a grin.

She added, “Any more?”

“You really don’t want me to hurt him?”

She let out a sigh. “No. He’s an asshole and a coward, and I think he deserved getting hit, but he doesn’t need to get beat up anymore.”

“Okay.” I let her hand go and held both of mine up in the air. “I’ll be nice. We’ll just…chat.”

She shook her head. “Why don’t I believe you?”

I winked. “Because you know the real me.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, I motioned for Claire to come over. When she did, I said, “Take care of her, at least until I can come and take over.”

She gave me a firm nod and took Taylor’s hand in hers. “I’ll take care of her.”

Taylor gave me a tentative wave and smile as she followed her friend to her car. But there was a look in her eyes—the same look she’d worn when she told me what happened to her mom. And that didn’t sit well with me.

Not at all.

THE LETTER

TAYLOR

“What do you think is in those letters?”

Claire hadn’t shut up since we’d gotten in her car. Normally, I didn’t mind her chatter. I liked it even. It had helped while I’d been on the too-quiet side this past year, but tonight—with a headache forming and a feeling I already knew what lay ahead—she was too much for me. I rubbed at my temples.

“Okay.” Claire pulled her car over and leaned forward, craning her neck to see the park we told his roommate to meet us at. “We’re here. Do you see him?”

It was empty, but it was a small park in a good part of town. It was only a few blocks in length, and it was surrounded by homes. We were safe. I was sure of it. I shook my head. “I don’t, but he’ll come. He’ll bring the letters.”

“Good.” She glanced over and confessed, “Because I didn’t know how to get to Jason’s apartment building. I was hoping you knew.”

“You didn’t?” That surprised me.

“No.” She looked down to her lap, fiddling with her keys. “Jason and I, we…uh…we kinda faded once we graduated. I never came over here, and I think he moved this summer, too. So this could be his second place. I’m not sure.”

Jason had mentioned their “fade,” but Claire never had until now. For some reason, it hurt me to hear about it. “You guys put on a brave face for me then?”

She looked up, her eyes searching mine. “Yeah. Kinda. I mean, we are friends, but we just weren’t close. You were the closest to both of us. I just don’t think you realized it.”

“When did that happen? I mean, I thought you two were good.”

She shrugged, turning to look out the window again. “It always was a little difficult. It got worse later in high school when…” Her voice trailed off.

I finished for her. “When you started dating student council members, and Jason started dating...guys?” I closed my eyes. My heart sank. “Why didn’t I notice?”

“Because you loved us both,” Claire said. “And because we hid it from you.”

“But—” I shook my head. It made sense. The guys Claire dated weren’t the nicest to Jason, and I knew others had been even worse—like the guys who were friends with Eric. Only Eric had been decent to him. “I should’ve paid attention.”

“You were loved by everyone. Even the bullies usually left him alone. No one wanted to piss you off.”

“Why?” I opened my eyes.

“Because…” She shrugged. “People like you, Taylor. I don’t think you notice how much. You’ve been off since last year, but it’s still there. Logan Mr. Sex Machine Kade is interested in you.” She rolled her eyes as she said his name. “He’s let everyone know you two are together.”

I had to laugh at that. “There’s no one else breaking down my door.”

“Stop it. He likes you—like, really likes you. That’s not something to dismiss.”

“I know. I just don’t understand it. I don’t understand why me.”

“Because you’re Taylor,” Claire said

. “What more reason do you need?”

I tried to smile, but her words had punched through a wall, and a whole host of emotions streamed through. I reached over and grabbed her hand. “Thank you, Claire.” I had to whisper. My throat wasn’t fully functioning.

Her hand squeezed back and held on. “You have no idea, but you’ve been there more times for me than you think.” A tear slid down her cheek, and her voice turned hoarse, too.

“Look at us.” I lifted our hands. “Holding hands. Both crying.”

She laughed, flicking her tears away.

“And we’re going in there to read some letters from Jason,” I added.

She grew quiet before she asked, “You think he left, don’t you?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. I was still hoping it wasn’t true.

Just then a pair of headlights was visible as a car neared the park, pausing at an intersection. It turned right and went the entire way around the park. “Look.” I pointed to it.

“I see.”

We both watched as the car was moving slow, until it passed us. It paused and we saw a guy press his forehead to his window, trying to see us. I relaxed. The guy didn’t look scary or thug-like. I was sure that was Jason’s roommate. I waved and once I did, his face visibly relaxed. He blew out a breath and lifted a shaky hand back. He pulled forward, then turned around so he could park behind us.

I looked at Claire. “You ready?”

She shook her head, but her hand went to her seatbelt. “We have no choice. Let’s go and get these letters.”

We both nodded. We both reached for our doors…

...neither of us moved an inch.

Taylor,

If I know you—and I think I do by now ; )—you probably already know what I’m going to say in this letter. But I have to say it anyway because I have to put in words how much I love you and how much I’ve cared about our friendship.

I’m leaving. Surprise! (bad joke) (sorry)

That’s what this letter is about. I never meant to have my “other” life affect you, but it has. It was bound to happen eventually. Gambling—that whole world—is my addiction. I can’t get enough of it. I think about it the moment I wake up. I miss it when I’m being good, and I am literally counting down the hours, minutes, seconds until I can get back to it.

I thought it would be better if I was the one taking the bets, but it wasn’t. I still gambled, and it got all sorts of fucked up. I can’t tell you anything because if something ever happened to me, I don’t want you to be involved any more than you already are. Just trust me when I say that this life is a toxin, but one I can’t live without. It’s sweet fucking poison.