Page 20 of Forgiving Utah

He glances over at Huck, who's watching him from the doorway with a soft expression. “Yeah. I did.”

My throat burns when I swallow, and I look away before he can see the hurt in my eyes.

I don't want to be like this. I don't want to feel like this, but everything's boiling to the surface. I fucking hate this shit.

Without an anchor to tether my thoughts, they're spiraling into space and I can't yank them back fast enough. There's gotta be something I can do with all of this sudden alone time. A project or something. Shit, anything other than the drinking and loneliness swallowing me whole.

Logan’s phone goes off, interrupting my pity-party. He fumbles it out of his pocket to answer, and the blood drains from his face.

“Who is it?” Owen asks.

Logan hesitates, glancing my way. “It’s Devon.”

My stomach flips several times.

“Devon?” Taylor repeats, brows jumping high. “It's been what, a year since we've heard from him?”

“Yeah.” Logan’s voice tightens. “And he’s… calling from county.”

The room goes silent for a fraction of a second.

“Shit,” Huck mutters.

Salem tugs the phone from Logan’s hand, looking murderous as she puts it on speaker. “Yes, we'll accept the call.”

The line crackles, and then a familiar voice comes through the speaker. “Logan? I, uh… I need a favor.”

Salem scoffs, but I can’t even breathe. My hand’s frozen on my beer, halfway to my lips, pulse pounding in my ears.

Logan meets my gaze. “What happened?”

“Got picked up,” Dev mutters. “I don’t have anyone else to call. Can you… Can you bail me out? Please?”

“Absolutely not—” Salem starts, but I rip the phone from her hands.

“What the fuck did you get picked up for?”

Where did you go when you left me?

There's a heavy pause on the other end. “Nevermind. Sorry for calling.”

The line goes dead.

Salem shoots from her seat, and Logan and I just stare at each other. She's pissed, calling Dev every name under the sun, but Logan pays her no mind. His honey-gold eyes stay on mine. A silent understanding passes between us.

Not only did I have something going on with Devon last year, but so did he—until Dev disappeared on us both. I don't know how much Logan still cares for him but judging from the worry etched onto his features, I'd say it's probably a hell of a lot.

“I'll go get him,” I say, rising to my feet.

Salem halts mid-tantrum and cuts her sharp gaze my way. “Are you fucking serious?”

“Dead.”

“The guy’s a walking red flag, Christian. He made his bed⁠—”

“Then I guess I’m an idiot for giving a shit.”

That has everyone falling quiet instantly—even Huck.