What Hurts The Most

by Cheyenne Barnett

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I really like that…” I add, walking up to a dining room set.

  “Just get it so we can go…” Logan whines.

  I knew I shouldn’t have brought him but what other choice did I have? “Stop complaining. I think I’ll take it as well.” I say to the employee that has been following me around practically all day.

  “Great! So, we’ve covered almost every room in the house. Will this be your final piece?” She asks.

  “Yeah, looks like that’s all I’ll need.”

  Logan and I follow her to the counter. I have to fill out some paperwork on delivery dates and confirming my order and such. By the time Logan and I exited the store, it was just past lunch time.

  “So where to now?” He asks.

  “Maybe we should grab some lunch.”

  “Then can we stop at the car dealership?”

  I turn to him. “Why would we do that?”

  “You got a new ride, I need one. I used to have an SUV but once I became a grief counselor, the army paid for a rental since I traveled so much, so I sold it.”

  “I guess we could swing by… What kind of car do you want?”

  “Well… You got a nice sports car, so I was thinking a Camaro… I can’t let you out due me, now can I?” He smirks.

  “Ha! You think a Camaro beats a Mustang? Uh, I think not.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yes, really.”

  “Alright… How about we make a bet… Why don’t we ask the employee their opinion when we get there? If they agree with you, then I have to do whatever you say for an entire day. But if I win, then you have to go on a date with me tomorrow, no questions asked.”

  “Oh, agreed… I’m so going to win this bet…” I add as we get into the car.

  As soon as Logan sits down, his phone goes off. He unclips it from his belt and stares at the screen. I look over and read the caller ID.

  Alex.

  “Logan, answer it.”

  He presses on the answer icon, “What?” He clenches through his teeth.

  “Logan? I know I’m not the person that you want to talk to but I just wanted to let you know that… Dad died a little while ago…” I hear him say.

  “What?” Logan asks almost as if he didn’t hear what he said.

  “He had a massive heart attack… He didn’t make it, Logan… Mom didn’t want me to disturb you since we didn’t leave on the best of terms, but I thought you needed to know… We are making the funeral arrangements tomorrow if you decide to come down… I’ll let you go…” Logan doesn’t say anything, he just lays the phone on the dash.

  “I’m sorry, Logan…”

  I was expecting him to have a little remorse. “Don’t be. It doesn’t matter. Now, let’s go get some lunch.”

  “What? Logan your father just died…”

  He nods. “I know.”

  “Aren’t you even the least bit upset?” I ask, looking for any sign of remorse.

  “Caroline, you know that I don’t have a good relationship with them…”

  “That doesn’t matter, he was still you father. I’ll call and make reservations for the next flight.”

  “No. I’m not going.”

  “Logan-”

  “Caroline, drop it. I don’t want to go.”

  “Now who’s acting like me? Huh? Who doesn’t show emotions now? Do you think that I wanted to go to Nick’s funeral? No, I didn’t. I didn’t want to go have all those people look at me and feel sorry for me… I wanted to deal with it on my own, just like you… Right now, your family isn’t expecting you to come because they think you hate them.”

  “They think right.”

  “No, they don’t. Because somewhere inside of you, you know I’m right. They’re still your family and you still love them even after all the things they did… Be the better man and go.”

  “I will not travel half way across the country and leave you here.”

  I didn’t even hesitate. “You don’t have to. I’ll go with you.”

  He turns sharply toward me. “You’d really go?”

  “You were there for me. Let me repay the favor.”

  He looks off into the distance. “Fine, but only for you. Not for them.”

  “You’ll feel better. Trust me, if you didn’t go, you would regret it later on.”

  “Highly doubt it.” He mumbles.

  I should probably call Andrea and let her know that something has come up. We’ll only be gone a couple days, so it shouldn’t affect anything. Besides, right now, Logan was more important to me. I needed to take care of him before I worried about the house. It was my chance to be there for him as he was for me.

  While we ate lunch, I called the airport and found out that there was a flight available at four AM the next morning. That was early but I booked it anyway. It would take about seven hours to get there, so we would be arriving just before lunch.

  Logan’s family had no idea I was coming along, he said it would be easier if it were a surprise so they wouldn’t have time to nag about it. I agreed with this, the less they knew, the better. To be honest, I didn’t really like them. Granted, we had only been in the same room maybe five minutes, but still… The way they treated Logan made me sick. Just because he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps, doesn’t mean they should practically disown him.

  I knew this trip wouldn’t be easy… I mean, his family doesn’t exactly like me so I’m sure it’s going to be a bit awkward, but I didn’t care. Logan killed someone to save me, the least I can do is deal with his family for a few days. It couldn’t be that bad…

  “I hate flying,” I mutter as we gather our luggage at the baggage claim.

  “You wanted to come.” Logan replies, shrugging.

  “I know, I just don’t like long plane rides and I’m pretty sure no one does… Who’s picking us up?”

  “Alex.”

  Great… We walk through the gate and soon Logan’s brother comes into view. He looks very similar to Logan, except a lot shorter and less muscular. His expression is indifferent until he sees me. “Dude! I knew it! I knew this wasn’t your idea!” He laughs.

  “What are you talking about?” Logan asks as we follow him out of the airport.

  “Dude, you’re my brother, I know you like the back of my hand. You wouldn’t have come unless someone talked you into it and you still wouldn’t come by yourself.” I crack a smile and glance at Logan. I have to give it to Alex, he was exactly right.

  “So, how did he talk you into it?” Alex asks, looking at me with a flirty expression on his face.

  “I didn’t, she talked me into coming and offered to come with.” Logan replies.

  We get into Alex’s BMW and he drives to the large brick mansion a little ways out of town. I can’t believe Logan left all of this for the military. But then again, Logan isn’t up for the high-class lifestyle either.

  “No offense to you, Caroline, but Logan, how are you going to explain that to Mom?” Alex asks.

  “No offense taken,” I mutter.

  “I don’t plan on anything. She’ll get over it.”

  “I… I don’t think so. Again, no offense,” He turns and looks at me then back to Logan, “Dude, she absolutely hates her.”

  “Why?” Logan and I simultaneously.

  “She thinks that she is the reason you wouldn’t come back with us. She kind of blames it on her and she said you could do so much better. I don’t think that I like you.” He says and looks back to me.

  “Uh, thanks?” I add.

  “Just come on, I’ll deal with her,” Logan says as we all get out of the car.

  “I’ll have the butler get your things later, don’t worry about them,” Alex says as we walk up to the mansion.

  A butler? Seriously?

  “Just don’t say anything and let me do all the talking.” Logan whispers.

  “Oh don’t worry, I won’t say a word…”

  We walk into the foyer a
nd let me tell ya, extravagant couldn’t even begin to describe this place! Everything is made of marble, from the floors to the stairwell, everything! Modern art is placed around the walls and sculptures line every hallway.

  I was in complete awe, but I hid it, I didn’t want to seem too out of place. “Logan, you actually came!” His mother appears and walks out from a hallway. Once she sees me, she stops dead in her tracks.

  “Mom, can I talk with you alone for a moment?” Logan asks.

  “Yes, I think that would be best…” She says, giving me a cold look.

  “Yeah, uh, Caroline, I’ll show you to your room…” Alex says, motioning for me to follow him.

  “Our room.” Logan corrects.

  “Yeah, yeah…” I follow Alex up the grand staircase as Logan and his mother disappear into another room.

  Logan’s Point of View

  “Why on earth would you bring that-that thing here?” She says, quickly.

  “Mom, I’m not in the mood to argue with you… She’s here because I want her here and if I stay, she stays.”

  “You could have at least told me she was coming.”

  “I knew you would flip out, either way, whether I told you on the phone or not, so I waited until I was here.”

  She continues to whine. “Why did she have to come? Just answer that.”

  “Honestly, I wasn’t planning on coming. She was the one that talked me into it and I wouldn’t come unless she came too. Okay? Now, if you want me to stay, treat her with a little respect, huh? Call her by her name and not ‘thing’, please.” I start to walk off when she asks,

  “Are you in love with her?”

  I stop, “Yes, I am and I would appreciate it if you would treat her like a real person.” I add, without looking at her.

  I take off up the stairs in search for Alex and Caroline. I’ve only been here five minutes and I’m already ready to go, but I can’t.

  I have to stay for Caroline.