I slugged him in the shoulder. “Smart ass.”

“Always.” He winked.

I reached back into the closet to retrieve my coat. “Is he at Haven?”

“Nah, he picked Oliver up from school and left from there.”

“Left?” I reared back, surprised.

Jax shrugged. “You might wanna give him a shout. Kinda shocked he didn’t call you. Guess all this murder bullshit is taking up more headspace than your pussy. Sorry.”

“Are you ever not crude?” I tugged my coat back on, frustrated.

“Not really, no.” I watched him walk away to the kitchen as I dialed Logan, hoping everything was all right.

He answered on the second ring.

“Cassandra.” He spoke my name as though he needed it to breathe. “You have no idea how much I miss you.”

“Well, I’m standing in your foyer if you want to come home and show me.”

He exhaled loudly. He wasn’t going to be showing me anything.

“I miss you too,” I continued, giving him an out. “Jax said you left. Couldn’t at least call me?”

“Long story, but I’m heading to the city. I was going to call, but it’s been one thing after another and I’m trying to end it as fast as possible. My lawyer wants to sit down and get started on a better game plan, in case things get pursued.”

“Pursued?” I repeated, cutting him off.

“Just want to be prepared, and since my mother’s a mess worrying over everything that's happened, I figured a few days with her would help her see everything is okay.”

“Okay, so a few days?” I walked over to his steps across from the foyer and sat, silently chanting to myself not to punish him for leaving without so much as a text.

“Yeah, we should be back Sunday. I promise I’m going to make up for this week and last night. You have no idea how disappoi—”

“I know. Don’t even think about it. We’ll get through this, and then we’ll have all the time in the world to spend together. Just focus on what needs to be done. And give Oliver a hug for me, okay?”

“You’re too good for me, you know that? I don’t know how I got so lucky to convince you to stick around.”

“Ditto. Now drive safe, and let me know when you get there so I don’t worry.”

“I will, and I swear the minute I’m home I’m coming for you and not letting you go till I’ve had my fill. Which will never happen, so consider yourself warned.” He sounded relaxed. That was all I needed to hear.

“Mmm, I look forward to it. “ I smiled to myself, closing my legs tightly.

“I gotta go. Try to relax this weekend. Get lots of sleep to prepare that body for me.”

“That, I can do. Oh, wait, have you heard from Caleb?” I asked quickly.

“He called a few hours ago to check in. He found her last night.”

“What!? Why didn’t you tell me?” I shot up from the steps and began to pace. She was safe—or safe enough, depending on how pissed Caleb was.

“Sorry, slipped my mind with everything going on.”

How could I complain, given the circumstances? But still, it only added to my brewing irritation. “Is she okay at least? Is he…what did he do?”

“From what he said, she called him but chickened out and hung up when he answered the phone. He used some connections to track the call.”

“That’s a relief. I mean, he’ll bring her home, right?” I suddenly realized I had no clue what Caleb would do, but I knew she was better off with him than alone.

“I have no doubt, although she may not be able to walk by the time he’s done with her."

“What? Why?” I halted my steps, my eyes wide, voice higher than necessary.

“Sweetheart, that man is gonna—” He lowered his voice, reminding me Oliver was with him. “Put your headphones back on just for a moment longer, okay? Thank you.” He must have said the last bit to Oliver, because his voice was muffled. It made me giggle.

His normal voice finally returned. “Fill her up till she can’t stand it.”

“Oh.” That wasn’t the worst punishment in the world—especially since Hilary couldn’t get enough of Caleb anyway.

“That’s what I’d do to you. I’d remind you exactly why you’d never want to run again.”

“That would certainly work.” I felt my face flush.

“You have no idea how badly I wish I was…” His voice dropped again. “…filling you up right now.”

“Me too. But go take care of this Kurt stuff, and then come home to me.”

“I will. Love you,” he said, so sincerely the words cocooned my heart and planted themselves deep inside.

“Bye, Cassie!” Oliver yelled in the background. Logan chuckled.

“So much for the headphones, huh?” I teased.

Logan let out a playful grunt in response.

“Love you both. Bye.”

I hung up and slid the phone into my coat pocket. A weekend alone…it didn’t sound fun at all. No Logan, no Hilary. The thought of calling my mom reminded me of Kurt, so I thought better of that as well. It wasn’t fair to be upset, but it was still there, just under the surface. It seemed I wasn’t ranking very high on Logan’s list of priorities.

“What we drinkin’?”

Jax stood in the kitchen doorway, holding up a bottle of tequila in one hand and vodka in the other.

Looked like I was going to get my chance at deconstructing another West enigma.

“Both.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Frenemies

“I’m in so much trouble!” I spluttered, knocking back a shot with Jax. “You’re not even legal!”

“And your point?” he quipped back, refilling my glass.

“Your brother’s gonna kill me.”

“Nah, Logan has better things to do with you. Besides, he’s never said much about me drinking before—at least, not other than threatening to knock my teeth out if he ever caught me driving under the influence.”

“Really? Does he let them serve you at Haven?” I blurted out, appalled.

Jax’s forehead wrinkled. “Hell no. Sad, actually—Logan cares more about his businesses than letting me have any fun sometimes.” His mouth twisted into an impish pout.

“Aw, you poor baby.” I laughed, shaking my head.

It was official: I was drunk—and in Logan’s house, without him. It was totally not how I’d planned my night, but then again, after the week I’d had trying to pin Logan down, it was the first night I hadn’t sulked over his absence.

“You wanna make me feel better?” He wiggled his brows, and my elbow shot into his gut.

“Your loss.” He chuckled. “Now lay down and try to stay still if we’re seriously going to do this.”

“Yes, we’re seriously going to do this!” I slurred. “But be gentle.”

“Gotta admit, considering the noises I hear you howl from Logan’s room, I wouldn’t have pegged gentle for your style.”

My face twisted up. “You’re a pig.”

“I know. Now, come on—lay down for me.”