Page 39 (1/2)

I look down at Logan’s sleeping for to have to marry hihs "I’lad we all do"

Tears prick at the backs of ht hug, and I don’t knohat do for a et this from Matt all the time but never Sam

Sam turns away from me, and I see the tattoo on the back of his neck I don’t knohy I never noticed it before It says "Pete" in big, chunky, gothic-looking letters

"Why do you have Pete’s narins widely "When ere twelve, our dad still couldn’t tell us apart So, he decided to tattoo our names on our necks" He smiles even more broadly "When he sat us down in the chair, he asked which one I was, and I said Pete And then he put ry You have no idea" He rubs at the back of his neck "I kind of like it"

"I do, too"

Logan

It has been a week since I woke up I hurt like a et to go ho to her apartment, since she has an elevator and I can’t take the stairs My leg is in a cast froh tome not to scratch it

The nurse helps me settle into a wheelchair They say I can’t walk out of here I want to go hoo somewhere that I can sleep in a bed with Emily Somewhere that I can hold her close and keep her next to o

She co toward it She s leap out oflove her so much She holds the elevator door open, and the nurse pushes o ho people; I know this, but I have to tell her I can’t wait to go hogles Are you well enough for that?

Youhard just thinking about it

The nurse in the elevator with us buh into her closed fist Emily pats her on the back "You okay?" she asks

The wo, but I can’t tell

A black sedan pulls up to the curb, and I see Eaze shoots to hers, and she ss Ask hi His eyes meet mine, and he sticks out his hand to shake I take it, and his grip is firo hout clenches, and I look toward Es in the trunk I stand up tentatively, holding onto the edge of the door I get into the front seat because there’s more room I hop on one foot until I’m in position and then drop down into the car

After the door is shut, the nurse who pushed ns, Hope you feel better soon Shit She can sign I scrub a hand downTake it easy, and don’t overdo it, she instructs

I nod as heat creeps up my face Emily just sn in front of hearing people Aside from the fact that it’s just rude

Her dad is quiet the whole way to her house He doesn’t say a word and neither does she

When the car stops outside Eets out and opens the door for ain "Thank you for the ride, sir," I say

He brushes et settled on my crutches "I’d like to coain, but she is in the driver’s seat of the car, and she waves to ?" I ask

"To run some errands and to pick up your medicine," he says

"One of my brothers could have done that"

He waves a hand at me "No need"

Henry, the doorh the door "So glad you’re back, Logan," he says

"Me, too," I say with a laugh

Emily’s dad smiles, and I still don’t knohat to do with his unexpected friendship He’s quiet in the elevator, and he doesn’t speak when I take out a key and let myself into Emily’s apartment I should probably explain why I have a key, but I really don’t want to

I drop onto the couch I’m exhausted, and I really didn’t walk very far

"Are you hurting?" he asks

"No" I look around the room "Where’s Trip?" I expected to find hione back to LA," Mr Madison admits

He sits down opposite me on the couch and looks uncomfortable But it’s not the I-don’t-knohat-to-say-to-you uncomfortable It’s more like the I’m-emotional kind of uncomfortable, which ood?" I ask

"Yes"

"Oh, " I didn’t see that one coize to you," he says His cheeks are rosy, and he’s obviously anxious

"It’s really not necessary, Mr Madison," I begin

He cutsup a hand "Ralph," he corrects "I need to thank you," he says again "What you did took a to cut hi finish, will you?" he asks, still s out with my brothers?" I ask

He chuckles "No, but I’ot so the here I came from"

I don’t knohat to say I had no idea Mr Madison had poor roots

"I grew up dirt-poor In a worse neighborhood than yours" He blows out a breath "Soht of what’s important," he says "My fa"