Just a Bit Wrecked (Straight Guys #11) - Alessandra Hazard Page 0,50

into a toxic one. There was only one ending to their relationship, and it wasn’t a happy one.

This, whatever it was between them, wasn’t sustainable. It was better to end it now while his heart wasn’t completely wrecked. It was better to end it before it was too late.

It might already be too late, a voice said at the back of his mind.

Logan ignored it. It was his heart talking. He didn’t trust it, not anymore.

A clean break. They needed a clean break. And for that, he needed to push Andrew away. He needed to do something to stop Andrew from continuing to reach out to him. Something that would be impossible to mend. A definitive end.

“I don’t, either,” Logan said roughly. “I’m too old to get hung up on straight, closeted guys again. Been there, done that. Too much of a mess to bother with.”

Andrew’s grip on his arm slackened. And then it was gone.

Logan headed to his car, his heart heavy and his stomach in hard knots.

He got into the car and started the engine. He drove away, barely seeing in front of him.

He told himself he’d done the right thing.

He knew he’d done the right thing.

It did nothing to alleviate the hollow feeling in his chest.

Turn back, a voice at the back of his mind said insistently. Grab him and shackle him to you if you need to. Brand your name on him. He’s yours. Yours yours yours.

Setting his jaw, Logan shoved those thoughts away. Andrew had never been his. He couldn’t lose something he’d never really had. He couldn’t deny that part of him had expected—hoped—that Andrew would finally say that he wanted him and ask him to stay. But Andrew hadn’t.

If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was.

Logan’s lips curled into a humorless smile. Such a trite expression. Until now, he’d never understood it.

Chapter 22

Sometimes Shawn really hated having to act as a mediator. Be the patient one. The reasonable one.

Softening Derek’s hard edges hadn’t become any easier in the six years they’d been together. Though, he wasn’t being entirely fair: Derek had mellowed out, somewhat. He wasn’t the insufferable, bossy asshole he had once been—most of the time. The problem was, there were still times Derek relapsed to his old ways and the arrogant dick Shawn had fallen in love with all those years ago was back, to Shawn’s fond aggravation. God, he loved this man, but there were still times Derek’s behavior made him roll his eyes, sigh, and just shake his head.

Case in point: Andrew, and Derek’s unwillingness to ask for his help.

“Pride is a sin, you know,” Shawn murmured, his head on Derek’s shoulder. He might have been annoyed with his husband right now, but he still wanted to cuddle up to him.

To his credit, Derek didn’t pretend not to understand him. “Is it? Being a sinner doesn’t bother me.” His eyes remained on his tablet, his hand stroking Shawn’s arm absentmindedly. It had no right to feel so good.

“You need his help,” Shawn pressed, trying to focus on the conversation instead of the pleasant feeling spreading through his body from Derek’s touch. “Now that Caldwell is back from England, it’s time to finally bury the hatchet. For Miles’s sake. You know the poor guy feels caught between us.”

Derek’s lips curled a little. “Maybe the kid shouldn’t have slept with the enemy, then.”

Shawn chuckled. “You know I don’t like Caldwell, either, but now I think Andrew might be right. Maybe talking honestly and apologizing would actually work.” Noticing Derek’s grimace, Shawn chuckled again and pecked him on the stubbled cheek. “I know, I know: you have an allergy to apologizing and communicating your honest thoughts, but don’t be a child, Derek.”

The unimpressed look Derek shot him made him smile. “Look,” Shawn said. “I know that… I know the subject isn’t an easy one for you, with your father and all, but this is a situation that really can be fixed with a simple conversation. I talked to Miles today. He says he can make Caldwell listen to what you have to say. It will be—”

“Fine,” Derek said testily. “Even if I talk to Caldwell, what do I need Andrew for?”

“Because he’s an impartial party. He was there when you broke the engagement, and with your father and sister gone, he’s the only person alive who knows why it happened, and everyone knows Andrew isn’t exactly your fan so he won’t