“Don’t like this too much, but yes. I bet you were adorable.”
I flash her my best ‘adorable’ smile, and with the way her lips curve into a smile, I know I’ve got her. “Were? I still am.”
“Adorable with a side of annoying.”
I shrug. “I’ll take it.”
She’s quiet for a moment, her lips still curved into a small smile as she looks around the woods, looking peaceful and at ease. “It’s nice to have easy conversation in the morning. It helps to start the day out right. Your brother hates talking when he first wakes up. It puts him in a bad mood.”
“Still?” I ask on a laugh. “I haven’t risked trying since that one time when we were kids and he threw his G.I. Joe at my head for asking him if he wanted to go swimming.”
She looks at me and laughs. “Ouch. That sounds painful.”
“It left a huge welt on my forehead that lasted for almost two weeks. It looked like I had a horn attempting to grow between my eyes. They called me uni-boy for months after.”
She bursts out into laughter, so I keep to myself that I made that last part up. I like seeing her enjoying herself like this, and I want to keep it this way for as long as I can.
I grab her hand and pull her back to her feet, before I take off walking again. It’s silent, except for the sound of branches and leaves crunching beneath our feet.
“Does your brother have an ex that he used to bring here?” I look over at her, noticing that her expression is uneasy now, all playfulness gone. “Is that why he hasn’t mentioned me to your friends? Please be honest. I can take it.”
I shake my head, feeling like crap that Logan is such a douche sometimes. “No. He’s never brought a girl on this trip. I’m not really sure why. Although, he really only had a girlfriend one year during the trip.”
She looks confused. “What do you mean? You guys have been coming here for years.”
“His relationships have never lasted long. He was always single come trip time, except for the trip from three years ago and he didn’t invite her along. You’re his longest relationship, Nat. The others have never lasted longer than three or four months.” I let out a sarcastic laugh, thinking back to Logan’s dating life before Natalie came along. “I can’t even count the number of girlfriends he’s had. The women have always loved my brother.”
The way her mouth drops tells me she’s probably hearing this for the first time. It also tells me that I probably should’ve kept my mouth closed, but I expected her to know these things since they’ve been together for almost two years. “He’s had that many? I can’t picture Logan being the type of guy who hops from one relationship to another. He’s never told me about the numerous women he’s been with. I need some air.” She takes off walking faster, as if she needs to get away.
“Shit.” I hurry to catch up with her, grabbing her waist to stop her from walking. “Nat, wait.”
She sucks in a breath at the same time I give her waist a slight squeeze, so I quickly remove my hand, not wanting to upset her more. “I’m sorry. I assumed Logan had talked to you about his past. I didn’t mean to upset you.” I walk around to face her. “Alana and I knew everything about each other. Apparently, my brother isn’t as open as I am. But it was in the past. He’s a good man and he’s dedicated to you, Nat. No need to worry or be upset. It’s clear that he loves you and he’s changed.”
“I’m not worried, Madden. I’m just pissed off that he lied to me about his past. He told me that he didn’t date much before we met, then I have to hear from you that he’s had too many women in his life to count. I don’t like liars, and I expected him to be truthful with me. I’ve never given him a reason to lie to me. I’ve been honest with him about everything, even the bad things I’d rather not repeat.”
“That makes two of us.” An ache hits me straight in the chest, and I find myself gripping the closest tree, digging my fingers in as I try to keep my cool. “Let’s not think about liars.