the part of the jealous boyfriend for the first time ever and you’re the reason I’m here in the first place. You decided it was okay behind my back without talking to me first. Don’t forget that.”
“Dammit, Natalie. I told you I never thought you’d agree to it. That’s the only reason I agreed.”
“If you say so.”
“It is,” he says a little too sternly for my liking.
“Everything good in here?” I make my way around the corner to see Logan pinning Natalie against the wall. His body pressed against hers has a surge of jealousy taking over. “You might want to take a step back before the wrong person walks in. You’re lucky it’s only me.”
My brother exhales and takes a step back.
“What are you doing here, Logan? You said you weren’t coming. Why show up now on the last fucking night?”
He lets out a humorless laugh and walks to the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge. He shuts it and leans against the door, his eyes hard. “I saw a picture online of you two at a bar looking a little too cozy. Then I got a message from Natalie that she missed me. So here the fuck I am. Guess I should’ve just stayed home.”
My stomach drops at hearing Natalie text my brother that she missed him. “When did she text you?”
“Last night. Or at least that’s when the message came through.”
When I turn to look at Natalie she looks guilty, as if she wishes she’d never sent it. I wish she hadn’t either, because for some reason, it feels fucking shitty. Like my girl betraying me. “I didn’t think you’d get the text. I figured you’d get it when we were on the road back home.”
“Well, apparently you’re the only one with cell service here. Good to know.” I try my best to hide my disappointment, but my voice hardens at the end. “I guess I’ll let you two catch up since you miss him so much.”
I walk away before I can do or say something I’ll regret. Shit, I don’t even know why her missing him hurts so fucking much, but it does. I go out the side door that leads to the hot tub, wanting to avoid our friends.
If I take off into the woods, they’re going to know something is wrong. So instead, I grip the edge of the hot tub and squeeze. I’m on edge right now and seconds away from making an ass out of myself.
The longer I’m out here and they’re inside alone, the harder I squeeze, wishing it were my brother’s throat instead. Talk about fucked up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
NATALIE
I don’t know why I’m so angry with Logan for showing up, but I am. I thought I’d be happy to see him. I’m supposed to be happy to see him, since he’s my boyfriend, but all I can think about is how this could screw things up for his brother, and I’ve become protective of Madden.
If Alana or the others notice Logan’s discomfort with me and his brother being close, they’re going to catch on that something isn’t right. We’ve worked too hard this entire trip to make Alana believe we’re really together just for Logan to show up and possibly threaten the progress we’ve made. I’m pissed. Then there’s the fact that I’ve been practically begging him for two years to bring me here and he’s refused every time, with the excuse that he can’t take off of work.
“You should go home, Logan.”
His eyes widen with disbelief and he sets his beer down. “Are you serious, babe? I drove all the way out here to see you, and now you’re telling me to go home?”
Anxiety fills me when he moves in and grips my hip, giving it a slight squeeze. Without thinking, I yank his hand away like it’s not supposed to be there. My reaction is so natural that it confuses me. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, taking a step back. “You being here is only going to complicate things for your brother. You know more than anyone how much he needs things to work. Are you really willing to risk his one chance at getting his life back just because you saw a photo online and decided you wanted to see me?”
He tenses his jaw and looks me over, taking me in wearing Madden’s jacket. “You’re wearing his jacket. It’s the first thing I noticed when I walked up aside from you grinding your body against his. That’s