of peace. The moment I met your sister, I found that peace. Knew she’d been waiting here for me to find.”
His brows pulled tightly across his forehead in disbelief.
“You think because we only met three days ago, she wasn’t waiting for me?”
“What I think is that you’re screwed up by war and you’re latching on to the first kind woman who has crossed your path.”
Logan pushed off the wall and dropped his head back on his shoulders then rolled his neck for patience. He might have thought the same thing in Jake’s position, but the kid didn’t have a clue what Logan felt for his sister, so he’d give him a pass for now.
“Do you believe in God, Jake?”
The kid shrugged. “Yeah.”
“Do you believe in fate?”
“Like predestined shit?”
“Exactly. Persons or events who are predestined to meet or happen.”
The kid scoffed. “You think fate brought you to Ennis to meet Skylar?”
“I believe everything that’s happened in the past year set me on a course to be exactly where I am now. If you believe in a just God, like you say, then you have to believe He puts people in our path for a reason. And if I believe all of that, which I do, then I have to believe Skylar has been here waiting for me to find her.”
“This is crazy talk,” Jake growled.
Logan took a step closer to Jake and lowered his voice so he wouldn’t be overheard. “There’s nothing crazy about the way I feel about your sister. My world shifted for the better the moment we met. She’s the fire that warms my soul. The breath in my lungs since the moment we met.”
“Right. A complete stranger solved all your issues in a day.”
“Look, kid, you can believe me or not, I don’t really give a fuck, but I’m telling you the moment we met on the side of the road, a part of me knew the truth.”
“And what truth is that?”
“That God brought us together so we could fight each other’s demons.”
Jake seemed confused by Logan’s admission. “Skylar doesn’t have any demons.”
“Then you’re not as smart as I thought. She was close to drowning, Jake. Barely treading water. Think back three days to your fight in the truck.” Guilt masked his features and he looked away, swallowing hard. “She laid it out for me while we were on the road, so I’d know what she was dealing with. I won’t let her go under, but you need to man up and ease some of her burden or you’ll answer to me.”
Jake turned his head and stared into the distance, chewing on the inside of his mouth while he thought about what Logan had said. “Her demons involve Josh and me, don’t they?”
Logan nodded. “She promised your father she’d keep the three of you together, no matter what. She’s been treading water since his death, but Chance put a weight around her neck.”
The kid raised his hands and grabbed the back of his neck. “And Josh and I fighting all the time just made it worse, didn’t it?”
“Don’t worry about Josh, I’ve got him under control. Just concentrate on getting a scholarship. You do that and it’ll be one less thing for Skylar to worry about.”
“Will she be okay?”
A slow grin pulled across Logan’s mouth. “Some people are destroyed by fire. Others rise from the ashes with a purpose. Skylar is a fighter, Jake. Never doubt that.”
Ty drove past the bar and waved at Logan before pulling into a parking spot two blocks up.
“I’m not the only one you need to worry about.” Jake jerked his head at Ty as he emerged from his truck. “What about Ty? I can’t believe he’s not kicking your ass to the curb.”
Logan waved at Ty as he began to cross the street, heading toward them. “He tried on day one but ended up on the ground like you.”
Jake actually smiled. “Bet that pissed him off.”
“At first,” Logan agreed. “But we’ve had it out. He’s not in love with Skylar, Jake. He’s been keeping an eye on her for your father. He let the town believe what they wanted because it kept assholes away from her.”
His brows rose to his hairline and his attention shot to Ty. “You’re shitting me?”
“Nope. He’s been keeping an eye on all of you to honor your father.”
“And he has no problem with you being with Skylar?”
“None. He thanked me for looking out for her. Gave me his blessing.”