"How did you know about Lauren?" Logan asked quietly after they had both taken their seats.
Kayla's fingers fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve. "I heard you whisper her name in your sleep," she said softly.
Logan's gaze darkened.
"Is she the reason you get those panic attacks?" kayla asked after a long pause.
He exhaled slowly, his voice dropping low. "Lauren was my younger sister. We were so close—inseparable, really—until… the incident happened."
Kayla didn't interrupt. She only listened, her heart pounding at the pain behind his words.
"My parents were always busy," Logan continued, his eyes fixed on a distant point as if reliving it. "The nanny was on leave that day. Lauren was hungry… and at just three years old, she went into the kitchen to cook for herself. Somewhere along the line, she must have cut herself. While all of that was happening, I was upstairs, lost in my piano lessons online."
He stopped for a moment, his voice trembling. "By the time I got downstairs, she was already on the floor. The last thing I heard her say was…"
His lips quivered as he forced the words out.
"'Save me… brother, save me…'"
Kayla's throat tightened. "Oh, Logan…" she whispered, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Her words have haunted me ever since," he said bitterly. "They're the reason I stopped playing the piano. I couldn't touch it again without hearing her voice."
Logan turned toward Kayla—and froze. "What's wrong?" he asked, startled to see tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Sorry, Logan," she sniffed, wiping her face. "Sorry all those things happened to you."
He blinked, surprised, a small scoff escaping his lips. "Are you for real? You didn't have to cry. It happened eighteen years ago."
Kayla shook her head, her voice cracking. "Then let me cry on your behalf—since you refuse to."
Her words broke the silence between them, soft yet piercing.
Logan stared at her for a moment, then a low chuckle escaped him. "You're unbelievable," he murmured, pulling her gently into his arms.
Kayla melted into the hug, her face against his chest.
"It's okay," he whispered, patting her back gently. "I'm fine now."
But as he held her close, Logan realized that for the first time in years, saying I'm fine didn't feel like a lie.
***
Kayla's POV
***
I blew my nose for the third time. It had been a while since I cried this much.
Logan had been through so much… and somehow, he'd completely stolen my attention.
How did I get so entangled with him?
"I think I should go now," he said, slipping on his shoes. "Thanks for today, Kayla."
"Wait—put your number in," I said, stretching my phone toward him.
He chuckled. "Are you asking me out?"
"You're not my type," I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the smile tugging at my lips. "I just don't trust you to take care of yourself."
"You're worried about me?" His tone was teasing.
"Of course not. It's just... humanity," I stammered.
He grinned as he typed. "Done. I even added it to your emergency contacts."
"That wasn't necessary," I muttered, snatching my phone back.
I followed him outside and watched as he got into his car. The moment he drove off, I sighed softly.
"Tomorrow's going to be a very busy day," I whispered, scrolling through the list of my part-time jobs.
Brooke was sitting on a stool, munching on chips, while I stood behind the counter of the convenience store.
"Cash or card?" I asked a customer, taking her debit card.
"Thanks for your patronage, ma," I said politely, handing over the bag.
"Wow, this is massive!" Brooke exclaimed, eyes glued to her phone.
"What are you reading this time?" I asked, already knowing I'd regret it.
"The Avalon Group just signed a deal with the Zurich branch! They're launching a new Celestial Collection! Their auditions are in two months!" she squealed.
"Can you please go fangirl somewhere else?" I hissed, rolling my eyes.
"You know that doesn't work on me," she said smugly.
"I know," I sighed, "but I'll keep trying."
"I love to invent new jewelry styles," she said proudly. "Everything out there is so boring!"
"Invent styles you won't even buy?" I teased.
"My friend will buy them!" she blinked dramatically.
"I'll make sure to avoid your designs," I said with a smirk.
"Then I'll destroy you myself!" she clenched her fist.
"Oh, I'm so scared," I giggled.
While we were still chatting, my phone buzzed — an emergency call from Logan.
My heart dropped.
"I'll be right back, Brooke," I said urgently.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, opening the door for me.
But I was already gone.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, panic rising with every step. His location wasn't far. But when I got there—nothing. No Logan. No crowd. Just an empty street.
"Logan?" I called, breathless.
No answer. I called his number — voicemail. My heart hammered in my chest.
"Logan…" I whispered. "Please be okay."
"Kayla?"
I spun around. There he was — holding a plastic bag.
"Logan!" I ran straight into his arms. "I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Kayla, what's wrong?" he asked, confused.
"You called me—it was an emergency! And then you didn't pick up!" I said between breaths.
"Oh, that," he said sheepishly. "I left my phone in the car while getting ice cream." He raised the bag with a smirk. "I just wanted to see how much you cared."
I glared. "Don't flatter yourself. I wasn't even that worried."
"Right," he teased, "which explains why you ran all the way here wearing your work jacket."
Damn. I hadn't noticed.
"That crazy girl didn't remind me either," I muttered.
"I didn't take it off because I'm not done with my shift," I said defensively.
Logan chuckled, squatted down, and tied my loose shoelace.
"Don't go hurting yourself while trying to save others," he said quietly.
"Whose fault is that?" I huffed, my eyes landing on the ice cream bag.
"The ice cream…" I murmured.
He smirked. "I decided to make it up to you. Even though you were the one who bumped into me."
"Flavor?"
"Mint chocolate."
I smiled. "You did well. Offer accepted."
I took the bag and walked toward a nearby shed. He followed and sat beside me.
The ice cream was cold, sweet, perfect.
"Looks like you really like it," Logan said, reaching out to wipe a bit of it from the corner of my mouth with his thumb.
I froze at the touch, my heartbeat skipping a beat.
"Of course," I said, trying to sound casual. "Mint chocolate's my favorite."
"You've got good taste," he said softly.
He reached into his jacket and pulled out my favorite candy. My eyes widened instantly.
"Don't tell me you want this too?" he teased.
"Are you tempting me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Is that for me?"
"How do you think you'll claim it?" he smirked.
"Like this!"
I jumped up, trying to grab it—but lost my balance.
"Ah—!" I gasped, stumbling forward.
Logan caught me by the waist just in time. Our faces were only inches apart.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
The world around us went still.
Just the sound of our breathing — and the space between us — burning slowly into something neither of us could name.
And in that moment, the world around us disappeared, until his phone began to ring.