Page 56 of Betrayed

They fixed two big bowls then settled in the living room.

Zara dove into her ice cream, giving AJ the space she needed to decide what she needed to talk about.

After a few bites, AJ said, “So Will filled you in on what happened to Bree?”

Zara nodded.

“Remember on Sunday when I told you I had an affair after the worst year of our lives?”

Dawning lit in Zara’s eyes. “Yes. Losing Bree.”

“We were a giant mess of grief. Looking back, I can see what was happening. Now I know Logan was blaming himself. He thought I blamed him too. So he kept me at arm’s length. I needed my husband, but he didn’t know how to be there for me. And I didn’t know how to be what he needed either.”

“Grief is tricky.”

“I ran into Daryl at the gas station he owns. He asked how I was doing and was nice, sweet even. After months of Logan’s negativity and on-and-off drinking, it was refreshing to talk to someone who cared about how I felt. I made a point to go in the store more regularly, then one day Daryl invited me over to his house for coffee. That’s all it was, but it didn’t stay that for very long. Coffee across the table one day turned into coffee on the couch the next day—to no coffee and a back rub—to hands wandering.”

“I’ve told you bits of my past. You know I understand how that goes.”

AJ nodded. “I should have gone to my husband. I should have pursued him and taken the time to figure out what he needed from me in his grief—not be self-consumed with what I needed. But I didn’t. I should never have spent time with Daryl. I was vulnerable, and Daryl took advantage of that.”

Zara’s eyes narrowed. “AJ, did Daryl force you? Did you feel like you couldn’t get away?”

“No. Did he take advantage of the situation? Yes, but I was a willing participant. I could have walked away plenty of times, and I sure didn’t have to go back like I did.”

“How long did the affair last?”

“A month. I hated myself for it. I was ready to break it off one day when I went to his house, but he suggested I leave Logan instead. I ran out and didn’t look back. However, it took me two months to tell Logan the truth.”

“Bet that didn’t go well.”

“Not even close. He kicked me out right away. And that was that. I’ve tried a few times to talk to him, but most of those times ended up like last week at the grocery store.”

Zara released a whoosh of air. “I’m so sorry, friend.”

“Thanks. You okay with watching a movie or something? I need a distraction.”

They picked a funny movie, and AJ fell asleep before Buttercup swam with the screeching eels.

Despite his splitting headache Friday morning, Logan jumped on his motorcycle to meet up with some of the firefighters and cops for a round of basketball. They normally played in the evenings, but occasionally someone threw out a morning time. Five thirty was way too early, but he went anyway.

He walked into the gym, and Will, without comment, tossed him a bottle of ibuprofen. How did he know? It wasn’t a reaction to a grimace or rubbing his forehead. Yet Will had been ready with bottle in hand.

Logan walked up to Adam, who sat in the bleachers tying his shoes. “Did you tell Will about last night?”

“Didn’t even tell Ella, though I was tempted on that one. I will if you need someone to help you.”

Logan shook his head and tossed his gym bag on the bleachers, then sat and changed his shoes.

They played a hard game. Will and Adam didn’t let Logan take it easy at all. They pushed him the entire game to keep up. Every time they passed to him, he’d be sure to pass it to one of the other guys, so he didn’t have to take a shot. The three he took in the first half of the game totally missed.

Caleb Johnson came over to him while they were taking a mid-game water break. “You okay today, Jackson?”

Caleb worked as a paramedic out of the same station as AJ, so he likely knew what yesterday was. Maybe.

“Just off today. I’ll be fine.”

Caleb held Logan’s gaze, apparently not believing his lie.