Page 89 of Betrayed

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Logan and AJ went back to Will’s house to decompress and simply spend time together. AJ had been sure to tell Adam about Eric too, and Adam said he’d do some investigating. It seemed a little too coincidental that he was around yesterday right before this threat was delivered. The fire station also had a camera on the parking lot, so Adam would check it to see if the stalker could be identified on the video. Regardless of how careful they were not to get caught, most criminals messed up at some point. It was a matter of time before they figured out this guy’s identity. Logan hoped and prayed it wouldn’t be too late.

With two mugs of coffee, he walked into the living room where AJ sat on the couch. “I hope you take it the same way you used to.”

“Some things never change.” She accepted the mug he offered.

He settled close to her on the couch, and she turned toward him, pulling her feet to where her knees brushed his leg. Electricity coursed through him. It wasn’t the same kind of jolt he’d gotten as a teenager when they were newly in love, but it was as electrifying.

“I was thinking about something, and it might sound kind of strange.”

He settled on the couch and draped his arm across the back. “Strange has never scared me.”

“I recognize I have to rebuild your trust in me. And one way I’d like to do that is by setting some guidelines or boundaries for myself when it comes to time with other men. I thought of this last night after I had been tossing the football with Brennan. I want to set up the fence even beyond what you’re comfortable with.”

His heart warmed at the suggestion. “I don’t have a problem with you tossing the ball around with Brennan; you two have been doing that for ages. And I really do trust him implicitly, almost as much as I trust Will.”

“But even with those two, I think it’s a good idea to make a rule of not riding in a car with only me and another guy.”

“Unless it’s an ambulance with Brennan—on a call.”

“Only on a call.”

Every rule had an exception.

She continued, “I won’t be in a room alone with a man. Even if I’m at the station. If I’m the only one in the room and a guy comes in, I’ll go find another place. I want to stay above reproach on this.”

“I appreciate that, but public spaces at the station are a little different.”

“Still. I’ll make a point to be overly cautious. I love you and want to protect our marriage—especially as we rebuild.” A soft smile graced her face.

He nodded, astounded by her proactive approach to this. Setting his mug on the coffee table, he traced the shirt seam that lay on her shoulder, then let his hand slide down her upper arm.

“What does the future look like for us?” Her voice was soft.

He gently squeezed the top of her arm, rubbing his thumb in slight circles. “I don’t know. I haven’t had time to dream it possible.”

She chuckled softly.

“You’ve been the one to hold onto hope for us. What do you see?”

She shrugged, still cradling her mug. “Honestly, I had hoped to move back into the house with you at some point … but that’s as far as I would get because then I’d remember Bree wasn’t there too.” Her lips quivered as she took a sip of her coffee.

“As much as we had us before we had her, it’s hard to comprehend us without her.”

AJ nodded and stared into her cup. “I always wanted more children, but I’m so scared.”

Logan took the mug from her hands and set it beside his. Turning back to AJ, he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her to him. “Same.”

She scooted closer, bent legs resting completely on his, and nestled against his chest.

He added, “Obviously, we take it one day at a time, but I hope we can work through our grief and fear enough to trust God to give us the courage to have more kids.”

“Can we go to counseling together?”

He bristled at the idea, but that was his pride. Jesus, help me. In humility, he said, “I think we have to. I think I need someone to help us—me—identify what we should work through. I want to buck up and be fine, but that hasn’t worked.”

She leaned back and met his eyes. “I noticed.” The smirk and teasing glint made him shake his head.