Secrets & Lies

1| Halfway Honest

Logan
THORNE

Before you read: The first few chapters are going to take place starting when Logan proposed to Amelia. This way we can find out what happened during his meetups with Grant.

What have I done? What the fuck have I done!

I tried to catch my breath as I bent over my toilet. I felt like I was going to throw up. Less than an hour ago, I proposed to Amelia. And she said yes. Deep down, I was hoping she would say no. I knew it was a horrible thing to say. She loved me. Yeah, I loved her, too. At least, I think I did. I didn't fucking know. I didn't know who I loved or what I wanted.

The only thing I did know, was that if I wanted to work for my father's company, I needed to marry Amelia. I didn't plan on all of this when I started dating her. I've known her my whole fucking life. All of a sudden, I saw her differently. I thought, what the hell? So, we dated. But no sex. At first, I had an issue with her not wanting to be intimate. I thought it was because she wanted to wait for marriage, or she just wasn't comfortable with me yet.

After a few months, I was okay with it. How was that healthy? I didn't care anymore about not having sex with her. Fuck. What was wrong with me? Then again, I knew what was wrong with me. No, no, no. That's not what it was. Christ, I needed to get out of this house. I needed to go somewhere, anywhere. I sent Amelia a text to let her know that I was going out for awhile. I didn't say where or when I would be back. I didn't say, becasue I had no fucking idea.

I descended the long staircase and basically ran to my car. I hopped in and broke almost every traffic law as I drove to the bar down the street. I knew this wasn't probably a good idea, but it was better than sitting at the lakehouse alone with my thoughts. That was definitely not what I needed right now.

I pulled up to Jack's bar and climbed out of my SUV. I pushed the small button on my key fob to make sure the alarm was on. I knew I wasn't going to drive home tonight. I was probably going to take an Uber. Like I did last night. Fuck, my life was a mess.

"Hey, Logan," Terri the bartender said as I approached. "Your usual?"

I shook my head and sat on the tall stool. "Something stronger, Terri. It's been one of those nights."

I stared at the large flat screen TV that hung against the wall of the bar in front of me. There was a hockey game on. I didn't know what the score was or who was playing. I just needed something to focus on. Because if I wasn't focusing on something, my mind tended to wander to a certain blonde—

"Here you go." Terri sat the cup of whiskey in front of me.

"Thanks." I shot it back a little too quickly and throat burned as I swallowed it. "Another."

"Fine," Terri huffed. "But if this is one of those nights, I'm putting in an order of food for you too."

"Sounds good."

My family has gotten to know Terri ever since they bought the lakehouse. Jack's was a place we frequented and we've gotten to know the staff pretty well.

Terri was a twenty-three-year-old struggling artist who worked here six days a week. She was rough on the outside—but you have to be when you work in a place like this. But once you got to know her, she was sweet and loyal. She was a friend.

When Terri brought by my food, I picked at the fries. I wasn't that hungry, and I had a lot on my mind. Think about something else. Yeah, right.

I wondered what he was doing right now...

Before my rational side could talk me out of it, I pulled my phone out of my pocked and pulled up my contact list. I scrolled until I got to his name and clicked on the little icon to send a text.