Irreplaceable

Another massive crash of what sounded like pots and pans caused Hilary to drag me away and into the restroom.

“What the hell is going on back there!?” I asked the second the door closed behind us.

“Holy shit, you should have seen Logan! When he saw Mark walk over to you, he was about to run over there and rip into the guy. The only reason he stayed away so long was because Jax was there talking him down,” she explained, fixing her hair in the mirror. “The guy has a temper, but what I want to know is why you were sitting there with Mark in the first place.”

“It doesn’t matter. What’s going on with Caleb?” I asked, not wanting to think any more about either man from my past. “You don’t seem brokenhearted.”

“I’ve never been better. He was—” she began, but the interruption of the bathroom door opening revealing Natasha changed her grin into a more formal, friendly smile.

She strolled in, ignoring us as she went straight to the mirror and applied a new layer of deep-crimson lipstick. It did little for her olive complexion.

“Sorry about coming off a little harsh back there. It’s been a long night,” Hilary said in a way-too-friendly voice. “I hope you enjoy our small town.”

“I’m sure I will. Caleb seems eager to show me around.”

It took everything in me not to say something, but Hilary took the jab like a champ. I wasn’t sure if Natasha had caught on to Caleb and Hilary’s relationship status, and I knew from her seat she wouldn’t have seen them kissing in the back, but anyone could’ve seen there was something between them from the way Hilary had stormed over originally.

“Yeah, Caleb’s great. I’m sure you’ll enjoy him.” Hilary turned back to the mirror in front of her, smoothing a finger over her perfectly trimmed brow. We stood in silence until Natasha left a minute later.

“All right spill! You’re sure she’ll enjoy him? What the hell, Hilary? Please don’t tell me you guys have some weird open-relationship thing going on!”

“Hell no!” She turned away from the mirror, her face scrunched in disgust. “That is one man I’ll never share.”

“Good to know. So what’s going on, then?”

“Caleb’s doing a favor. He told me she’s Logan’s ex.”

I nodded, confirming I already knew.

“She’s pretty,” Hilary said.

Yeah, she was. I sucked in my lips, averting my eyes that no doubt relayed the pang of jealousy I hated feeling.

“But you’re gorgeous. She has nothing on you. Not to mention she looks like a slut.”

A smile broke out over my face. “So what’s the favor Caleb’s doing?”

Her face lit up, ready to divulge, but first she danced over to the door peeked out. All must’ve been clear, because she turned back and started talking.

“Logan asked if he’d try to get some information out of her—see why she was really back in town. You know, two guys working a scheme, playing out some James Bond fantasy. We would totally be the Bond girls!”

She looked pleased with the image, but I was more interested in hearing her continue. Catching the hint, she rolled her eyes at my insistent hand motion.

“Anyway, Logan told Natasha he’d meet her here, but when she arrived, he texted her that something came up and he couldn’t make. He said her drinks were on his tab for the night, then handed her off to Caleb, whose mission was to try and get her drunk and sweet talk her into spilling her guts.” She said the last part with extra enthusiasm.

“Spilling her guts?” I laughed once. “So why is she back?”

“Turns out we interrupted before he got anything out of her—at least, anything other than the fact that she wants to take him back to her hotel and do things that would have me ripping her eyes out and send me to a life behind bars. Orange is not my color.”

“Gotcha.” I rubbed my hand over my chest, my brain nearing exhaustion. “Well, let’s leave them to it, shall we?”

“Actually, Logan asked if I’d stay. He said he’d take you home, and I could cover his job.”

My head began to pound. “His job?”

“Yeah, he’s been in the back keeping an eye on her—you know, in case she really came back to try and take Oliver. He wants as much information as he can get on her, and from what I understand, she’s not one to turn down a drink or five to loosen up. At least, he was keeping an eye on her till Mark decided to sit beside you. Now Caleb’s trying to cool him down. Logan does not like Mark, by the way.”

I only heard one thing. “Take Oliver? You mean she wants custody?”

The thought brought a tremble to my knees. Just the icy look in the woman’s eyes told me she’d be no good for him, but maybe I was wrong. The fact that Logan was setting her up left me torn. What if all she really wanted was a fresh start?

“Logan didn’t say. I only talked to him a moment in the kitchen—you know, in between his threats of killing the two cooks holding him down. Poor guys. One took a punch in the face.”

“Oh my God!” I gasped. “Because he was trying to keep Logan from coming out and blowing some so-called scheme?”

“No, because the guy made a comment that he once heard Mark say you were terrible in bed.”

I blanched. Mark had said that, and Logan had heard it.

“Ignore him. Mark just started rumors to keep other guys away from you because he knew you could do better.”

“Right,” I mumbled under my breath, my pulse racing. There were rumors? And to drive it home, they were about my performance in the bedroom? I wasn’t sure how I felt, other than ready to get the hell out of there.

“Come on, let’s get you home. I’m going to stay in the back with a camera, in case anything happens and Natasha does something he can use against her if she tries to go after Oliver.”

Hilary walked with me across the restaurant, then gave me a small hug and a sympathetic smile. “It’s gonna be all right. Logan should be waiting for you outside.”

I slipped out my phone the second she was gone and sent a text.

At Haven. Need a ride home. Please get here fast.

It only took a minute to get a reply.

Be there in 5.

I knew Logan was there the moment I opened the door and stepped outside, the cool night air filling my lungs and helping me keep myself strong. Logan paired with the Haven parking lot was not a friendly memory. He stood in a shadow beside the building.

“You’re supposed to be at home resting.” His hoarse voice was thick with underlying disdain.

I rolled my eyes, making sure he could see it. I knew where I was supposed to be, and it wasn’t with some controlling nut. I started to continue making my way toward the sidewalk when his arm wrapped around my waist, steering me in the opposite direction.

“Cassandra, talk to me! Why did you sit there with him?” Logan yelled.

I flinched, not expecting harshness after the gentleness I’d experienced the past week from him.

“It’s none of your business who I sit with!”

“He’s no good! Don’t let him sway you otherwise.”

“You know what, Logan? Despite what you might think, I really can take care of myself. I know exactly who Mark is now, and I don’t need you protecting me from him or anyone else!”