Addiction

Chapter 23-2

WHERE R U NOW?

Sophie sighed, waiting for the back light on her screen to fade. Where was she? She was sitting in her car, at the side of the road, looking like an absolute swamp monster, with swollen eyes and mascara tracked down her cheeks. She’d pulled over ten minutes ago, realizing she had no idea where she was going, and if she didn’t get her tears in check, she’d likely cause an accident.

The nearest sign said, “Alfonse’s! Give your taste buds a treat. Enjoy all you can eat.” She’d driven for miles on auto pilot, taking no notice of where her mind was directing her, only wanting to get here. With a start, she became conscious of the fact that even when her brain was in melt down mode, she’d driven most of the way to Logan’s without hesitation.

I’m pulled up near Alfonse's, she text back, wondering how she’d managed to get so far without totaling her little Fiat 500, or at least rear-ending someone in traffic. Although, she conceded, there wasn’t much traffic at 4am, even in a busy coastal town like Somersville.

B right there. Don’t move.

Sighing again, Sophie sent a quick reply to tell him not to bother – it would take her less than five minutes to reach Logan’s. She took a quick breath and shook out her hands, metallic varnish twinkling in the muted light of her dashboard. “You can do this, Soph,” she told herself sternly. “Just a trip around the corner, and you can fall apart.”

Once again swinging her compact car onto the road, she concentrated on just getting there, refusing to tear up again until she seen the outline of Logan leaning against the door frame, outlined by the soft light coming from inside. Gravel thrown up in a spray, she abandoned her car and ran towards him, sobs breaking out as he took her in his arms. “Hush now, Soph. Everything’s gonna be okay.”

She wished she could believe him this time, that things would turn out just fine, but she knew better. “I hate him,” she spat, wrapping her arms around Logan's neck, pulling him so close his breath whooshed out. “I can’t go back there.”

“I know,” he replied softly, hugging her hard, the feel of him enough to calm her. “Come on in. I’ve made up a bed for you.”

Sophie stepped back, releasing her death grip on his neck. “Thanks Logan. You’re the best.”

“What are brothers for?” he replied, motioning to the hallway beyond the front door. “Give me your keys and I’ll lock up.”

“I have a small bag in the rear seat,” she told him, swiping her thumb across her tear-stiffened cheeks with one hand and dropping the keys into his waiting palm with the other.

Tiredness washed over her like a cloud as she tottered unsteadily towards the living room on her small heels. The second she sank into the pillowed depths of Logan’s couch, kicking off her shoes, she felt sleep pull at her. Maybe she’d just rest here a minute before finding out which bedroom he’d made up for her.

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