*~~Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Two~~*

{~~Avery Sterling~~}

I think Logan has lost his mind. This is not the act of a sane man.

Logan took my hand, pulling me gently toward the edge of the pier, the sound of the rain drumming steadily on the surface of the lake. It was almost hypnotic—the steady rhythm against the wooden planks beneath us, the way the water rippled and danced with each drop, all while the sky churned in shades of gray above. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, louder than the rain, louder than the wind rustling through the trees.

“What are you up to, Logan?” I asked, squinting through the downpour, trying to read his expression. His wet hair clung to his forehead, and yet he was grinning, that boyish smile I fell in love with all those years ago. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he stopped when we reached the end of the pier, turning me to face the lake. The rain, the mist, the thick clouds hanging low above the water—it all made the scene almost surreal, like something out of a dream.

“I was