{~~Logan Grey~~}Dinner two was bland and disappointing, much like most things in my life these days. My parents, in their never-ending quest to cheer me up, had invited some of my old friends from college- the worst thing they could ever do. They were in town for the weekend, and my parents thought a little reunion might lift my spirits. I doubted it, but I didn't have the energy to argue. After dinner, we all decided to sit outside for a beer while my family stayed inside to have dessert.Ryan was there too, of course. He was my best friend, practically family, and we had gone to college together. If anyone could drag me out of my funk, it was him, but even he seemed at a loss these days with his case. I cracked open my first beer of the night, hoping it would take the edge off the hollow feeling inside me.My friends started talking about their lives, and I could feel myself sinking deeper into my chair. Some were discussing how they were engaged, how love was the best thing to eve
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The next morning, a Sunday, dawned with a sense of dread hanging over me. When I tell you I didn't even want to get up, it's not an understatement. I wanted to be in bed, doing absolutely nothing. I did not want to see the face of the man that continuously broke my heart. But that would not be the case. According to our contract, Logan and I were supposed to have dinner together. It was a part of our agreement, a forced semblance of normalcy in a situation that was anything but, we spent the whole day avoiding each other. It's like we both knew the contract, signed by the both of us, a lawyer and stamped my a judge, obligated us to spend the evening together and that was going to suck. I buried myself in my room, working on my computer, trying to lose myself in the tasks at hand- which unfortunately wasn't much but my sadness made me pretend it was. Logan, as usual, was nowhere to be found. It was clear he didn't want to be around me. The hours ticked by slo
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The next day, Tuesday, the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden hue over my bedroom. I lay in bed for a few moments, staring at the ceiling, willing myself to summon the strength to face the day. The weight of yesterday's events still pressed heavily on my chest, a constant reminder of the rift between Logan and me. With a deep, steadying breath, I finally pushed myself up and shuffled to the bathroom.The warm spray of the shower provided a temporary reprieve, washing away the remnants of restless dreams. I let the water cascade over me, hoping it could cleanse not just my body but also the ache in my heart. As I scrubbed and rinsed, I mentally rehearsed the day's tasks, trying to anchor myself in the familiar routine of my work at the hospital.After drying off, I pulled on my scrubs with methodical precision, each movement a small act of defiance against the sorrow threatening to overwhelm me. I pinned my hair back, taking ex
{~~Logan Grey~~}Tuesday morning, and I don't think I have any complaints. My mood is still not the best but it's okay for now. I ate this morning, dressed and left for the hospital. I didn't even see Avery which was a plus. Work was going fine, and I threw myself into each task with a vigor that bordered on obsessive. The hospital buzzed with the usual frenetic energy, but the annoyance simmering within me was a constant distraction. Every glance, every whispered conversation among the staff seemed to echo my own inner turmoil. Out of sheer stubbornness, I decided I didn’t want to perform a surgery—healing, in the terms of what I do—with Avery. Her presence, her professionalism, even her mere existence, felt like a reminder of everything that was unresolved between us. You know, the elephant that we can't erase. Her sister. I just didn't want to see her. What's even worse about working with her is her acting like a know it all. she doesn't just follow instructions, she loves to thr
{~~Avery Sterling~~}If Shawn hadn’t shown up to tell me that my shift was over, I would have continued working well into the night without realizing the time. He strolled into my office with his usual easy going demeanor, giving me a playful nudge. “Hey, workaholic, your shift is over. Time to pack up.”I glanced at the clock on my computer screen and was genuinely surprised to see that it was already eight o’clock. The hours had slipped away while I was immersed in a mountain of paperwork, reports, and endless emails. “Thanks, Shawn. I didn’t even notice,” I said, flashing him a grateful smile. He chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. “I figured. You’ve been in the zone all day. Just wanted to make sure you weren’t planning to spend the night here.”“Believe me, I wouldn’t if I could avoid it,” I replied, shutting down my computer and gathering my belongings. I stuffed my bag with my laptop, files, and a few personal items, making sure not to leave anything important behind. As
{~~Logan Grey~~}What a long day. I stretched my bones, cracking my neck from one side to the other. The snapping sound was very relieving. My stuff was packed, and I'd changed into the spare clothes I brought. People might think it's a hassle to change out of your scrubs each night before heading home, but sometimes I just liked to do that. I stepped out of the hospital building, umbrella in hand, as the rain started to pour in earnest. The steady rhythm of the drops against the fabric provided a comforting background noise as I descended the steps. My thoughts drifted briefly to Avery, who was still inside. Maybe I should go back and check on her. But then again, she wasn’t my responsibility. We had our issues, and I had my reasons for keeping my distance.The parking lot was a sheen of wet asphalt, reflecting the dim glow of the streetlights. I made my way toward my car, thinking about what I might have for dinner. A warm meal, perhaps something hearty to counteract the chill of
{~~Avery Sterling~~}I noticed it late. It wasn't until we had turned into a street that I realized we weren't going to Logan's house. But if I was being kidnapped, this late realization would have fucked me up. Ryan took me over to his place, navigating through the heavy rain with practiced ease. His house was closer than mine, a welcome reprieve from the storm that had already soaked me to the bone. The rain beat a steady tattoo on the roof of the car, the rhythmic sound almost soothing in its constancy. We pulled into his garage, the sound of the rain diminishing slightly as the automatic door closed behind us.Ryan’s garage was spacious, large enough to fit up to six cars comfortably. This knowledge would come to fuck me over only seconds after I made this realization. As I stepped out of the car, grateful for the shelter, I heard another vehicle pulling in beside us. At first I thought it was Gareth since I know he lives with Ryan, but that was not the case. I swear I might be
{~~Logan Grey~~}After our initial discussion and dinner, Avery excused herself once more. I thought she'd be back.Ryan sat me down in a comfortable area of the living room, a space filled with the comforting hum of a home well-lived in. We waited for Avery to show up, but as the minutes ticked by, it became clear she wasn’t coming. “She’s tired. Let her sleep,” Ryan said, his tone final. He was always so bossy. Acting like he owned me, and like he was always right. Never wrong about a single thing. Which is untrue.“Why the fuck did you bring her to your house?” I demanded, the frustration and confusion boiling over.“She called me. Someone slashed her tires and broke every window in her car.” Ryan’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. “What do you mean by somebody slashed her tires and smashed every window in her car? What in the fuck?”“Exactly what I said. I can't imagine why someone would do that.”I hadn’t had the faintest clue that she had been going through something so s