Read Online Irreplaceable by Angela Graham - Free Book Online

table nearly an hour
after the food was cleared from our plates.
    This discovery should’ve made me happy or at least
content, yet I awoke the next day feeling the exact opposite. I was falling for
him again, and there would be no way to stop it if he kept up the perfect
man-in-love spiel. I knew what he was doing, and as much as I wanted it to
work, I was terrified.
    Neighbors, I could live with, but even friends just
seemed too difficult. As disheartening as it was, the notion of friendship
seemed impossible with my irksome old feelings blurring the lines.
    The week lurched by, and Logan never missed a beat. He
sent a good-morning text first thing when I awoke and stopped by with both
breakfast and dinner. I listened as he told me about Oliver, and even
interacted with him over the designs of Julia’s house.
    However, I kept myself guarded so as not to step over the
substantial line I’d drawn between us. I had to make it clear there was no
chance for us. I couldn’t let myself go down that road again only for him to
walk away the moment things got rough—or worse, once he grew bored. And the
last thing I wanted to do was lead him on. I knew how that felt, and I wouldn’t
do that to him.
    He didn’t say a word or play the charming card when I
switched to a clipped and guarded tone, but I knew he felt the change. His
confident behavior slipped, and the sporadic words between us slowly grew into
nothing more than civil, almost businesslike blurbs of ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ over the
house project.
    We exchanged a few small jokes here and there, with the
occasional brush of his hand over mine. It stirred that familiar electric wave
residing deep inside me, and yet he never showed a sign that he felt it. There
was now an unspoken understanding that I had nothing left to give.
    As the week drew to a close, I noticed his visits grew
shorter. On Thursday, he brought dinner by, but didn’t stay a minute after we
finished eating.
    He was finally taking the hint. I couldn’t offer him
more. I couldn’t offer him anything. It wasn’t until Friday, when I opened a
door that should’ve remained closed, that everything changed.
    Julia was standing on my porch, a shivery smile on her
lips as she hurried inside to warm up.
    “Hey, come in.” I chuckled at her impatience.
    “Thanks, its freezing out there!” She rubbed her gloved
hands together and her body’s stiffness from the bitterness of the blizzard
began to wane. “Hope you’re not busy. I needed to talk to you a minute.”
    “No, not busy. Just watching some trash TV.” I sat back
on the sofa, curious as to why she was visiting. It was a first—not that I
minded.
    “Sounds…fun.”
    Boring and mundane were more accurate. I hit the mute
button and set the remote beside me. She sat on the other end of the couch.
    “Listen, I know this is none of my business, but Logan’s
miserable.”
    I sat up further, brows rising at her brashness. “You’re
right. I don’t mean to sound rude, but it isn’t any of your business.”
    She sighed, tugging off her gloves. “I’m sorry. I don’t
normally get involved in any of my brothers’ relationships. It’s just that I’ve
never seen him like this before. He’s all mopey and grumpy, and besides hanging
out with Oliver or coming to see you, he’s checked out.” Her words blew out in
one long breath. She inhaled to fill her lungs and waited for me to respond.
    Checked out? Logan? I couldn’t picture it.
    “I know he’s your brother and I think it’s sweet that
you’re trying to help, but there’s nothing to be done. He can’t expect me to
come running into his arms when I can barely even walk.”
    She shook her head and groaned, irritated at my reply.
“I’ll be honest with you, Cassandra. I don’t understand Logan most of the time
when it comes to women. He’s always so reserved, never wanting to even date.”
    A chuckle escaped and I sucked in my lips, containing my
grin. “Sorry, it’s just that Logan