He Gave Everyone a Key but Me Chapter 02
Amanda pointed straight at Logan’s face.
“Five years ago, she ate a mango and ended up in the ER. You were the one who carried her there!”
“And now you’re blaming her for not mentioning it sooner?”
The living room fell silent.
Everyone exchanged uneasy looks, not daring to speak.
Logan’s expression darkened. Yet he still wore that calm, superior mask of reason.
“Amanda, you’ve had too much to drink.”
“I haven’t had too much of anything.”
Amanda let out a cold laugh. Her eyes swept over the fruit tray on the coffee table before landing on Tinsley.
“This place was bought with money Logan and Claire saved together.”
“You’re an assistant. Since when did you start acting like the lady of the house?”
A tear rolling down Tinsley’s cheek, she instinctively stepped behind Logan.
“Ms. Brooks, you’ve got it all wrong. I was just helping.”
“Helping?” Amanda shot back. “Helping hand out keys too?”
The room went dead quiet.
Logan suddenly rose to his feet and stepped in front of Tinsley.
“That’s enough.”
His voice wasn’t loud and it didn’t need to be. The pressure in it was impossible to ignore.
“Amanda, this is my place. Are you done making a fuss?”
Then he looked at me, disappointment filling his eyes.
“Claire, you’re really going to let your best friend treat my assistant like this?”
I grabbed Amanda’s wrist. Her hand was trembling with anger.
“Amanda, let it go.”
I gently pulled her behind me and looked at Logan calmly.
“You’re right. She drank too much.”
The tension in Logan’s shoulders visibly eased.
He looked at me, his expression softening again.
“I knew you’d be the reasonable one.”
He reached out, trying to wrap an arm around my shoulders again.
I shifted slightly and avoided his touch. The movement was tiny.
His hand landed on empty air.
For a moment, he froze. Then he seemed to assume I was just being self-conscious in front of everyone.
“Go wash your hands. They’re still sticky from the orange juice.” He nodded toward the bathroom.
I nodded back and walked away.
The faucet was already running.
The woman staring back at me in the mirror looked perfectly calm, without even a trace of redness around her eyes.
Muffled voices drifted in from outside.
“Logan, do you think Claire’s upset?”
“About what?” Logan replied casually. “She has a good temper. Give her a couple days and she’ll be fine.”
There was complete certainty in his voice, with the easy confidence of someone who had never worried about losing me.
I turned off the faucet, pulled out a paper towel and slowly dried the water from the back of my hands.
By the time I stepped out, the party was winding down.
People were grabbing coats and heading out in small groups.
Logan stood by the front door with his car keys in hand.
Tinsley stood meekly beside him, wrapped in a men’s jacket.
It was Logan’s jacket.
“Claire.”
When he saw me, he waved me over.
“Tinsley’s car is in the shop today, and it’s hard to get a ride out here. I’ll drive her home.”
He walked over and adjusted my collar.
“You head back to your apartment and get some rest.”
“Tomorrow’s Saturday. I’ll take you out for a good meal.”
Everything was arranged, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
Amanda let out a mocking laugh beside me.
“Logan, you’re leaving your fiancée behind so you can drive another woman home?”
Logan frowned.
“Amanda, do you always have to be this harsh?”
“Tinsley’s a young woman. It’s not safe for her to get a ride by herself this late.”
“Claire lives close by. She can get home easily.”
Then he looked at me, his eyes carrying a hint of reassurance.
“Right?”
I stared into those matter-of-fact eyes.
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Drive safe.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Logan’s face.
Out of habit, he leaned in, intending to kiss my forehead.
I lowered my head to grab my purse, perfectly avoiding him.
“I’m leaving.”
I took Amanda’s hand and walked straight out the front door.
Logan didn’t come after me.
As the elevator doors slid shut, I heard Tinsley’s sweet, delicate voice drifting from behind them.