CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE – NOT SPECIAL ENOUGH

Deonna felt her cheeks burn as she lowered herself onto the blanket. "How... convenient." Logan cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. "Emma was just leaving, weren't you?" Emma pouted, making no move to get up. "But we were having such a lovely chat about old times. Deonna, did Logan ever tell you about the summer we spent backpacking through Europe?" Before Deonna could respond, Emma launched into a detailed account of their adventures, each story dripping with intimacy and shared experiences. Logan attempted to interject several times, but Emma steamrolled over his protests, her eyes gleaming with triumph. As Emma regaled them with tale after tale, Deonna felt herself shrinking, becoming a spectator in her own life. The picnic she had so carefully planned lay forgotten, much like she felt in that moment. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Deonna struggled to her feet. "I'm not feeling well. I think I should go home." Logan immediately stood, concern etched on his face.