“Actually, I’m using they now instead of she,” Cleo replies. “I’ll fill you in later, but I’m stepping into using nonbinary pronouns.”

“Oh, that’s awesome,” Logan answers, turning for a second to flash Cleo that devastating smile of his. “Well, I bused and ride-shared to the pin Cleo dropped, and when I saw Charvan, I figured you’d all be back soon. From the way you were running, I assume things didn’t go well with this Rosa woman?”

Well, Cleo really has been keeping Logan in the loop. I don’t know if I should feel betrayed by this, but really it just makes me feel like Logan never really left us. Could this maybe mean the same for our relationship? I hope so, but right now it feels dangerous to hope.

“Why are you back?”

It takes me a few seconds to register that I’m the one who asked this question. It’s like my lips speak the words on my behalf.

“A few reasons, actually,” Logan answers, his eyes still on the road. “I realized that, no matter what, I needed to see this trip through. It was good I took a little break, but I could never let you all end this chapter without me.”

I turn my head to look out the passenger window, even though there’s nothing there but blurs of twilight and trees. Hearing Logan’s words, a gust of emotion hits so hard, I’m afraid it’ll flatten me.

“Also, something happened I needed to tell you about in person,” Logan continues. “It’s about the hidden cards from before.”

I turn back, and from the look on Logan’s face, I can tell where this is going.

Back in Joshua Tree, I decided to give the Prince of Wands to Cain.

Click here

Back in Joshua Tree, I decided to take the Prince of Wands with us.

Click here

“When I got home I felt super restless,” Logan continues. “I needed to go somewhere, to do something. So I found Cain’s address and drove back out to the desert.”

Logan doesn’t say anything for the next few seconds. Instead, with his eyes still on the road, he reaches one hand into his pocket. Then he pulls out a plastic baggie, one folded over to protect…

The Prince of Wands.

“Cain said he was going to get it back to us soon, so he was happy to return it when I showed up at his door.”

“Logan, that’s—” Amelia begins, finding herself speechless.

I feel the same way.

“I guess we’ll never know if Cain would’ve returned the card if I hadn’t found him first,” Logan says. “But I think he would have. See, what you put out into the world comes right back to you.”

Logan holds the card out to me and I take it, this precious artifact I once gave away. Without hesitation, I then turn and hold the card back out for Amelia, returning it where it belongs.