Chapter 8

Hannah

We stay close together and he pulls me closer so our legs touch and his arm comfortably rests on my shoulders. Neither of us move or shift away. My body wants him so badly. I admire his arm muscles, the way he smells, and his caramel-colored eyes.

This is what I read about in my romance novels—that immediate insta-love sort of connection. I don't know if this feeling makes sense. My heart's broken over Aaron, yet here I am with Logan, and Aaron doesn't cross my mind until now. I'm not thinking about him or wondering if I should text him. Being here with Logan helps me not think about the shit I left behind back in Ohio.

“Do you wanna head back to my place and hang out more?”

I notice the immediate coolness of his body and he moves away. I'm not sure what I said to make him pull away from me.

“You know, I have a busy day tomorrow and should leave.”

“Oh.” I try my best to hide my disappointment and embarrassment. Here I am practically throwing myself at him and now he has to leave. I suck at this whole flirting or hooking up thing or whatever the hell I'm doing.

“Oh, yeah, sure. I get it.” I try my hardest to keep calm and unruffled by his mood change.

“I like getting to know you as a friend.”

It's like cold water splashes on my face. “Yeah, friends, of course. I mean Aaron and I just broke up, so I should focus on being single and on my career.”

“I should take you home. It looks like Eden's getting ready to leave with Lincoln.”

I nod and we both get up at the same time. Eden rushes over to me and we head out together with the guys behind us.

“You're okay?” she asks.

“Yeah, of course. Have fun tonight.” I wink. “I'll see you in the morning.”

“Okay, babe.” She leans down and kisses my cheek before walking away with Lincoln. At least someone's getting lucky tonight.

Ugh. Stop. He's a friend. We're friends. I can't be like this.

When we get into the Uber Logan got for us, the driver exits the parking lot and starts the trip to my apartment.

“I got your address from Eden a little bit ago and gave it to the driver. He's going to drop you off first.”

“Sounds good.”

“Are you all right?”

I glance at him and nod. “Yeah, of course.”

We sit in silence through the ride and I can't help but sense his eyes on me. If he wants to be friends, then why's he eyeing me like that?

Ugh. Men. So confusing.

I lean my head against the window and Logan's warm hand rests on mine. I should move out of his reach.

I don't, though.

“Are you going to be okay walking to your apartment?”

“Yeah. Of course. I'll talk to you later.”

Before I can climb out, Logan rushes around the side of the car to mine and opens the door for me. “I had a great night with you.”

“Me too.” I smile, and take the stairs inside my apartment complex without looking back.

Sunday mornings.

There’s something about them that I really love. The calmness of the day makes for relaxing and leisurely moments. It’s all about slowly getting out of bed and enjoying the day. It’s before Monday, the dreaded M word, and a day to relax and take it easy.

But today, this very Sunday, I’m feeling off.

My phone vibrates on my nightstand and I really don’t want to look to see who it is since I’m ninety-nine percent sure it’s Dickface.

Aaron DICKFACE: Just checking up on you. Did you move in okay? Is there anything you need?

Me: Yep. Need you to leave me alone. I’ve moved on. Buh-bye.

Aaron DICKFACE: I know you didn’t.

Me: Oh, but I did. Leave me alone. He's about to wake up and we’re going for round 4.

Aaron DICKFACE: I know you’re hurting now and you’re saying this to hurt me. I miss you, baby.

With a groan and an intense eye roll, I squeeze my cell phone between my hands. I’m so tempted to throw it across the room. I remember my breathing exercises and immediately calm down, set my phone aside, and forget about Aaron. He’s not ruining my morning.

As soon as I'm out of bed, I start my morning—brush my teeth, wash my face, and tell myself I deserve better than Aaron, even if the sexy Logan just wants to be friends.

Ugh.

Talk about a low blow to your ego. It’s bothering me so much that he didn't want to come up to my apartment. I stare at myself in the mirror, carefully looking at my face and down my body. I’m confident with how I look. My personality is a ten and I’m very nice. At least I think so. Honestly after Aaron and now Logan putting us in the friendzone after all the flirting and getting to know each other I’m absolutely questioning myself.

We were having such a good time, and I thought he was into me. Maybe I’ve been out of the dating scene for so long, I’ve lost something? Then again, I’ve never been good at reading guys or body language.

I push Logan out of my mind and focus on me again. I'm definitely not texting him. If he wants to talk to me, then he can initiate the conversation since he has my number, too. There’s the possibility that Eden and Lincoln will hit it off and I’ll see him and if I do I’ll act real cool. It’s not like I should be expecting anything and I’m not. We’re friends.

Just friends.

And I should focus on my career. My goal is to climb the corporate ladder and use my marketing degree and put my mark on this world. That’s going to be my focus. I’ll be Austen Davis’s personal assistant for a year or two, tackle any and all responsibilities and exceed his expectations. When he wants coffee, I’ll get him the best coffee in record time. I’ll wow him with my knowledge and quick wit. By the time I’m twenty-four, I’ll be in the marketing department and by the time I’m thirty, I’ll be in charge of the department. Once that happens, I’ll hopefully meet someone special, get married, have cute babies, and get the house of my dreams. For now, I’ll buy a few vibrators and a life supply of batteries. Eight years until my end goal is too long to not be prepared. Even though I’m all about my career, I still have needs and my BOB needs to be fully charged and ready to go. Men only complicate things, and I don't need that.

I decide that it's too nice of a day to be stuck inside. I dress in my workout clothes and head outside for a run. As soon as I’m outside the humid air hits me and I love it. Summer and Autumn are my seasons. I love the hot weather and going to the beach, lounging around the pool, being on the boat, and all of the fun times that happens during the summer. Then there’s Autumn. I’m a basic bitch – pumpkin spice lattes, Uggs, my Northface, and binge watching The O.C., One Tree Hill, and Gossip Girl.

There’s a park nearby our apartment and I’m feeling pretty adventurous so I start the run on the path with my earbuds in, blasting hip hop music. A little Nicki Minaj and Rihanna to get me pumped.

The run’s quick and I head back home to shower and get ready for the day. Since Eden’s still not back from Lincoln’s, I grab my car keys and head to the mall. Google says it’s about six point two miles away.

I park my car, walk inside and go straight to Sephora. After Eden’s little makeover she did for me, I want more living on the edge makeup. I check out new lines and touch every eye shadow palette, trying to decide if the colors will work and if I can do a nice smokey eye. I grab a few palettes, the move on to lip glosses. I’m looking at the wall and my eyes widen. How in the world can there be so many options? These colors are so out of my realm of comfort, but they look nice, and maybe if I start tanning, then they’ll truly make my lips pop. I grab two colors, one red and one peachy pink color. The names are killing me–sex kitten, and sheer bomb. Oh goodness. Help me.

I'm awake from my afternoon nap, and slowly get out of bed. I look around my room for my cell phone and see it on my nightstand. When I have my phone, I check the time and for any messages. There's a few from Aaron and I roll my eyes and don't open the messages. Then I notice one from Logan.

Logan: Hey. What are you up to?

The text came right before I left the mall and it’s been a few hours. I’m debating if I should respond and I mean I should right? We’re friends. Friends talk and friends text.

Me: Hey! Just woke up from a much needed nap. It’s lazy Sunday so I’ve been lounging and checked out the mall. It’s close to my apartment, which is so bad. I’m gonna go broke.

Logan: Yeah, the mall here is nice. What’d you get?

Me: Some makeup, clothes, and a fitbit. I’m starting to work out again. I actually went for a run this morning and didn’t collapse haha.

Logan: Haha that’s good. Collapsing wouldn’t have been good. Are you doing anything else today?

Me: Not really. Hanging out here with Eden. She’s probably gonna be home soon.

Logan: Sounds fun. If you’re up for it we’re gonna hit up a bar tonight. Not sure if you and Eden wanna join.

Me: Most likely not me. I have work tomorrow. My first day and all. But, thanks for asking. Have fun!

Logan: Too bad. If you change your mind let me know. I’ll talk to you soon.

Me: K.

I put down my phone and rub my face. I’m analyzing the conversation and tell myself he’s being nice and a good friend. He wants to show us around, make us feel comfortable. Because he’s a really sweet guy. That’s it.

“Stop being ridiculous, Hannah,” I scold myself.

After being lazy for a few more minutes, I head to my kitchen, get a bottle of wine from the fridge, and help myself to a nice glass of pinot grigio.

I get comfortable on my couch and turn on my laptop. While it's booting up, I take a long sip of my wine and place the glass on the coaster. As soon as my laptop is on, I open the internet browser and go to Facebook to see if I can find Logan's page. Without his last name, I know it'll be difficult, but I have nothing else to do today so I'm up for this challenge.

“Whatcha doing?”

Eden surprises me and sits on the couch. She looks happy. Really happy. When she looks over to see what I’m doing, she takes my laptop without warning and begins typing. When she hands me back my laptop, I don't look to see what she's done because of what she's telling me.

“By the way, I'm sorry about last night. I wanted to come back with you and hang out, but Lincoln… oh, my goodness. He's so…”

“Nope. Don't finish that sentence.”

“Dirty. Sexy. Amazing in bed. He made me come at least three times last night. When he picked me up and fucked on the table, I thought I was going to die. Seriously, that man's cock is huge. I'm talking at least nine inches—”

“Please, stop,” I whine and cover my ears from the nastiness that's coming from her lips. Usually, I'm all for hearing about Eden's sexcapades, but right now I have zero interest. There’s not enough bleach in the world to wash the words away.

“I really like him. He's taking me out to dinner tonight.”

My eyes widen and my jaw drops. I didn't hear my best friend correctly. Eden Michelle Butler doesn't like anyone. She's a she-whore and a man-eater. The woman makes men cry—like grown-ass men with bulging muscles and washboard abs. She doesn't do relationships and has issues with commitment.

“Please explain.”

“I know. I know. You're thinking how crazy it is for me to like someone, but Lincoln's really sweet. After round three he held me all night, and then he said out of everyone he's been with, he's never had anyone in his bed to hold. We're alike in more than one way, you know. I know he's a man-whore, and he knows I'm a she-whore so it works.”

“Eden,” I say on a sigh. “I'm really happy for you. Truly, I am.”

Eden smiles and tells me to look at the screen on my laptop. I do, and my eyes go wide and my anxiety takes over.

Logan Davis.

I scroll down his page and spot a picture of him and another man. The tag in the picture shows Logan's name and…

“No! No. Holy. Shit.” I grab strands of my hair and open my eyes wider to make sure I'm seeing things right. “His dad is my boss? His dad is my boss!” A semi-maniac cackle escapes my lips and I shake my head because somehow the world's taking a huge shit on my life.

Austen Davis and Logan Davis are related, and Logan works for his dad. And I’ll be working for his dad starting tomorrow.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

I know that’s Austen Davis from our Skype interview. Tomorrow’s my first day of work and I have to see him right when I go in. How does this happen? Out of all the companies in Rochester I had to pick the one that Logan works at. Hell, I have to pick the one that Logan’s family owns and runs. Holy. Shit.

“Hannah?”

Eden breaks me out of my thoughts and I turn the laptop to show her why I'm freaking out.

“You’re working for Logan's dad? Wow.” She laughs and shakes her head.

“This isn’t funny!” My face burns from anxiety and I have to keep staring at my screen to make sure I’m seeing this correctly. “Why's this happening to me?”

What the hell did I do to karma to have this happen to me? I’m a good person with a good heart. I volunteer and give blood. Sometimes I go to church. Shit, that’s it! Because I don’t praise the Lord on Sundays, karma wants to punish me by making Logan Davis my freaking boss’s son.

“Now you get to see Logan every single day,” she says in a sing-song tone.

I flip her off and go back to Facebook. This sucks. Curiosity gets the best of me, so I scroll through his Facebook feed. There’s not too much, only his profile picture of him with Lincoln and Cal, then there’s another picture of him and his dad. There’s no option to leave a post on his wall. It’s pretty bare. I look at his about me section, and it’s scarce, then click to see if he’s tagged in any pictures, and he’s not.

So the only thing I’m taking away from my little stalking is I’m crushing on my boss’s son.

Fuck. My. Life.